Tomato Talk: Which Tomatoes Are Actually Worth Planting (and Which Ones Just Look Pretty)

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If tomatoes were people, they’d be that one family member who shows up in many personalities, outfits, and attitudes… and somehow still steals the spotlight at every meal.

Walk into a garden center and you’ll see dozens of tomato varieties, all promising to be the best thing since sliced bread (which, let’s be honest, tomatoes make better anyway). But not all tomatoes are created equal—and some are much better behaved in the garden than others.

So let’s break it down, Grammy-style, and talk about the best tomatoes to plant, depending on what you actually want out of your garden.

1. Cherry & Grape Tomatoes

Best for beginners, snackers, and impatient gardeners

If you want success without fuss, cherry tomatoes are your best friends. These little overachievers produce early, produce often, and don’t get as dramatic about life as some larger tomatoes.

Why Grammy loves them:

  • Easy to grow

  • Produce tons of fruit

  • Great for salads, snacks, and “just one more” moments

  • Less prone to cracking and disease

Top picks:

  • Sweet 100

  • Sun Gold (sweet enough to count as dessert)

  • Black Cherry

👉 If this is your first tomato plant, start here. Confidence is important.

2. Roma (Plum) Tomatoes

Best for sauces, canning, and feeling productive

Roma tomatoes are the workhorses of the tomato world. They’re not flashy, but they show up, do their job, and turn into the most beautiful sauce you’ve ever spooned over pasta.

Why they earn their keep:

  • Meaty with fewer seeds

  • Perfect for sauces, salsa, and canning

  • Grow reliably in most gardens

Top picks:

  • Roma VF

  • San Marzano (the fancy Italian cousin)

👉 Plant these if your freezer is empty and your pasta nights are frequent.

3. Beefsteak Tomatoes

Best for sandwiches and showing off

These are the tomatoes that make you say, “Now THAT is a tomato.” Thick slices, juicy centers, and big flavor—perfect for burgers and BLTs.

The honest truth:

  • They take longer to grow

  • Need sturdy support

  • Can be picky about weather

Top picks:

  • Big Boy

  • Better Boy

  • Brandywine (technically an heirloom, but deserves a mention)

👉 Worth it if you’re patient and love a good tomato sandwich.

4. Heirloom Tomatoes

Best for flavor lovers and garden romantics

Heirlooms are beautiful, delicious, and just a little high-maintenance—kind of like antique furniture you’re afraid to sit on.

Why gardeners adore them:

  • Incredible flavor

  • Unique colors and shapes

  • Seeds can be saved year after year

The trade-off:

  • More prone to cracking

  • Less disease resistance

  • Don’t always travel well from vine to kitchen

Top picks:

  • Brandywine

  • Cherokee Purple

  • Green Zebra

👉 Plant these for flavor, not perfection.

5. Determinate vs. Indeterminate (Yes, It Matters)

Here’s the quick and dirty:

  • Determinate tomatoes grow to a certain size, produce most of their fruit at once, and then call it a season.

    • Great for small gardens and canning.

  • Indeterminate tomatoes grow and produce all season long—sometimes until frost finally tells them to knock it off.

    • Great if you want steady tomatoes all summer.

👉 Grammy tip: Plant both and cover all your tomato needs.

So… Which Tomatoes Are the Best to Plant?

Here’s the short answer:

  • New gardeners: Cherry tomatoes

  • Cooks & canners: Roma tomatoes

  • Sandwich lovers: Beefsteak

  • Flavor chasers: Heirlooms

Or better yet… plant a mix. Your future self (and your dinner table) will thank you.

Because in the end, there’s no such thing as too many tomatoes—only not enough jars, recipes, or neighbors willing to take “just a few more.”

Happy planting,
Grammy 🍅💛

🌱 Which Tomato Should You Plant?

Take This Quick Quiz to Find Your Perfect Tomato Match

Grab a pencil, sip your sweet tea, and answer honestly—your tomatoes are counting on you 😉

What’s your gardening experience level?

Brand new. I’m just hoping nothing dies.I’ve grown a few things… some survived.I’ve been gardening a while and like a challenge.

How much space do you have?

A small garden, raised bed, or containersA decent-sized gardenPlenty of space—I can let plants sprawl if they want

What do you want to use your tomatoes for MOST?

Snacking and saladsSauces, salsa, and canningBig slices for sandwiches and fresh eating

How patient are you?

Not very. I like quick results.I can wait a little.I’m willing to wait for something amazing.

How do you feel about “high-maintenance” plants?

No thank you. I’ve got enough drama.I’ll tolerate a little fuss.Bring it on—I love flavor and character.

How do you prefer to harvest?

A few tomatoes at a time, all seasonA big harvest I can process at onceAs long as they taste good, I don’t care

🍅 Results Time! (Add up your answers)

Mostly A’s → Cherry or Grape Tomatoes

You like easy wins—and tomatoes that don’t talk back.

Best picks:
Sweet 100, Sun Gold, Black Cherry

👉 Easy to grow, fast to produce, and perfect for beginners or small spaces.

Mostly B’s → Roma (Plum) Tomatoes

You’re practical, prepared, and probably own mason jars.

Best picks:
Roma VF, San Marzano

👉 Meaty, dependable, and ideal for sauces, salsa, and canning days.

Mostly C’s → Heirloom or Beefsteak Tomatoes

You’re here for flavor, not perfection—and you don’t mind a little drama.

Best picks:
Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Big Boy

👉 Bigger plants, bigger flavor, and tomatoes worth bragging about.

A Mix of Answers?

Plant a variety!
Cherry for snacks, Roma for sauces, and one heirloom just to show off.

That’s what Grammy does 😉

💛 Grammy’s Final Tip

No matter what tomato you plant:

  • Give it sunshine

  • Don’t overwater

  • And don’t panic when it looks a little wild

Tomatoes are tougher than they look—kind of like Grammy.

Discover an easy gardening system that lets you grow fresh veggies in just 5 minutes a day—even in a small space!

Learn More!

Tomato Comparison Chart: Which Type Is Right for Your Garden?

Tomato Type Best For Flavor Ease of Growing Yield Grammy’s Honest Take
Cherry / Grape Snacking, salads, beginners Sweet ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ High Practically grow themselves. Great confidence boosters.
Roma (Plum) Sauces, salsa, canning Mild & rich ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Medium–High The hardest workers in the garden. Not flashy, but dependable.
Beefsteak Sandwiches, burgers Juicy & classic ⭐⭐⭐ Medium Big flavor, big plants, big patience required.
Heirloom Fresh eating, flavor lovers Outstanding ⭐⭐ Low–Medium Delicious divas. Worth it if you don’t mind a little drama.
Determinate Small spaces, bulk harvests Varies ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One big harvest Plant once, harvest fast, then they’re done for the season.
Indeterminate Long harvest season Varies ⭐⭐⭐ Continuous They just keep going… and going… and going.

Grammy’s Quick Picks

  • 🌱 First-time gardeners: Cherry tomatoes

  • 🍝 Canners & cooks: Roma tomatoes

  • 🥪 Sandwich lovers: Beefsteak

  • ❤️ Flavor fanatics: Heirlooms

  • 🪴 Small gardens: Determinate varieties

  • ☀️ All-summer harvest: Indeterminate varieties

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