Vine tomatoes are well-liked fruits that are appreciated worldwide for their tasty, juicy flesh and adaptability in the kitchen.
There are many different types of tomato plants available, each with its unique flavor, texture, and appearance.
Vine tomato was classified into 2 most common type: determinate tomato and indeterminate tomatoes. Indeterminate tomato will continue to grow and produce fruit over a longer period of time, while determinate tomato reach a fixed size and they tend to be shorter in height.
On the other hand, determinate varieties will also remain smaller than their indeterminate counterparts, and are bushier.
Let’s learn about some of the most popular types of vine tomatoes and their characteristics so you can choose the best variety for your next recipe.
Types Of Vine Tomatoes
Vining tomato varieties are various, including Yellow Pear, Cherry, Campari, Grape, Early Girl, Anna Russian, Mortgage lifter, San Marzano, Roma, Sungold, Hybrid, Beefsteak, Kumato, Beefy Boy, Juliet, Heirloom. All of them produce nutritional fruits and are easy to take care of.
Yellow Pear Tomatoes
The yellow pear type is a unique and flavorful variety of vining tomatoes that are small and oblong in shape, resembling a pear.
As their name suggests, these fruits have a bright yellow color and a sweet, tangy taste. They are commonly used in salads, pasta dishes, and as a garnish due to their attractive appearance.
Yellow tomatoes are also a good source of vitamin C and antioxidants, making them a healthy addition to any meal.
While they may not be as well-known as other varieties of tomatoes, yellow pear is a delicious and versatile ingredient that can add a pop of color and sweet flavor to several dishes.
Cherry Tomatoes
Compared to traditional tomato plants, sweet cherry tomatoes have a more intense and complex flavor, making them a popular choice for salads, pasta dishes, and garnish.
They are also a great source of vitamins and antioxidants, which can help to support overall health and well-being.
Another great thing about these sweet fruits is their availability in many colors, adding a pop of brightness and color to any dish.
Also, their small size makes them easy to grow and perfect for snacking, making them a great addition to any home garden or healthy diet.
Campari Tomatoes
Campari is one of the famous names of small tomatoes that are known for their exceptional sugar content and juiciness.
They are slightly larger than the cherry types but smaller than traditional ones. These plants are cultivated hydroponically and matured on the vine, removing the need for pesticides.
As a result, you can notice deep red fruits, redder than most store-bought tomatoes.
Because the vine is still attached when sent, they continue to ripen naturally rather than artificially ripened using ethylene gas.
When it comes to the flavor, they are both slightly tangy, with a sugary flavor and balance of acidity.
Grape Tomatoes
These cluster tomatoes are similar in size and shape to grapes. They are oblong and small, typically less than one inch long, and come in many different colors, including red, yellow, and orange.
These are known for their sweet and juicy flavor, making them a popular ingredient in salads and a healthy snack.
One of the great things about this vigorous plant is its versatility – the fruits can be eaten raw, roasted, or grilled and can be used in a wide range of dishes, from pasta sauces to salsa.
Early Girl
Early Girl is popular for its early ripening time and rich flavor. These flavorful tomatoes are medium-sized, typically weighing around 6-8 ounces, and have a deep red color and smooth texture.
The garden’s mainstay throughout the growing season, Early Girl tomatoes produce a sizable crop. To assist in maintaining their fruit, the tall plants need support, such as a trellis or wire cage.
Fried green tomatoes are one of the most famous recipes you can make using Early Girl when they are picked green.
Anna Russian
Originally from Russia, the variety known as Anna Russian are heirloom tomatoes.
These vining type tomatoes are typically large, weighing up to two pounds each, and have a deep red with hints of orange and pinkish color.
Tomato cages must be used for this type since the vines fruit develops in huge fruit clusters. With vines ready to harvest in about 60 days, they are considered an early producer.
The heirloom plant nature of these hybrid tomatoes means that their disease resistance has not been examined. This type of tomato makes excellent selections for sandwiches, canning, or slicing.
Suppose you want to grow some by yourself; check out this guide to find out if you can plant tomatoes and cucumbers next to each other.
Mortgage Lifter
The mortgage Lifter type typically weighs between 1 and 2 pounds and have a meaty flesh with a sweet, slightly tangy flavor that is perfect for slicing and adding to sandwiches or using in sauces.
They are also known for their relatively low acidity of citrus, which makes them a great choice for people who have sensitive stomachs.
Because they are not known to be resistant to Fusarium or Verticillium wilt, gardeners should be sure to rotate their crops to lower the risk of infection.
About 85 days after planting, these tomato vines are among the slowest to begin harvesting. But you’d better learn how to stop chipmunks from eating your precious tomatoes for a more fruitful crop.
Brandywine
The Brandywine Tomato is a sizable, reddish-pink heirloom tomato cultivar that is highly regarded by tomato enthusiasts for its delectable flavor and firmness when consumed raw.
They are typically large, with some mature fruits measuring 1-2 pounds.
These large tomatoes are grown on support-needed indeterminate vines with foliage that resembles potato leaves.
Instead of larger commercial growers, small market farmers and home gardeners nearly exclusively cultivate this type of tomatoes.
San Marzano
Originally from the Italian town of San Marzano sul Sarno, San Marzano tomatoes are a variety of plum tomatoes.
