Top 10 Best Tasting Tomatoes According To 360,000 Viewers

[@FarleyMan151]

You don't know what a tomato tastes like unless it's organic from your own garden. Tomatoes from the grocery are tasteless and toxic.

[@MidwestGardener]

We don't really consider the ones in the grocery store to be tomatoes. They just don't seem anything like the ones we grow.

[@bluebook709]

And $$$$$$$$.

[@JohnJude-dp6ed]

@@FarleyMan151 Grocery store claim fresh.home grown . ripped on the vine that's sales talking

[@mardieeluppold]

Cherokee Purple is, for me, miraculously, the most delicious tomatoe I've ever tasted and/or grown. Grew them here in Mass. they came in almost as big as grapefruit but the Taste!!! Am a neophyte gardener; just got incredibly lucky with them. Thanks.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like you have a green thumb to me :) Your description sure made me want one.

[@bobzack9750]

Purple Cherokee is my favorite by far ! I’m trying to grow it in Mountain View, Hawaii.

[@Nanamowa]

My mouth was watering watching those tomatoes get cut up. I can't tell you how much I enjoy a fresh tomato.

[@MidwestGardener]

I understand. Mine too!

[@kylenmaple4668]

Currently growing Cherokee Purple, Sun gold and San Marzano. Cant wait for the fruit!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice list! Hope you have a great tomato summer!

[@tradergirl7067]

imagine my surprise when I saw Black Krim on the list. I've got 2 plants started from seed about 16" tall so far cant wait.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like they are off to a great start. Good luck!

[@danasuz763]

Black Krim is my all time favourite and very similar to the tomatoes I remember from my youth in Southern Ontario.

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice! I can't argue with that choice :)

[@Gwick-p8w]

Funny because I put Brandy wine above both black Krim and purple Cherokee. Have grown all 3 in the same season and still feel that way. Different strokes for different folks

[@MidwestGardener]

Exactly. We all have our own favorites.

[@Zummbot]

I am right there with you! Have never tried black krim but I think cherokee purple can’t hold a candle to brandywine.

[@guyindecatur]

I've grown the krims for decades. I have to "nurse" them through the growing season as I have bacterial wilt in my soil (here in the very deep south). Krims and (heirloom) Pineapple are the only two heirlooms I grow (though I've grown *many* different heirlooms). Just recently I've started growing hybrids Big Beef and Original Blue Ribbon instead of my long-term favorite, Better Boy. These are excellent hybrids that are my new "work horse" during the growing season. Heirlooms are fun tomatoes but new gardeners should also try hybrids unless they *know* they do not have wilt in their soil.

[@TD-ce5ru]

This old timer in Nebraska still holds the flavor of Rutgers tomatoes as the benchmark.

[@MidwestGardener]

A lot of people like that one.

[@debbienash4170]

I have to agree with you. Rutgers is my favorite for eating fresh and canning.

[@danieparriott265]

They are great for canning, but too acidic and seedy for fresh eating.

[@debbienash4170]

@@danieparriott265 that’s what makes them so good fresh.

[@tvideo1189]

@@danieparriott265 Except for those of us that LOVE tart, acidic, tomatoes.

[@RosebudBB]

Cherokee Purple has always been my favorite!

[@MidwestGardener]

You aren't alone. Lots of folks love it.

[@clath2823]

@@MidwestGardener and the difference between the Cherokee Purples at the grocery store and home grown is still huge.

[@clath2823]

If it didn’t split it’d be the perfect tomato.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@clath2823 Exactly.

[@danieparriott265]

@@clath2823 Most of the delicious tomatoes tend to be prone to splitting easily- thin skins.

[@ManageMNZ]

Agreed, no doubt top 3, Cherokee Purple, Black Krim and Pink Brandywine. Thanks for your videos :)

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@jeffschkeryantz6692]

Juane Flamme is the best tasting tomato

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing. That is a well kept secret.

[@MizTree]

I love Lemon Boys. So mild and bright.

[@MidwestGardener]

I've heard great things about them, but I've never tried them.

[@ronaldcox2741]

Bingo! Lemon boy is the absolute best! Better boy is similar but a red tomato,i love both!

[@guyindecatur]

I'll have to try them next year. I've recently started growing Big Beef and Original Blue Ribbon. Excellent hybrids, excellent producers. These two hybrids seem to have a very good shelf life. Gotta pull them when they're mature. Squirrels love tomatoes..!

[@charlesblanton1008]

Growing some Cherokee Purple for the first time this year. Can't wait to try the first one!

[@MidwestGardener]

Good luck! I hope they do great for you!

[@jayduplessis7698]

Thank you for your effort! So interesting! The best tomato I ever tasted was also a Black Krim... I will never forget how unbelievable it was. And all the tomatoes from that plant tasted like that. But I've never been able to get seeds like those again - I've bought Black Krim seeds wherever I've seen them, but every year they weren't the real deal... So I'm still searching for that real Black Krim I tasted 12 years ago. But I'm starting to think you can't find those seeds anymore, because every time I see someone on KZbin taste a "Black Krim" it also doesn't look like the real thing. So somebody will have to find and save the real Black Krim seeds, before we lose it completely.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I had a similar experience with Black Krim. Sometimes growing conditions can effect how tomatoes taste, so maybe things were just perfect that year. Good luck with your search!

