Here’s a clear, practical Tomato Guide you can use whether you’re growing, buying, or cooking tomatoes 🍅
🍅 TOMATO GUIDE
1️⃣ Main Types of Tomatoes
Slicing Tomatoes
Best for sandwiches & burgers
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Beefsteak
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Big Boy
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Brandywine (heirloom)
Traits: Large, juicy, mild to sweet
Roma / Plum Tomatoes
Best for sauces & canning
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Roma
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San Marzano
Traits: Meaty, low moisture, fewer seeds
Cherry & Grape Tomatoes
Best for snacking & salads
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Cherry
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Grape
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Sungold
Traits: Small, very sweet, thin skins
Heirloom Tomatoes
Best for fresh eating
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Cherokee Purple
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Green Zebra
Traits: Unique colors, rich flavor, irregular shape
2️⃣ Determinate vs Indeterminate
🌱 Determinate (Bush)
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Grow to a set size
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Produce all at once
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Good for containers & canning
Examples: Roma, Celebrity
🌿 Indeterminate (Vining)
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Grow continuously
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Produce all season
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Need staking or cages
Examples: Cherry, Beefsteak, most heirlooms
3️⃣ How to Grow Tomatoes (Basics)
☀️ Sun
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6–8+ hours daily (more sun = better flavor)
🌱 Soil
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Well-draining, rich soil
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pH: 6.0–6.8
💧 Watering
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Deep watering 2–3x per week
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Keep soil consistent (prevents cracking & blossom end rot)
🌡️ Temperature
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Ideal: 70–85°F (21–29°C)
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Flowers drop below 55°F or above 85–90°F
4️⃣ Common Tomato Problems & Fixes
❌ Blossom End Rot
Cause: Calcium uptake issue
Fix: Consistent watering + mulch
❌ Cracking
Cause: Irregular watering
Fix: Water evenly
❌ Yellow Leaves
Cause: Overwatering or nutrient deficiency
Fix: Improve drainage, feed lightly
❌ Pests
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Aphids → hose spray
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Hornworms → hand-pick
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Whiteflies → neem oil
5️⃣ Harvesting Tomatoes
✔ Harvest when fully colored
✔ Slight softness when squeezed
✔ Twist gently off vine
Tip: Tomatoes ripen off the vine — pick early if pests are a problem.
6️⃣ Storing Tomatoes (Very Important!)
❌ Never refrigerate uncut tomatoes
✔ Store at room temperature, stem-side down
✔ Refrigerate only after cutting
7️⃣ Best Tomatoes for Cooking
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Sauce: Roma, San Marzano
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Roasting: Cherry, grape
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Salads: Heirloom, cherry
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Canning: Paste tomatoes
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Salsa: Roma + cherry combo
8️⃣ Flavor Boost Tips
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Don’t overwater
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Add compost
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Let tomatoes ripen fully
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Grow in full sun
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Stress plants slightly once established (better flavor)
If you want, I can also give you:
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A tomato planting calendar
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A container-growing guide
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A tomato disease photo guide
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A best tomato varieties by climate