Best Summer Tomato Varieties: 10 Heat-Loving Types Every Gardener Needs (2025)

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When it’s time to grow the best summer tomato varieties, you’ve got options for every taste.

Want classic reds? Beefsteak, Early Girl, and Roma tomatoes are reliable winners.

Looking for sweet bursts of flavor? Try Sungold or Black Cherry tomatoes—they’re like candy straight off the vine.

Heirlooms like Cherokee Purple and Brandywine bring rich, unique flavors to the table, while San Marzano and Amish Paste excel in sauces.

For containers, consider Tiny Tim or Tumbling Tom, perfect for small spaces.

Don’t forget heat-tolerant champs like Celebrity or Better Boy for tough climates.

Ready to discover a few new favorites? Let’s grow!

Classic Red Tomatoes for Summer Gardens

You’ll find these classic red tomatoes at the heart of every successful summer garden, from juicy Beefsteaks that slice perfectly for sandwiches to fast-maturing Early Girls that satisfy your tomato cravings weeks before others.

Classic red tomatoes are the soul of summer gardens, delivering juicy flavor and versatility from sandwiches to salads.

These tried-and-true varieties have earned their reputation through generations of gardeners who count on their reliable production and excellent flavor even during the hottest summer days.

Beefsteak Tomatoes

If you’re looking for the ultimate summer tomato experience, beefsteak tomatoes are your garden’s heavyweight champions.

These magnificent fruits deliver on size and flavor in ways grocery store varieties simply can’t match.

1. Their massive size (often 1-2 pounds each) means one slice covers an entire sandwich, making meal prep quicker
2. Their meaty texture stands up beautifully to grilling and roasting, unlike watery varieties
3. Their rich, complex flavor provides the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity

Stake them well and give these large fruits 80-90 days for the ultimate summer harvest.

Early Girl Tomatoes

Early Girl tomatoes earn their championship status in the summer garden sprint, racing from transplant to harvest in just 52 days.

These medium-sized fruits (4-6 ounces) offer the perfect balance between juicy flavor and practical use in salads and sandwiches.

Their remarkable heat tolerance makes them ideal candidates for challenging climate zones where temperatures fluctuate wildly.

Unlike fussier varieties, Early Girls thrive in average soil conditions while maintaining impressive disease resistance.

For best results, plant them in well-draining soil with six hours of direct sunlight.

Their determinate growth habit means you’ll get a concentrated harvest period – perfect for canners and preservers planning ahead.

When selecting the best summer tomato varieties for impatient gardeners, Early Girl consistently delivers reliable performance with minimal maintenance requirements, making it a great choice for those seeking minimal maintenance.

Roma Tomatoes

You’ll adore Roma tomatoes, a classic choice for summer gardens.

With their dense, meaty flesh and low moisture content, they’re perfect for sauce making and canning.

• They create rich pasta sauces
• Ideal for slow-roasting with herbs and olive oil
• Great for canning with less water bath time

Roma tomatoes have a rich history, originating from a 1955 cross between Pan American and San Marzano varieties.

They’re similar to Roma VF, Amish Paste, and Opalka, but stand out for their reliable production in high summer heat, making them perfect for Italian recipes and fresh pasta.

Celebrity Tomatoes

You’ll love Celebrity tomatoes, one of the best summer tomatoes, producing 8-ounce fruits in 70 days.

These compact plants grow 3-4 feet tall, delivering clusters of 6-8 tomatoes. Perfect for zones 5-8, they’re semi-determinate and disease-resistant.

With compact growth and early production, Celebrity tomatoes are a great choice. As one of the best summer tomato varieties, they offer disease resistance and heat tolerance, making them ideal for summer gardens.

They’re a top pick for gardeners seeking disease-resistant tomatoes and heat-tolerant tomatoes, and are among the best summer tomatoes for a bountiful harvest.

Sweet Cherry Tomatoes That Thrive in Heat

You’ll love growing sweet cherry tomatoes that thrive in heat, as they’re perfect for snacking and adding to summer salads.

Sweet cherry tomatoes bring bursts of flavor and color to summer salads, thriving effortlessly even in the hottest days of the season.

When you choose varieties like Sungold or Black Cherry, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest of sweet and juicy tomatoes all season long.

Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

You’ll enjoy Sungold cherry tomatoes, bursting with sweetness in every bite.

Ready in 55 days, they thrive in well-draining soil with pH 6.0-6.5. For ideal Cherry Care, plant Sungold seeds in containers or beds.

This variety is among the best cherry tomatoes, offering high fruit production. Follow these Garden Tips for a successful harvest, and you’ll be snacking on Sungold’s sweet, small tomatoes in no time, making them a great choice for your summer garden, especially at harvest time.

To maximize yields, consider using container gardening techniques for your tomato plants, and enjoy the high fruit production with Sungold cherry tomatoes.

Black Cherry Tomatoes

Discover Black Cherry Tomatoes, a heat-loving gem.

1. Rich flavor
2. Unique color
3. High yield

They thrive in heat, producing 1-inch fruits with smoky sweetness, perfect for small tomato recipes.

Follow Cherry Tomato Care for a bountiful harvest and try cherry harvest tips for the best results with these best cherry tomatoes.

Yellow Pear Tomatoes

You’ll savor the sweet taste of Yellow Pear tomatoes, a summer harvest delight.

As an heirloom summer tomato, they thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, making them perfect for Pear Tomato Care.

With their pear-shaped appearance, they’re a great addition to summer tomato varieties.

Enjoy them in various Tomato Recipes, showcasing the best summer tomatoes.