[@dustyflats3832]

You are SO correct! I don’t know about Black Krim changing, but I know I didn’t like them. I also know what I’m concerned about is true from what you are saying. I’m concerned we are losing the true tomato flavor. When I see all these names continually pop up there is no way these are all heirlooms, more like backyard crosses. The whole thing I think started when people wanted less acidic vegetables and now they don’t taste right or keep well. Grew 25 varieties in 23 and didn’t care for any of them. This year I will bring back some hybrids that canned up with the best aroma and taste.

[@jayduplessis7698]

@@dustyflats3832 Before you go back to hybrids, try a few true heirlooms from trustworthy seed suppliers, like TomatoFest. If true heirlooms like Brandywine Sudduth's Strain, Aunt Ruby's German Green Giant, Cherokee Purple and Green Zebra do not have great flavour when you grow them, then you will know the problem is not the seeds. Other factors can affect flavour. Too much water dilutes flavour (and can even change the texture). Too little quality sunlight can also reduce the flavour of larger tomatoes. Very high temperatures can also negatively affect the flavour and texture of some tomatoes. Etc.

[@milesfrandsen8280]

Go to Tomato fest fdr seeds. They are absolutely fantastic.

[@callmejeffbob]

I regularly grow four of the tomatoes on your list: Sun Gold, Brandywine (my favorite), Kellogg's Breakfast, and Pineapple. They are all great. Next year I'll try some of the others that you listed.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's a pretty good list! I hope you enjoy the others also.

[@callmejeffbob]

@@MidwestGardener Try "Taxi" sometime. The bush never gets very tall (at least here in Portland Oregon) but it produces many, many bright yellow medium-small sized fruits. The flavor is mild, sweet and I think less acidic than most tomatoes. Because I'm an idiot sometimes, it was probably the third year that I grew them when I finally realized why they're called "Taxi". There I was picking a bunch of these BRIGHT YELLOW tomatoes wondering about their name and then....DUH.... forehead slap.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@callmejeffbob Lol, I've had a few moments like that myself. Sounds like a good one though.

[@bublhed]

I will always grow Black Krim because it’s my favorite! I had a lot of success with Green Giant and they’re pretty tasty but a little too acidic for sauce.

[@guyindecatur]

The krim *is* a great 'mater. Yeah, they crack but they're so good you won't care...!

[@warrenchristianson4427]

Hands down, the best tomato I've ever grown and eaten myself was a Cherokee Carbon. I've got some Cherokee Purple in my garden this year and I've got high hopes!

[@MidwestGardener]

I've heard good things about Cherokee Carbon. I hope the Cherokee Purple does great for you this year!

[@watrgrl2]

I once grew nothing but tomatoes in my huge backyard garden (plus Basil , walla walla onions and Anaheim peppers.) I had 45 varieties of tomatoes and made the best homemade salsa ever. I had friends who admitted to actually just eating it out of the jar like it was a chunky tomato soup. Also, I doubt any of my neighbors had to go out and buy tomatoes that summer because the tomato fairy kept leaving bags of them on their doorstep before they’d wake up. I earned the nickname of Tomato Lady from a friend who, when he saw my garden stood there with his mouth open gobsmacked. He was 6 ft 5 and my garden was a literal forest of tomato plants two feet taller than he was. I had made a smart decision when I planted that garden and put a drip irrigation system in so that watering would be easy. My biggest tomato was a pink Brandywine that was 4 1/2 inches tall, 18 3/4 inches in circumference and I can’t remember the weight. When I brought it to a family dinner and sliced it took up the whole plate. I babied that tomato protecting it from animals and making sure the stem wasn’t going to break. I took all other blossoms and fruit off of that stem. I didn’t crack and was perfectly shaped. Biggest tomato I had ever grown and never have since.

[@MidwestGardener]

Well done! I can picture those tomato plants in my mind. Hearing about that big Pink Brandywine sure makes me want a homegrown tomato :)

[@eventhisidistaken]

Did you not have a problem with cross pollination?

[@watrgrl2]

@@eventhisidistaken I don’t know. But I was so attentive to those plants I went around and sprayed each blossom with this stuff I can’t remember the name of but it was supposed to help with pollination and fruit set if I remember correctly. At the time I was working as a visiting nurse 3 days a week and the rest of the days were spent in my yard and garden.

[@marathon1951]

That's a great story. We have 24 tomato and 30 pepper plants this year, plus 400 yellow, white, red onions, 300 heads of garlic growing, basil etc, So far everything to doing better than anytime in the past,,,added a lot of steer manure and a drip system also... Salsa, pepper sauce, pasta sauce in our future.

[@marathon1951]

If you get a minute, will you post your salsa recipe? We're always looking for something new, Thanks

[@winstonsizemore2385]

Great list for once I agree with. Cherokee purple are the best tasting. The best harvested when the shoulders are still green. By letting the shoulders ripen the bottom becomes mealy.

[@eventhisidistaken]

I wonder if the same is true of black krim, I'll have to experiment. I do have mine growing vertically, so no fruit is touching soil.

[@MidwestGardener]

@winstonsizemore2385 Thanks for the tips!

[@winstonsizemore2385]

I really like Black Krim too. Haven't had any problem with them getting over ripe or mealy. It'd be great if someone crossed both of these!! I've also found two stand out tomatoes sold by adaptive seeds. Those two are flamin burst, the Dehybridized sun sugar. And Sungella .

[@MidwestGardener]

@@winstonsizemore2385 Thanks for the tip on the other two.

[@kathleenebsen2659]

Yes! In my mind, Cherokee Purple is my number one! We like to grow Mortgage Lifter and Brandywine as well.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good choice! You can't go wrong with those 3.

