🍅 How to Use This List
Before you dive in, hereโs a quick cheat sheet so you know what youโre looking atโand what will actually work for you.
All varieties on this list are selected for:
- North Texas heat
- Clay soils
- Humidity + unpredictable weather
- Real-world performance (not just catalog hype)
🌱 Growth Habits (How the plant grows)
Determinate (typically Bush-types)
- Grow to a set size
- Produce most fruit at once
- Great for: sauces, canning, smaller spaces
Indeterminate (Typically Vining-types)
- Keep growing and producing all season
- Need support (cages, trellis, string)
- Great for: continuous harvest, fresh eating
Semi-Determinate
- Usually grow somewhere in between a bush and vine
- More controlled growth, longer harvest than bush
Micro / Patio
- Compact plants for containers
- Ideal for: pots, patios, small gardens
🧬 Tomato Types (What youโre actually buying)
Heirloom
- Open-pollinated, passed down over time
- Known for: flavor, uniqueness
Hybrid
- Bred for performance
- Known for: disease resistance, reliability, production
New Heirloom
- Open-pollinated, but more recent selections
- Often combine uniqueness + improved performance
Hybrid (Heirloom Cross)
- Designed to bring heirloom flavor into a more reliable plant
⏱️ Days to Harvest (Why it matters)
- Tells you how quickly a tomato will start producing
- Critical in North Texas
- Earlier = better chance to beat extreme summer heat
- Later varieties can still performโbut timing matters
⭐ Flavor Rating
-
- = standout / superior flavor
- These are the ones people come back for
🎯 Bottom Line
- Every tomato here is chosen because it can actually succeed in North Texas
- Match the plant to your space, goals, and timing
- And if youโre not sureโstart with something early, productive, and proven
The FULL List:
Ace
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~85
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Bright and slightly tangy with a savory backboneโleans toward that old-school, backyard tomato flavor with a clean, honest finish
Best For: Beginner-friendly, slicing
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Andrew Rahartโs Jumbo Red
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 80โ90
Fruit: Large red beefsteak
Flavor: Big, juicy, and deeply old-fashionedโrich tomato flavor with a slightly tangy edge that holds up beautifully in thick slices*
Best For: Slicing, sandwiches
Anna Asa
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Small red cherry
Flavor: Juicy and lightly sweet with a fresh, clean finishโmore โtrue tomatoโ than sugary candy
Best For: Snacking, salads
Beefmaster
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Large red beefsteak
Flavor: Meaty, bold, and satisfying with deep tomato richnessโbuilt for thick slices that donโt fall apart
Best For: Slicing, high yields
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Beefsteak
Type: Mixed
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ90
Fruit: Large slicers
Flavor: Rich, juicy, and deeply satisfyingโranges from savory and bold to creamy and sweet depending on selection*
Best For: BLTs, slicing
Better Boy
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Large red slicer
Flavor: Classic, juicy, and well-balancedโthis is the flavor most people picture when they think of a homegrown tomato
Best For: Slicing, beginner-friendly
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Big Beef
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Large red beefsteak
Flavor: Bold, juicy, and beautifully balancedโdelivers both flavor and performance better than almost any hybrid*
Best For: BLTs, high production
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes
Black from Tula
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 75โ85
Fruit: Dark mahogany slicer
Flavor: Deep, smoky, and slightly wine-like with lingering savory complexityโone of those tomatoes that keeps unfolding as you eat it*
Best For: Flavor, slicing
Black Krim
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ80
Fruit: Dark maroon slicer
Flavor: Savory, slightly salty, and rich with deep umami characterโalmost briny in the best way*
Best For: Flavor, fresh eating
Black Prince
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ80
Fruit: Dark red slicer
Flavor: Sweet at first bite, then gently smoky on the finishโlighter and fruitier than most dark tomatoes
Best For: Fresh eating
Blue Pear
Type: New Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Blue-purple pear
Flavor: Mildly sweet with a subtle earthy undertoneโmore about visual appeal than bold intensity
