Eye-catching, bountiful varieties

Tomatoes are greenhouse growers’ most profitable plant (Greenhouse Management’s “Top 15,” January 2014, page 25). New varieties continue to provide consumers with a range of tastes and eye-pleasing looks for decks and patios, as well as gardens. Here are some varieties that are new for Bonnie Plants.

For more: www.bonnieplants.com

Production:

The Biltmore tomato is celebrated for its ability to ripen a large amount of fruit all at once for efficient home canning. Its full flavor makes it a great choice for salads and on sandwiches. Fruits have thick skins and keep well on vines without cracking. Even though these are determinate (bush) tomatoes, the plants benefit from staking. Half-whiskey-barrel planters work well. The plants are resistant to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, alternaria stem canker, and Stemphylium (gray leaf spot).

Light: Full sun
Fruit size: 10 ounces
Matures: 68 to 74 days
Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches apart
Plant size: 3 to 4 feet tall
Plant type: Determinate

Container’s Choice tomato was developed to thrive and produce flavorful slicer fruits in containers. They can be grown on decks or patios and will provide enough fruit to share with neighbors. The bush-type plants also look great as ornamentals when surrounded with flowers, too.

Light: Full sun
Fruit size: 5 ounces
Matures: 63 to 70 days
Plant spacing: 24 to 36 inches apart
Plant size: 18 to 48 inches tall
Plant type: Determinate

Even though Container’s Choice is a determinate tomato, plants do benefit from staking. They can be planted in pots at least 20 inches across. This tomato does well in traditional gardens, too. Resistant to fusarium wilt races 1 and 2.

Indigo Rose is an eye-catching purple tomato, which develops its beautifully dusky pigment when exposed to direct sunlight. The purple skin boasts high levels of anthocyanins, disease-fighting compounds that help fight cancer, reduce inflammation, and slow the aging process. Inside, fruits offer tasty rouge-tone flesh. Tomatoes are ripe when skin turns from shiny blue-purple to dull purple-brown and the bottoms of the fruits turn from green to red.

Indigo Rose produces a heavy crop whether planted in pots or a traditional garden. Even though these are more compact than many other indeterminate tomatoes, plants do benefit from staking. They can be planted in 20-inch or larger pots or in half-whiskey-barrel planters. Plants are resistant to early blight.

Light: Full sun
Fruit Size: 2 ounces
Matures: 70 to 80 days
Plant spacing: 36 inches apart
Plant size: 3 to 5 feet tall
Plant type: Indeterminate

San Marzano heirloom tomato is teardrop-shaped and meaty. These plum-type tomatoes are known for their sweet, complex flavor and are used in pasta sauce as well as salads and sandwiches.

These vigorous indeterminate tomatoes produce heavy fruit loads and need sturdy, tall stakes or cages. Expect vines to bear fruit right up to frost. They can be tucked into 10-gallon containers or half-whiskey-barrel planters. They are resistant to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt races 1 and 2.

Light: Full sun
Fruit size: 5 to 6 ounces
Matures: 85 to 90 days
Plant spacing: 36 inches
Plant size: 4 to 6 feet tall
Plant type: Indeterminate

Tumbling Tom Red tomato plants cascade from hanging baskets, tall containers, or window boxes; when the containers are loaded with sparkling red fruit, the effect is striking. Anticipate a harvest of up to four pounds of tomatoes per plant, with new fruit ripening throughout the summer.

These plants have a trailing growth habit, so they don’t need staking. The plants can be tucked into tall pots or large hanging baskets. They are resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, and nematodes.

Light: Full sun
Fruit size: 1 to 2 ounces
Matures: 63 to 70 days
Plant spacing: 10 inches apart
Plant size: 6 to 8 inches tall, up to 30 inches long
Plant type: Compact determinate (cascading)

Tumbling Tom Yellow tomatoes have stems that cascade freely from hanging baskets, tall containers, or window boxes and yellow fruit, making for a striking effect. You’ll get a harvest of up to four pounds of tomatoes per plant, with new fruit ripening throughout the summer.

These plants have a trailing growth habit, so they don’t need staking. Plants can be grown in tall pots or large hanging baskets. They are resistant to fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, and nematodes.

Light: Full sun
Fruit size: 1 to 2 ounces
Matures: 63 to 70 days
Plant spacing: 10 inches apart
Plant size: 6 to 8 inches tall, up to 30 inches long
Plant type: Compact determinate (cascading)

Did you know? Fresh-market tomatoes are grown in all 50 states and that they are grown by 93 percent of American gardening households.