[@dl8619]

Arkansas traveler is pretty good in zone 8b , its low acid if you got heartburn problems.

[@tomfisher3117]

I've grown and enjoyed all of the tomatoes on your list except German Pink. My favorites are Mortgage Lifters, Gold Medal, Belle Marmouise Juane, Paul Robeson, Black Cherry and Aunt Rubies German Green. For sauce tomatoes: Amish Paste, San Marzano Redorta, Russian Orange (bicolor) 117 and Italian Heirloom. Thanks for the great video and blessings to you and your family.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us! Much appreciated! Blessings to you and your family as well.

[@mechele4848]

Sooo many😂 It seems like the one on my BLT is always my Fav whatever it might be at that moment😆

[@MidwestGardener]

I totally understand :)

[@BrockLanders-u9g]

Best tomato? Jersey tomatoes. There's something, I guess, about the soil in Southern New Jersey and the brutally hot and humid summers that make these so sweet and savory. They look like Brandywines. Just a couple more months to go...

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that.

[@BrockLanders-u9g]

@@MidwestGardener A great recipe for fresh tomatoes: fry up chopped bacon, remove the bacon pieces and remove half of the bacon fat. Add a corresponding amount of flour to the fat and make a roux. Now add roughly chopped tomatoes and stir. Then add back in the fried bacon pieces and add milk. Add black pepper and slightly reduce. It is indescribably delicious on scrambled eggs, biscuits, English muffins, etc.

[@grayghostmoseby7123]

I know exactly what you’re saying, there’s nothing like those , Jersey Tomatoes

[@8thcelisabeth]

Pink Tiger is the best tasting tomato. So is Copper River and Hillbilly.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites!

[@MarkBianchi-ez9xr]

Funny as I was watching this I kept saying it has to be Cherokee purple and black Krim near the top , and it was! I like Brandywine, but I grew Aunt Ruby German Green last year and imo it deserves a spot in the top 5 too.

[@MidwestGardener]

I agree. Aunt Ruby's German Green is underappreciated.

[@cjstenzel]

Yay! I'm growing Cherokee Purple for the 1st time this year, and it's the only variety I'm growing in this top 10! I'm also growing Beefsteak, Red Cherry, and Super Sweet 100! I hadn't even heard of half of theses! Thanks for sharing!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! You're gonna love Cherokee Purple.

[@aladrasullivan9018]

Cherokee purple is the best,you'll get hooked on them

[@paulschlecht5097]

Be warned on that there Super Sweet 100, it'll top out over 10'/>3 meters and spread out over anything near it.

[@cjstenzel]

Good to know, I just put three of them in the groud below an 8' trellis. @@paulschlecht5097

[@Carolynn-wt7py]

My first year growing cherokee purple as well. Remember them around as a kid then they sorta disappeared. So glad to find these again hope it is a good producer.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Jim, I'm enjoying one of the best tomato-growing years that I've had in quite a while. Of the four new (to me) varieties that I'm growing, one was a real standout. Unfortunately, I don't know which one it is, because the day I planted them my young great-grandson insisted on helping me plant "Matoes". The unfortunate part was... I didn't realize that my precious little one had pulled all of my plant tags out of the ground and had taken them home in his pocket. His mommy found them while doing laundry and threw the tags away. I didn't grow them from seed this year but purchased the tomato plants at a local nursery. I would definitely grow them again if I can figure out what variety they are. I hope you and your sweetheart have a wonderful weekend. ~Margie🤣😂🤣

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Margie! Lol, yep, those little ones can really surprise you sometimes. Hope you can figure out which one of the Matoes it was :) It sounds like a good one. We had a really good tomato year too, but I didn't get to enjoy them except for early and recently. Have a great weekend. It's going to be cooling down here soon.

[@MrJjeter]

I’d agree about Cherokee purple

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank for letting us know. The more input the better.

[@Just-Nikki]

I hope you’re feeling better Mr. Jim. I love pretty much all those tomatoes but I agree with the pole, Cherokee purple is everything you want in a tomato.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! I'm trying to figure out what my new normal is. Yep, you can't go wrong with Cherokee purple.

[@believablebaker]

Hard to argue with Black Krim getting on the medal podium - we’ve been growing them since we started our garden and they’re reliable producers of beautiful, super flavorful tomatoes. The best tomato I’ve ever had in terms of flavor is Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad - perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, and savory/umami. They’re likely not going to win an award for being the most productive plants, but the fruit they do bear are big and bursting with flavor.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on Aunt Lou’s Underground Railroad. That is one that I've never tried.

[@charlesscarborough7424]

Really difficult to narrow down to 1 favorite. I grew Cherokee Carbon, Rosella Purple, Mortgage Lifter, Pineapple, Sun Sugar Boronia and Uluru Ochre. I am a fan of all of them look forward to eating each one. No red headed step children on my list. Enjoy them all.

[@MidwestGardener]

That is an impressive list! You can't go wrong with those.

[@storytime9617]

Uluru Ochre is great. It grew well in central NC in the heat of the summer.

[@JamesDeTorre]

Lemon boy came thru this year, but Cherokee Purple is hard to beat. Rutgers and Marglobe are old favs too.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us! Those are some good ones.

[@savr4est]

German Johnson is my favorite.