Best For: Visual interest, novelty
Brandywine
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 80โ90
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Rich, creamy, and almost buttery with a full, lingering finishโan iconic heirloom flavor that defines what a tomato can be*
Best For: Flavor, slicing
Celebrity
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Semi-determinate
Plant Type: Bushy vine
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Medium-large red slicer
Flavor: Smooth and balanced with mild sweetness and just enough acidityโdependable and broadly appealing
Best For: Beginner-friendly, reliable production
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes
Champion
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 65โ75
Fruit: Medium-large red slicer
Flavor: Mildly sweet and clean with a soft finishโeasygoing and consistent
Best For: Beginner-friendly
Cherokee Purple
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 75โ85
Fruit: Dusky purple slicer
Flavor: Smoky, layered, and deeply complex with a rich, almost wine-like finishโone of the most memorable tomatoes you can grow*
Best For: Flavor
Crimson Sprinter
Type: New Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~65โ70
Fruit: Red slicer
Flavor: Bright and lively with a slightly sweet edgeโfresh, energetic, and earlier than most heirlooms
Best For: Early harvest
Early Girl
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 57โ65
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Bright, tangy, and energeticโthe first true taste of summer in the garden
Best For: Early harvest, reliability
Earlโs Faux
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Smooth, rich, and creamy with mellow sweetnessโdeep heirloom flavor without harsh acidity*
Best For: Slicing, flavor
Floradade Heat Set
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Clean, bright, and lightly tangyโholds its flavor surprisingly well in high heat when other tomatoes start to taste washed out
Best For: Heat tolerance, Southern gardens
Fourth of July
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 49โ60
Fruit: Small red slicer
Flavor: Fresh, lively, and slightly sweet with a crisp finishโmore about early satisfaction than deep complexity
Best For: Early harvest, quick production
Fox Cherry
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Red cherry
Flavor: Sweet with a touch of tang and a refreshing snapโsimple, bright, and very snackable
Best For: Snacking
Giant Heart Climber
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80โ85
Fruit: Large red oxheart
Flavor: Dense, meaty, and low in juice with a smooth, almost silky textureโmore substance than splash
Best For: Slicing, sauces
Gransasso
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Red paste
Flavor: Deep, concentrated, and slightly smokyโbuilds richness quickly when cooked and holds its body well
Best For: Sauces
Granny Cantrell
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Sweet, low-acid, and almost creamy with a soft, gentle finishโvery easy to eat fresh*
Best For: Fresh eating, low-acid preference
Heatmaster
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Medium-large red slicer
Flavor: Meaty and balanced with steady sweetnessโdesigned to hold flavor even under heat stress
Best For: Heat tolerance, reliability
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes, Tomato mosaic virus
Heirloom Marriage Big Brandy
Type: Hybrid (Heirloom cross)
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Rich and creamy with heirloom depth, but cleaner and more consistent than traditional Brandywine*
Best For: Flavor, reliability
Heirloom Marriage Genuwine
Type: Hybrid (Heirloom cross)
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~70โ75
Fruit: Large red slicer
Flavor: Bold, juicy, and balanced with a nice sweet-savory interplayโbridges heirloom flavor and hybrid performance
Best For: Slicing
HM 1823
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Balanced and steady with a classic tomato profileโmore about reliability than standout flavor
Best For: Heat tolerance, dependable production
Homestead
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: 75โ80
Fruit: Deep red slicer
Flavor: Rich, full-bodied, and slightly tangy with that classic Southern garden depth
Best For: Heat tolerance
Husky Red
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Compact vine
Mature Height: 3โ4 ft
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Red cherry
Flavor: Sweet, juicy, and clean with a crisp biteโclassic cherry tomato flavor in a compact plant
Best For: Containers, snacking