Because of their distinctive sweet and tangy flavor, low acidity, and meaty texture, these tomatoes are highly regarded since they are ideal for sauces and pastes.
The skin of San Marzano tomatoes is thick, bright red, and elongated. To ensure the greatest quality, they are hand-picked when ripe and grown in volcanic soil.
San Marzano tomatoes are now a mainstay of Italian cooking and are largely regarded as the greatest variety of tomatoes for sauces.
Roma
Contrary to other tomato kinds, Roma tomatoes feature petite, plum- or egg-shaped, bright red fruits that are great for preserving and creating sauces.
Roma tomatoes have also been deliberately cultivated to have few seeds. These fruits have a great flavor and are best enjoyed raw. Roma tomato plants have a spread of 19 inches and a height of about 59 inches.
Due to their low water content, Roma tomatoes are ideal for sauces and pastes since they yield a thick consistency. They go well with various cuisines because of their gently sweet flavor and subtle acidity.
Sungold
Excellent in taste, Sungold tomatoes undergo a remarkable change in flavor as they mature. The tomatoes have a crisp tartness when they are young, and as they ripen, they develop an almost candy-like sweetness.
They have an almost fruity flavor, like many yellow-orange tomatoes. The taste of the sun-ripened fruits, which is specific to this tomato type, can be almost tropical, rich, and citrus-like.
Hybrid
Hybrid tomatoes are a type of tomato created by crossbreeding two or more varieties of tomatoes.
This breeding process makes tomatoes with specific characteristics, such as disease resistance, increased yield, and improved flavor.
Hybrid tomatoes can have a range of sizes, shapes, and colors, depending on the varieties used in crossbreeding.
They are generally known for their high yield and disease resistance, making them a popular choice among commercial farmers.
Beefsteak
This type of tomato plant can reach a height of six feet and yield edible fruits that frequently weigh over a pound.
The beefsteak tomato plant, which can produce fruits with a diameter of up to six inches, is the biggest.
Rich, meaty, and sweet flavors characterize ripe tomatoes. The beefsteak tomato is a favorite topping for salads and sandwiches because of its juicy taste.
Tomatoes grown in North America most frequently are beefsteak varieties.
Kumato
The Kumato tomato is a dark salad variety. This brown-green to red-brown fruit weighs about 2 to 4 ounces, and its stems can reach heights of over 4 feet tall.
These fruits feature a distinctive luster, firm flesh and skin, and a flavorful, aromatic, tangy-sweet flavor.
Given that they are produced in regions like Mexico and Canada, where these tomatoes are commercially farmed, they appear to withstand both cold and hot conditions.
Beefy Boy
Beefy boy tomatoes are usually planted for food purposes. When fully grown, the plant can reach up to 6 feet tall and spread to 24 inches. It can need staking or other support due to its strong growing behavior.
They produce huge, round, red tomatoes with scarlet flesh that are typically ready for picking between the beginning and end of the summer.
Being an indeterminate tomato plant, they bear fruit all during the growing season. The tomatoes are tasty and have a meaty texture.
Juliet
Juliet tomato is a sweet and delectable purple tomato type. Due to its shape, it is frequently referred to as mini Roma. These long-lasting tomatoes are delicate and delicious like cherry tomatoes.
Strong vines on the plants are renowned for bearing a lot of fruit. These tomatoes start producing early in the season, keep producing consistently, and weigh between one and two ounces.
Heirloom
A tomato variety known as an heirloom is produced from seeds that have been handed down through generations of farmers and gardeners.
As a result of meticulous cultivation over time, these tomatoes now come in a wide range of forms, hues, and flavors that are frequently distinguished from those of other commercial tomato types.
Most heirloom tomatoes are open-pollinated, meaning they receive their pollen naturally from insects, wind, or other sources rather than from human hands.
They are favored by chefs and home gardeners for their versatility in cooking as well as for their great taste, texture, and aroma.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Eat Vine Tomatoes Raw?
Yes. Many people enjoy eating fresh tomatoes raw because of their fresh and juicy taste. These fresh fruits are commonly used in salads, sandwiches, and as a topping for burgers and pizzas.
When fresh eating them, it is important to ensure they are ripe and have a firm texture.
How Can I Store Vine Tomatoes Correctly?
Keeping them at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, is the best storing method. You can place them in a shallow basket, making sure they are not stacked on each other.
If they are not yet ripe, you can put them in a paper bag and store them at room temperature.
For the ripe ones, it is ideal to use them within a few days or place them in the refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
Does Sunlight Ripen Vine Tomatoes Faster?
No. Direct sunlight doesn’t make the fruit ripe faster. In fact, it can cause the fruits to become too hot, leading to uneven ripening or even damage to the fruit.
When you have unripe tomatoes, you can speed up the ripening process by placing them in a paper bag with an apple or banana, releasing ethylene gas that can help the fruits ripen more quickly.
The Bottom Line
Vine tomatoes are a staple ingredient in many kitchens for a good reason.
With so many different types of vine tomatoes available, each with its exceptional flavor profile and culinary uses, there is no shortage of delicious dishes.
By experimenting with different types of tomatoes mentioned above, you can unlock new flavor combinations and take your cooking to the next level!