[@davidnewcomb2700]

Terroir. Familiar with that term -- usually applied to wine: the climate, soil and weather. For that reason I appreciate knowing the location of the video producer. In the Pacific Northwest I grew Cherokee Purple, once. While it was very prolific, it won my bland award. An interesting experiment would be for many gardeners across the country to grow the exact, same source variety in their particular location and report results, even measuring acid and sugar with instruments.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, that would make a good experiment. These are the top 10 best tasting tomatoes according to 360,000 of my viewers. Those viewers are from all over the country, and all over the world.

[@livenletlive7537]

To me, the 10 best tasting tomatoes I will grow every year are: 1. Ananas Noire 2. Virginia Sweets 3. Sun Sugar cherry 4. Green Giant 5. Black Cherry 6. Kozula 179 7. Kentucky Plate 8. Pineapple Pig 9. Polish Beefsteak 10. Black Mamba

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your 10 favorites with us!

[@buckburton7318]

My personal favorites are, Black Krim, Black Russian, Cherokee Purple, Sun Sugar. I find Brandywine to be rather bland.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like a good list to me!

[@dustyflats3832]

I’m glad you mentioned flavor is different from year to year. I think it is different depending on area it’s grown also. I grew 25 varieties of heirloom tomatoes last year and can’t say I liked any of them. Sure the Sun Gold seemed to be many’s favorite, but I had a late season taste and I couldn’t tell if it was a grape or a tomato. I think we are losing the true tomato flavor and seems most vegetables are described more often then not as sweet. I tried the black tomatoes-Krim, Cherokee and black cherry and the cherry was fine, but the others just didn’t have it. Many of the heirlooms had a lot of waste due to scarring and not a fan of green shoulders or cores. To tell the truth we just opened a 2022 can of tomatoes and the aroma was terrific! I searched back and all but two were hybrids. I do like the Brandywine and still looking to find the right OP one to save seed, but I think I will gravitate back to hybrids I grew in 2022. The other thing is I don’t believe there can be so many varieties of true heirlooms. I think many are surfacing from backyard crosses. The acidity is being bred out and they don’t keep long. I thinks we are losing the true tomato flavor and that is why I’m looking to save seed before they go the way of the grape.

[@MidwestGardener]

That is a lot of tomatoes to grow and not like any of them. I hope you find some that work in your area.

[@joeortiz3455]

Black varieties, krim, Cherokee, tula, Paul robeson are fond of cooling weather. If your lucky to plant a fall crop the black varieties Excell even more. My favorite black is carbon. Still growing from original seed stock gained at tomato tasting. That was like in 2008. Fantastic tomato, stingy in spring at times,weather, but let's u know I'm a tomato in fall, have some. Lol. Grown them all here, still do. Krim, tula😢 are a must a must, Robeson always a bust. Bad seed from beginning. Oh the tomatos, anyone know of spudakee! I've had seeds for since 2011 I believe.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your experience with the tomatoes you've grown. Spudakee is one that I haven't tried.

[@ourv9603]

Top 10 best tasting tomatoes in the Midwest. What about in the PNW? or far northern Canada? Or Arizona? It all depends upon how & where you drive. !

[@MidwestGardener]

These are the top 10 best tasting tomatoes according to 360,000 of my viewers. Those viewers are from all over the country, and all over the world.

[@JohnJude-dp6ed]

I've raised most of your top listed. Our favorite tomato flavor is certainly the " Midnight Snack " also certainly our circle of friends favorites. I've gifted quite a few seedlings and I'm hearing from friends their friends and circle also are asking for the Midnight Snack . I've witnessed nearly every one's favorite as the Midnight Snack Favorite tomato and the one that makes half of my tomatoes that are for flavor as far as just plain or on sandwiches is the black Krim it's a early tomato it's delicious on sandwiches or just in a bowl my experience is it's productive now I've 24 plants for slicers and 14 is black Krim by choice as I raised my seedlings and half I gifted out are black Krim Most requested seedlings are my Midnight Snack and Black Krim. Taste only is Midnight Snack..

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on midnight snack.

[@CecilB-x7g]

The Paul Robertson & Black Krim are the two best tasting. I have better luck with the Robertson vs the Krim as the Krim has a problem cracking. I grew the Cherokee Purple and the ones I grew didn't taste as good as the other two

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing which ones worked for you, and which ones didn't.

[@shadaj]

I not a big tomato fan, but I do like to grow them for family and friends. Last year I got a late start with my planting so I wanted to start with seedlings rather than from seeds. The particular plant store I went to was almost out of vegetable plants and there were only 3 tomato plants left. Two were roma types and the third I had never heard of before. It was the Cherokee Purple. I grabbed all three. I planted each in separate pots and watched them grow to harvest. I was curious of how that Cherokee Purple would taste. It was delicious. I absolutely fell in love. It was sweet and tomato yummy without that strong acidy twang most tomatoes have. This year I started them from seed and am so looking forward to harvest. Cherokee Purple is my favorite number 1!

[@MidwestGardener]

Really glad you found it!

[@theeyesehaveit]

Me too- grew mine from seed this year…the tiniest of seed…have about 8 plants in pots outside. Gave away a few as well. They are - for me - the best tasting tomato ever. Also growing Rutgers.

[@jeffgibbs3835]

I've grew many different varieties in the East Tennessee mountains... I got to put two tomatoes in number 1# spot- The Black Sea Man and Gary O"sena (The Gary O'sena is a stabilized hybrid between Cherokee Purple and Pink Brandywine....

[@MidwestGardener]

That Gary O'sena sounds like an interesting one.