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Indigo Rose
Type: New Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Deep purple-black
Flavor: Mildly sweet with a subtle earthy note and soft finishโmore visual novelty than flavor powerhouse
Best For: Visual appeal, novelty
Indigo Ruby
Type: New Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~70โ75
Fruit: Purple-red cherry
Flavor: Brighter and sweeter than most anthocyanin types, with a lively, clean finish that makes it genuinely enjoyable
Best For: Snacking, specialty
Jubilee Yellow
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Yellow slicer
Flavor: Mild, smooth, and low-acid with a clean, refreshing finishโlight and easygoing
Best For: Fresh eating
Juliet
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~60
Fruit: Red grape
Flavor: Sweet, rich, and slightly dense with more substance than typical cherriesโalmost meaty in a small form*
Best For: Snacking, salads
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Kentucky Beefheart
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Pink-red oxheart
Flavor: Dense, velvety, and meaty with a smooth, low-acid richnessโvery little gel, lots of flesh
Best For: Slicing, sauces
Kimโs Civil War
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Pink oxheart
Flavor: Smooth and mellow with gentle sweetnessโsoft texture and very approachable flavor
Best For: Fresh eating
Lemon Boy
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Bright yellow slicer
Flavor: Light, sweet, and gently citrusy with very low acidityโclean, refreshing, and easy to love
Best For: Fresh eating
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Little Napoli
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Compact bush
Mature Height: 18โ24 in
Days to Harvest: 60โ65
Fruit: Red paste
Flavor: Dense, silky, and richly concentratedโlow moisture and high flavor, perfect for sauces that donโt need much reduction*
Best For: Containers, sauces
Louisiana All Season
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Balanced with a slight tang and steady tomato depthโholds up well in heat without fading
Best For: Heat tolerance
Marglobe
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Smooth red slicer
Flavor: Mild, clean, and gently sweetโsubtle but dependable and versatile
Best For: Canning, fresh eating
Resistance: Fusarium wilt
Micro Tom
Type: New Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Micro bush
Mature Height: 6โ8 in
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Tiny red cherry
Flavor: Bright, punchy, and surprisingly intense for its sizeโlike a concentrated burst of tomato flavor
Best For: Containers, indoor growing
Mortgage Lifter
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 80โ85
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Mild, smooth, and slightly sweet with a soft finishโless sharp, more approachable in big slices
Best For: Slicing
Mountain Magic
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Red salad tomato
Flavor: Bright, juicy, and slightly tangy with a firm biteโexcellent flavor for a highly disease-resistant tomato*
Best For: Disease resistance, snacking
Resistance: Late blight, early blight
Mountain Pride
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Large red slicer
Flavor: Mild but solid with a clean, dependable finishโmore about performance than flash
Best For: Beginner-friendly
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Mrs. Benson
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Red slicer
Flavor: Classic tomato flavor with a balanced sweet-savory profileโsteady and familiar
Best For: Fresh eating
Mrs. Houseworth
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Red slicer
Flavor: Rich and slightly sweet with a smooth finishโsimple, honest heirloom character
Best For: Slicing
Neves Azorean Red
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Large red beefsteak
Flavor: Deep, bold, and full-bodied with a strong savory coreโbig slices that actually deliver flavor*
Best For: Slicing
Olive Hill
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Red slicer
Flavor: Balanced, old-fashioned tomato flavor with both sweetness and depthโsimple, honest, and hard to find*
Best For: Heirloom collectors
Patio
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Compact bush
Mature Height: 18โ24 in
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Smooth and gently sweet with a classic, approachable tomato flavor
Best For: Containers, beginner-friendly
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Paul Robeson
