How To Choose Tomatoes From The Seed Catalogue

by Ankaret Dean, Lanark Master Gardeners

Tomatoes, we are told, are the most favourite vegetable grown by gardeners in North America. This is partly because our climate is ideally suited for their growth, lots of warm sunshine and a long frost-free growing period. Because of this, there are now over 700 varieties of tomato that have been developed. Huge ones, tiny ones; there are now 700 varieties from which to choose…large ones, tiny ones, early ones, late ones, disease resistant ones and we still have the heritage ones.

The choice is rather daunting and here are a few pointers to help you make up your mind. Firstly, you must decide if you want to grow tomatoes for canning and making paste, or for summer eating. If this is so, do you like little cherry tomatoes or big ones for making sandwiches?

Secondly you must consider the size of your garden, and the growth habits of the different varieties. Do you want huge sprawling plants or neat tidy ones? This can be understood by the terms determinate or indeterminate. For the big sprawling plants choose the indeterminate types, these keep growing and producing until frost, they fruit for a long period of time, and they need a lots of space. Alternatively the determinate tomatoes are much more easily contained; they grow in a shorter period; flower; fruit and then it is all over. This type is also good for people who like to can and make sauce as it is all over in a couple of weeks.

Disease resistance is important as tomatoes are vulnerable to several diseases which will weaken the plant and reduce the crop. The seed catalogues list the type of disease for which the tomato will have resistance, by using a letter. For instance verticullium is (V), fusarium (F), root nematode (N), tobacco mosaic (T) and lastly attemaria (A.)

The length of growing time until they bear fruit is also a consideration for those who live in the north where the frost-free days are fewer and the sun less strong. The number of days is always mentioned in the catalogues.

Most of the cherry and beefsteak varieties are indeterminate; they grow huge and will fruit until frost.

Heritage tomatoes are becoming a popular choice for many gardeners. They have not been developed for their looks or disease resistance, but are well known for their delicious taste.

Starting tomato seeds indoors is a popular hobby. One word of warning, do not start them too soon. Once they germinate and start growing they really need lots of room.

All gardening questions can be sent to, and will be answered at w.w.w.lanarkmastergardeners.mgoi.ca