[@jeffgibbs3835]

Gary O'sena is like a Brandywine that produces great, with a touch of black tomato mixed in... Really a great tomato...

[@janking2762]

I think that your growing conditions determine your favorite ( it’s got both to grow and taste well). Generally we find purple and black tomatoes taste best in our zone 7B, but sun gold is really sweet but cracks a lot. Juliet is ok as a fresh tomato but grills/roasts very well and the flavor intensifies. Plus it’s highly disease resistant, very reliable. Purple boy is producing very well but seems slow to fully ripen, so can’t give it a ranking just yet.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us. I agree. Growing conditions does make a difference.

[@philippegarnier8222]

I am growing Black Krim right now and I'm not that impressed with it. Yes, its a great tasting tomato, but everyone of them cracks and I have trouble getting them to fully ripen on the vine. In fact I was not going to grow them next year because of these problems. The best tasting variety that I grew this year is Firefly and Baxter. I will try the Sun Gold next year because everyone I know prefers golden cherry tomatoes.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, they do split more than most types. Sun Gold is a good one. So is Sun Sugar.

[@danielhall941]

My favorite is brandy wine. Brown cherry tomatoe for a cherry tomatoe. The sweetest I’ve had is Snow White cherry tomatoe.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us!

[@bluebook709]

I have never had any luck growing tomatoes, and what they sell in the grocery stores these days (goes for all produce) is frankenfood modified to maximize profits, such as cantaloupe that is crunchy rather than velvet smooth as I remember them in the 60's, and now they are SUPER SWEET but do not taste a whole lot like cantaloupes. The tomatoes are genetically engineered to be picked hard as rocks and gassed to make them only ripen later when snow is on the ground. They also have about 2% of the flavor they had 60 years ago. Makes you feel a little sorry for the young people who probably never tasted real food. There is a fruit stand near me though that gets some really good local heirloom tomatoes and other fruits and veg.

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad you have access to some locally grown heirlooms. Those have to be so much better than the ones in the store. I really don't consider the usual offerings in the grocery store as real tomatoes. Some of them have so little flavor.

[@sovannay9540]

My best test of tomatoes all time is #1 is Cherokee # 2is black krim #3 pink brindy wine #4 German johonson #5 cherry tomatoes with pear shaped and skin a little tough all those top 5 is just very tasty so I can easily eat by itself with a salt and I package to my lunch time and not count super beefsteak tomatoes that can eat with a sandwich so my supper best taste all the time is CHEROKEE Is the winner,because I can 3 to 4 fruit in one time and I will grow a gain and a gain and the fruit production not to bad.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's a nice list! Thanks for sharing it.

[@jasonsechrist1]

Your list I would put brandywine above all. My personal favorites that I've tried is persimmon and ananas noir. These 2 are very delicious and beautiful tomatoes. The persimmon is by far the meatiest I've seen with hardly any seeds or core. Ananas noir is just hard to beat on taste and looks. They amaze me everytime. The cherokee and black krim are very good but seem to struggle in high heat and often crack or split wide open with any rain. They succumb to blight much sooner and often are dead way earlier. They do produce quite a bit of tomatoes early so it's really not a bad trade off but I have to throw a lot of big ones away because they split so bad. Brandywine splits too but not quite as bad. German johnson has zero cracking and is close to the brandywine but not as big.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us, and for the detailed comparison.

[@sherrygadberryturner9527]

Amazon Chocolate, Summer Cider Apricot and Rasoyvi Flamingo (Russian tomato).

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your unique list!

[@nmccutcheon2243]

Down here in the south, hot and humid, cherry tomatoes thrive the best. Of those Black Cherry and Sun Gold are fantastic. Larger tomatoes like Rutgers, Parks Whopper and good ole Romas produce well and are delicious.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing which ones work for you down south!

[@guyindecatur]

I'm also in the deep south. You're lucky if you don't have bacterial wilt in your soil.

[@theMaryAnneR]

Brandywine, Nepal, Cherokee Purple, Sicilian Saucer, Hutterite, Yellow Pear, all do well for me in our hot Canadian summers.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us! Interesting list!

[@festusthedog3062]

My number one for taste is Cherokee Chocolate, but I get better production and earlier harvest from Cherokee Purple. I grow both.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites. There are tons of people who are with you on the Cherokee Purple.

[@vswangren]

Black Krim is definitely my favorite. I use them in my spaghetti sauce, tomato jam and chili sauce. Delicious and versatile.

[@MidwestGardener]

I agree. Delicious and versatile.

[@ToddHastings-ji5lp]

Goliath. They're meaty ,have just the right mix of sweetness and acidity. Plus, they dont splitand deform as much as other heirlooms

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite tomato with us!

[@bobg5362]

Cherokee Purple and Black Cherry are my favorites. I started growing them both around ten years ago. Had to start my own from seed because all you could ever find as far as seedlings were the usual hybrid suspects. About four-five years ago I noticed the Cherokees were suddenly available at nurseries everywhere, and even the big box stores. I guess the secret got out.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, the secret got out. I hope they start selling some of the other great tasting heirlooms.

[@kristinebailey6554]

Growing Sun gold and Sun sugar in Colorado, and as arid as it is, they are prolific! Very pleased with output and flavor.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, they are both good ones. Ours keep us busy just keeping them picked.

[@UT33200]

The C.Purple is king. Lots of great types on there. Over here nostalgia can't save it forever so close behind the CP at least for now is the Pineapple for Angel and the Black Beauty for me. So many great types though can spend forever trying new ones. Great video. Thanks for the share!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! It's always fun to try a new one or two each year. That's how I found some of my favorites.