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Dark mahogany slicer
Flavor: Deep, smoky, and slightly sweet with a rich, almost savory finishโcomplex without being overwhelming*
Best For: Flavor
Peg Oโ My Heart
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Pink oxheart
Flavor: Sweet and delicate with a refined, soft finishโmore elegant than bold
Best For: Fresh eating
Piennolo del Vesuvio
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80โ90
Fruit: Small red storage/paste
Flavor: Intense, concentrated, and slightly tangyโdevelops deeper, almost sun-dried character over time*
Best For: Storage, sauces
Pineapple
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 80โ90
Fruit: Yellow-red bicolor
Flavor: Sweet, fruity, and almost melon-like with a tropical finishโone of the most unique flavor profiles*
Best For: Fresh eating
Polish Linguisa
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ85
Fruit: Long red paste
Flavor: Dense and intensely concentrated with very little waterโdeep, savory tomato flavor that builds quickly in sauces
Best For: Sauces
Rapunzel
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~65
Fruit: Small red cherry in long clusters
Flavor: Sweet, bright, and juicy with a clean finishโeasy to snack on and consistently refreshing
Best For: Snacking, visual appeal
Red Cherry
Type: Mixed
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 60โ75
Fruit: Small red cherry
Flavor: Sweet, juicy, and classicโsimple, refreshing tomato flavor that never gets old
Best For: Snacking, salads
Red Deuce
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Large red slicer
Flavor: Firm, meaty, and bold with a strong tomato presenceโexcellent texture for slicing
Best For: Slicing
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes
Red Pear
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Red pear
Flavor: Light, mildly sweet, and refreshingโeasygoing and productive
Best For: Snacking
Rutgers
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Bold, balanced, and deeply tomato-forwardโone of the best all-purpose flavors you can grow*
Best For: Sauces, slicing
Samโs Big Italian
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Large red paste
Flavor: Rich, dense, and deeply savoryโbuilt for sauces with real backbone
Best For: Sauces
San Marzano
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Semi-determinate
Plant Type: Bushy vine
Days to Harvest: ~80
Fruit: Red paste
Flavor: Thick, velvety, and low-acid with deep, classic Italian tomato richness*
Best For: Sauces, canning
Stump of the World
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~80โ85
Fruit: Large pink beefsteak
Flavor: Rich, creamy, and full-bodied with a smooth, lingering finishโdeep heirloom character*
Best For: Flavor, slicing
Striped German
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 80โ90
Fruit: Yellow-red bicolor slicer
Flavor: Sweet, smooth, and almost dessert-like with a fruity richness and very low acidity*
Best For: Fresh eating, presentation
Sun Gold
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: 57โ65
Fruit: Golden cherry
Flavor: Explosively sweet with tropical, fruit-like notesโone of the most addictive tomatoes you can grow*
Best For: Snacking, flavor
Super Fantastic
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Large red slicer
Flavor: Balanced and slightly sweet with a clean, familiar tomato finish
Best For: Slicing
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt
Super Marmande
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75
Fruit: Ribbed red slicer
Flavor: Bold and slightly tangy with strong old-world tomato characterโleans savory
Best For: Slicing
Super Sioux
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: ~70
Fruit: Medium red slicer
Flavor: Bright, slightly tangy, and cleanโholds flavor well in heat without going flat
Best For: Heat tolerance
Supersweet 100
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~65
Fruit: Red cherry
Flavor: Intensely sweet with a classic tomato finishโeasy to eat by the handful*
Best For: Snacking
Tycoon
Type: Hybrid
Habit: Determinate
Plant Type: Bush
Days to Harvest: 70โ75
Fruit: Medium-large red slicer
Flavor: Smooth, slightly sweet, and impressively consistentโeven under tough conditions*
Best For: North Texas reliability
Resistance: Fusarium wilt, Verticillium wilt, nematodes
Valencia Orange
Type: Heirloom
Habit: Indeterminate
Plant Type: Vining
Days to Harvest: ~75โ80
Fruit: Bright orange slicer
Flavor: Sweet, smooth, and low-acid with a clean, refreshing finishโeasy to love and easy to eat
Best For: Fresh eating