[@SK-lt1so]

German Stripe It's a pain to grow, prone to blight, low, slow production.

[@MidwestGardener]

I never had any luck with it.

[@adriennel578]

Going through and tracking all of the viewers comments must have been a lot of work! Thank you for making this!

[@MidwestGardener]

It was! I thought it would be some useful information though. I might have missed a few, because some of the comments were very long, and some of the conversations also.

[@adriennel578]

It was, thank you again. I wanted to mention awhile ago I got a sundew plant, thanks to one of your videos!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@adriennel578 That's awesome! I hope you enjoy growing the sundew as much as I do. They are fascinating plants.

[@MikeHunt-c5p]

We get alot of sun out here in desert SW. Better Boys always do well, super fantastic s most beef stakes, get some shade. Heirlooms seem to need sandier soils with humidity

[@MidwestGardener]

A lot of heirlooms can be kind of picky about climate. Glad you've found some that work for you in your area.

[@zinnia3190]

This was a good year for tomatoes. I sowed then transplanted 23 varieties early, so most of the harvest was earlier than usual and before the terrible heat. Our favorite was Paul Robeson. Consoluto Genevese and Chef's Choice Orange #2 & #3. We tried a new cherry, Orange Roussolini. Loved it, and it's still going strong. Glad to see a video, Jim. Hope you're healing and doing well.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! I'm improving slowly but surely. Glad you had a good tomato year. We did here also.

[@rulistening7777]

This was good... but it would really help to know which are determinate and which are non- determinate.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Most if not all are indeterminate.

[@gapey]

Thanks for sharing. I have grown all but german pink, black from tula and cherokee purple. However, I already have plans of growing cherokee purple next year so do not worry. I will give you two favorites. My fav cherry tomato is barrys crazy cherry and my fav large tomato is a new one I grew this year called orange crush. It's quite productive, tastes great and has virtually no seeds which makes it difficult for seed saving and also difficult to find seeds for but great on burgers and sandwiches.

[@MidwestGardener]

Orange crush sounds interesting. Productive and great taste are two qualities that I value. I might have to check that out. Hope you enjoy cherokee purple. It seems like everyone on the planet does :)

[@dustyflats3832]

@@MidwestGardenerI must be the odd one as I didn’t like C. purple.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@dustyflats3832 Well, we don't all have to like the same thing. Hopefully you can find a few that light up your taste buds.

[@dustyflats3832]

@@MidwestGardener 😂 just saying because you said everyone on the planet. My tastebuds are ok, but finding too many tomatoes inferior. I think they are losing real tomato flavor and aroma in place of sweetness and less acid.

[@danieparriott265]

I like both Black Krim and Cherokee Purple ... I found Cherokee Purple doesn't produce for me as well as the Black Krims .... Green Zebras are a nice change of pace.... Sweet 100 Cherry tomatoes are reliably sweet and always prolific .... I raised some of Baker Creek's Atomic Cherry Tomatoes one year .... Very tasty, and very pretty, too. Those would be my top 5 tomatoes for eating fresh ....

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites. I never could get Cherokee Purple to produce well for me either.

[@edwardenglish6919]

Every year I choose about 40 varieties of tomatoes to grow. I plant cherry, orange, green, striped, black, red, pink and paste varieties, each for proven flavor and yield. If I could grow only one, it would be the Hungarian Heart. It has exceptional flavor, is very meaty, a good slicer and makes for great cooking and canning.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch for sharing your favorites with us!

[@stel1000]

Do you know rhe clodin variant? Its slightly green and is the type of tomato that has the thick skin and can grow without much water or a very prepared soil.

[@MidwestGardener]

I haven't heard of that one. Sounds like it might be good for some climates.

[@Dreamalittle1]

Black Prince is very good as well.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@starvingarts901]

I love the purple Cherokee tomatoes. But I can't get them to produce really well. I hope you do a video on that

[@MidwestGardener]

I've had the same problem with Cherokee Purple. That is why I stopped growing it years ago.

[@chansetabke1338]

Was the yield good on the black krim? I got one because i had never seen them around here before, if the yield is good I might have to go pick up some more!

[@MidwestGardener]

I would call the yield average for us.

[@duaneclark7108]

I’m growing caspian pinks and better boys for the first time this year. Hoping they are good.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good luck! Hope they work out great for you.

[@keyphabenyisrael3219]

Black Krim is OK but doesn't grow well for me this year, & 1 plant died in a spot other varieties were thriving in. I've never understood the need to rank things, or declare something in a particular category the favorite or #1 best, I just like what I like. I suppose it stems from me being left handed/right-brained LOL. Anyway I don't think anyone can go wrong growing sun gold, Paul Robeson, Cherokee purple, Mortgage Lifter, Pink Brandywine, Amana Orange, Pineapple, San Marzano, Delicious.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're right. You can't go wrong with a list like that.

[@ChuckNicholsonTRM]

Great list! I've never tried black krim. I may have to do that next year. I love the taste of Cherokee purple, but I've always had issues with growing them in South Carolina and just don't get very many. I've had similar issues with big rainbow which also has excellent flavor, but low production for me. I get great results with pink brandywine though. For cherry tomatoes I've had great results year after year with Blush cherry. It has excellent flavor, especially if you make sure to let it reach full ripeness.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorites with us. I never got good production from Cherokee Purple either. We get very hot very early here some years, and I think that might have something to do with it.

[@mlang3066]

Kellogg’s breakfast is a yellow tomato. Cherokee purple is my fav, and burgess triple crop comes in second. Am trying The Abe Lincoln this year, can hardly wait…

[@MidwestGardener]

You've grown some good ones.

[@MatthewMennn]

I grew a tie-dye tomato plant one year and the taste of it blew my mind and nothing has come close to that taste since but I’m growing black Krim this year and pineapple can’t wait to try them both.

[@MidwestGardener]

Hope you enjoy Black Krim as much as we did.

[@got2kittys]

Dry farmed, or dry finished tomatos makes the most flavorful tomatoes I ever grew.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip.

[@CP-fe6jr]

I don't have a top ten, but last year (and again this year) I am growing one called Hungarian Heart, which I recon is the best tomato I have ever tasted, it is heart shaped the biggest one was over 500 g in weight and easily 6 inches in diameter, very few seeds and solid flesh. Second favourite is Brandywine.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on Hungarian Heart. Sounds like a good one.

[@sued.530]

Good Afternoon Jim - So glad to hear from you this morning and hope the healing is continuing to go well for you. I had to take notes from this video as I have not grown any of these varieties. LOL Appreciate the experience of your audience for all new gardeners and for your research in making this video. Wishing you a blessed weekend and stay cool..

[@MidwestGardener]

Good afternoon! Thanks! I think the valuable thing about this video is that it's not just one person's opinion. Any of these are worth trying. Have a great weekend!

[@whatnow8362]

Paul Robeson is my husbands fav but your right it doesn’t have high yield. That’s ok for us because there’s only the two of us. Last year I grew 2 and this year I’m growing 5 so that should be enough.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, 5 should do it. It's great to find a favorite.

[@leonardopascotto9971]

Im growing the cherokee purole this year...🤞

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice! Good luck!

[@Mariefrancegrsce]

I'm a big fan of cherry tomatoes 🍅😋😍 Thank you for sharing.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad I could help!

[@his-sweetie]

Black krim, Paul R, Cherokee purple, Kellogg's b, Gold Medal are my favorites no order just love. In fact I am running in place trying to decide what to start. This year.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like a pretty good list to me! Thanks for sharing it with us. Which ones to grow is one of the hardest parts of the season. Good luck!

[@bigal25938]

I can’t get black krims to turn out. They rot before they ripen.

[@MidwestGardener]

I sure hate to hear that.

[@funksniffer2598]

I like white variations, like white tomesol and great white

[@MidwestGardener]

White Tomesol can be amazing some years. I grew it twice. Once it was amazing, and the next year, it was kind of bland.

[@Cobunny2dan]

We have Black Krim and Black Prince this year.

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice selections!

[@gelwood99]

Cherokee Purple so far is my all-time favorite. It was not a great year for tomatoes in my garden. Next year will be better! I tried Paul Robeson this year, Juliet(a cherry), a White Tomato, And Dr. Wyches. I had heard people rave over Paul Robeson but Cherokee Purple kicked its fanny in taste. The Dr. Wyches was a yellow and tasted great. I will try the Black Krim next year along with Pork Chop, Pieapple, and Kealogges Breakfast, and 2 I can't remember the names but are from Strictly Medicinal seeds, and one was said to be as sweet as Sun Gold but is an heirloom so I can save seeds. I can say it has been a bumper year for peppers. Glad to see you feeling better!🙏💞

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Glad to hear you had a great pepper year. Hopefully next year will be good for tomatoes and peppers.

[@chuckmccain9100]

Black beauty has less pulp veins in it and makes the best slicer and hellish juice with the skins!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the information!

[@macylouwho1187]

Based on your recommendation from a previous video I watched, I got online and purchased 30 Black Krim seeds. Nearly all of them sprouted. They are now outside growing fast. I love the look of them from pics and videos, so I’m excited to try them. Thanks for the recommendations.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad I could help! I hope you like them as much as we do.

[@ridenourbikewithdystonia5888]

Black Krim is my very favorite. I was happy to see it made number 2. it's number 1, in my books. The best tomatoe sandwich

[@MidwestGardener]

I agree. I think most of the ones who like Cherokee Purple better haven't even grown Black Krim.

[@guyindecatur]

Sandwich? Nah! Just a splash of vinegar, evoo and salt. Chill them in the fridge for about 30+ minutes before serving.

[@whatsyurprob158]

Vine ripe, the "Celebrity" is without a doubt the absolute best tomatoe my mouth has ever enjoyed, it's not even close! The 'inside' color of this gem doesn't look organic >>>> as if it were something man-made just for eye appeal. Strawberry color, but florescent 😘 >>>> and it's all natural. The juice and meat it contains >>>> again, it's not even close!!! 🇺🇸

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite with us.

[@MOE-gm3si]

Have you tried Cherokee Purple? Or many varieties in general?

[@michelebarnes4059]

One of my favorites is Dad's Sunset from Bakers Creek Seeds, which is a very sweet, large yellow tomato with no cracks, very productive,mine produce up to late fall.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on Dad's Sunset. I've never tried that one.

[@marathon1951]

Agree, grew Dad's last year from Baker Creek.. Delicious and productive. In Central Oregon high desert at 3000 ft, short season, but it was in my top 2/3 tomatoes.

[@titusrider7948]

I like your video but dude, sharpen your knife 😅

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@ofrecentvintage]

What a cool way to crowdsource a tomato growing list! I don't have any of these ten (though I've heard of them all) and tomatoes are probably my favorite vegetable to eat, so I've got seeds for more than 80 varieties. Super interesting!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Let us know if you find any winners among those 80 varieties.

[@ofrecentvintage]

@@MidwestGardener I will! I can't grow all 80 in any given year but my favorite flavor standout last year was a grape tomato called Moonbeam. And last year was a challenging season with all of the Canadian wildfire smoke, too much rain and too cool summer. I'll report back with this year's winners!

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Uncle Jim, this is a cool video!!!! ❤ My favorite this year that I grew was Aunt Ruby's German Green 💚 I will grow this every year now. I need to try Black Krim again. It just stinks that covid has officially changed my taste buds and tomatoes don't taste like they used to for me. It's horrible. But I just have to get used to the "new" taste and go off that.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Andrea! Aunt Ruby's German Green is a good one. It's hard to describe the flavor, but it is delicious. Yes, that is terrible that covid changed how things taste for you. I could tell by your last video that some of them still taste pretty good though.

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

@@MidwestGardener Haha, yeah. It's like my taste buds have to get used to tomatoes again every growing season now. It's weird. Anyway, I refuse to give up! 😤 😆

[@dustyflats3832]

I don’t think it’s tastebud problem. I think we are losing true tomato flavor. Too many of the varieties are Not True heirlooms, just backyard crosses. I grew 25 varieties of heirlooms in 23 and didn’t like any of them. Many that have been listed in these comments. Location has a lot to do with flavor, but out of 25 I should have had at least one I liked. Too much crossing and losing acidity and the tomatoes don’t keep well.

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

@dustyflats3832 yeah, I can totally understand that! I definitely think location and growing conditions can really effect taste. But unfortunately covid really has effected my taste. There was a dramatic change in how tomatoes taste to me after I lost my sense of taste because of covid. I've had to get used to the new taste of things. It's definitely a cross in my opinion. I also can't smell things like I used to.

[@suhc3437]

Welcome back😘! Your video is so great, I learned a lot about tomatoes. Thank you so much!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@stepanbandera5206]

Volkov Ukrainian heirloom. You have a great list there!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite!

[@davidniemi6553]

Welcome back! I was starting to worry about you! I love many kinds of tomatoes but have been more focused on disease resistance and productivity in a shady environment. My current favorite is a beefsteak-like indeterminate variety I call "super bush", descended from what was supposed to be a pepper seed I started 5 years ago -- it is cold-tolerant, with a strong stem, somewhat early and still one of the latest-producing every fall. This year all of them survived unusually hot wet weather in July in which nearly all heirlooms, including Cherokee Purple, succumbed to Fusarium Blight (a few other hybrids and enhanced heirlooms also survived). Super Bush was also the most productive of a full-sun raised bed in a friend's allotment. I hope I can move on from survival and productivity to a bigger focus on taste down the road -- thanks for the road map of varieties to try. I did succeed in growing Sungold this year, and it was incredibly sweet and productive early on. I also grew some tiny wild Mexican tomatoes that have a great intense flavor. But neither of these survived July.

[@davidniemi6553]

Further note -- I've attempted Cherokee Purple, Pruden's Purple, and Brandywine but have never gotten to taste a ripe example of any of these.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! I understand why you focus on types that work well in your growing conditions. Our biggest challenge here is the heat that we have some years worse than others. We had an extremely hot August here with the two hottest days being 111 and 108 F., or somewhere around 42 and 43 C. Since I couldn't really do much during that time, some plants just didn't make it. There is always next season though :)

[@davidniemi6553]

In my general area it got up around 100F a few times, but in the forest it rarely broke 90. A dry spring followed by a wet July/early August and then a dry 3 weeks (that just ended) wiped out perhaps half my tomato plants -- most of that was Fusarium while it was wet and hot at the same time for most of a 6 week period. Very distinctive symptoms -- leaves turn yellow starting all on one side, progressing up the plant, and a dry wilt on the top then kills the plant. Plants with resistance have a much slower progression and can hang on until weather improves, or even completely avoid symptoms.

[@oldfarmshow]

👍❤️

[@TvrdolinijasSaPala]

Abe Lincoln ?

[@MidwestGardener]

I haven't heard from very many folks who list that one as their favorite. Sounds like you have an excellent winter garden!

[@CrisAnderson27]

Very cool video. My favorite full size (so far, it's my first year trying other types outside of store bought) is the Cherokee Purple. Next to that would be an orange variety my neighbor gave me (she doesn't know what it is lol). For cherry tomatoes, it's a toss up between the Sun Sugar, and the Black Cherry...with the Black Cherry probably edging it out as they're heavy producers, and I can save seeds and regrow season to season. The Sun Sugars are a hybrid, and less prolific, but because of this...they literally don't make it out of the garden lol.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! If this is your first year trying, you've got a lot of exploring to do. One that I've been growing for a few years that I think is worth trying is Rosella Purple. It's a dwarf that tops out at about 4 feet tall, and tastes great. Good luck with the rest of the season.

[@CrisAnderson27]

@@MidwestGardener It is my first year...and my wife says tomatoes have taken over my brain, lol. I have Black Krim and Sunray seeds being delivered today (it's going to be hard to save them for next year, but I don't think I have enough time this year in 6b-7a). There's SO many different types to try. I'll definitely add Rosella Purple to the list lol.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@CrisAnderson27 Lol, that can happen. You're right, it's a little to late to start more.