Yellow Pear and Yellow Brandywine are popular yellow varieties, offering a unique twist to your summer harvest.

By following proper care, you’ll be snacking on these sweet treats all summer long, making them a top choice among heirloom summer tomatoes.

Sunrise Bumble Bee Tomatoes

You’ll adore Sunrise Bumblebee tomatoes, a top pick among the best summer tomato varieties.

They thrive in small spaces and attract pollinator friends, ensuring a bountiful summer harvest.

To boost your Bee Tomato Care, plant them near other flowers that Tomato Bee Attract, like lavender or coneflowers, to reap the Bumble Bee Benefits and enjoy the best tomato for summer, Sunrise Bumblebee tomato, one of the top summer tomato varieties.

Heat-Resistant Heirloom Varieties Worth Growing

You’re looking for heat-resistant heirloom varieties that can thrive in your summer garden, and you’ve come to the right place.

These varieties, such as Cherokee Purple and Brandywine, are known for their ability to withstand high temperatures and produce delicious, unique tomatoes that you’ll love.

Cherokee Purple

You’re looking for a tomato that’s a cut above the rest. Try Cherokee Purple, an heirloom variety with a rich Cherokee History.

Its Purple Varieties boast a smoky flavor and dense Fruit Texture.

This summer tomato variety is a game-changer, offering a unique twist on traditional tomatoes, much like the Black Krim, and is one of the best summer tomato varieties to grow.

Brandywine

Grow Brandywine, a heat-loving heirloom tomato, for a flavorful summer harvest.

This pink beauty thrives in slightly acidic soil and needs sturdy support for its 6-foot vines.

Yielding delicious beefsteak tomatoes with a rich Tomato Flavor, a standout among the best summer tomato varieties, including Pink Brandywine.

Black Krim

You’ll love the Black Krim tomato, with its deep reddish-purple skin and rich, slightly salty flavor profile.

This Russian heirloom variety thrives in full sunlight and well-drained soil.

To grow Black Krim,

• Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date
• Provide supports for the indeterminate plants
• Water regularly, but avoid overwatering
• Enjoy the fruit’s unique taste and disease resistance.

As one of the best summer tomato varieties, Black Krim is a great choice for heirloom tomato enthusiasts.

Its flavor profile and growing tips make it a standout among other varieties.

Mortgage Lifter

Discover Mortgage Lifter tomatoes, with a rich history of paying off a house in the 1940s.

You’ll get massive, 4-pound fruits with a rich, low-acid flavor profile.

Provide 7-9 ft vines with sturdy support and full sun for a bountiful yield, making them one of the best summer tomato varieties for a delicious summer harvest.

Best Paste Tomatoes for Summer Sauces

You’re looking for the best paste tomatoes to make delicious summer sauces, and you’ve come to the right place.

San Marzano, Amish Paste, Roma VF, and Opalka are some top varieties that you can grow to create rich and flavorful sauces, with San Marzano being a notable choice.

San Marzano

You’ll often find San Marzano tomatoes in Italian recipes.

They’ve a rich history and offer unique flavor profiles and make great tomato sauces, similar to Roma tomatoes, which are also great for sauces.

Planting tomatoes requires consistent direct sunlight.

San Marzano is one of the best summer tomato varieties and an heirloom seed.

Amish Paste

If you’re a pasta lover, Amish Paste tomatoes are a must-grow.

These heirloom tomatoes boast a meaty texture with few seeds, making them perfect for thick, rich sauces or canning.

Growing in zones 3-10, these indeterminate vines produce 8-12oz fruits with an old-fashioned tomato flavor.

Their sparse foliage allows for ample sun exposure, speeding up ripening.

Roma VF

You’ll adore Roma VF tomatoes for their disease resistance and meaty texture.

Roma VF tomatoes are a top choice for sauce making and canning, offering a delicious and disease-resistant option for summer tomato varieties.

Opalka

While Roma VF is a reliable choice, its Polish cousin, Opalka, a cherished heirloom since 1900, is stealing the sauce-making spotlight.

Opalka, a Polish heirloom, has been a gardener’s favorite for over a century. These elongated beauties produce the silkiest sauce, and their unique characteristics will enhance your summer harvest.

• Opalka’s chunky 5-inch fruits are ideal for rich, thick sauces, with more meat than seeds.
• These plants are ambitious climbers, with indeterminate vines reaching impressive heights of 6 feet.
• Disease resistance guarantees your plants stay healthy and productive throughout the season.
• In about 85 days, these beauties ripen to a deep, vibrant red, signaling they’re ready for your culinary creations.
• Opalka’s European heritage brings an authentic old-world flavor to your table, straight from your garden.

Opalka, a variety of summer tomato, thrives in raised beds and along trellises, providing ample support for its climbing vines.

Colorful Summer Tomatoes Beyond Red

You’re looking to add some color to your summer garden, and there are plenty of tomato varieties beyond the classic red ones.

You can try growing Green Zebra, Pineapple Tomato, or Purple Calabash for a pop of color and unique flavors in your dishes.

Green Zebra

You’re looking for a summer tomato variety that’s a bit unconventional – that’s where Green Zebra comes in.

This heirloom tomato boasts chartreuse fruits with emerald stripes, adding a pop of color to your garden.

Green Zebra care is straightforward: provide full sun and consistent water.

Wait for the stripes to turn golden-yellow with green undertones, then enjoy their tangy-sweet taste in sandwiches, salsas, or caprese salads.

Their firm texture makes them perfect for Green tomato recipes like fried green tomatoes.

With proper Zebra Growth Tips, you’ll be harvesting these unique heirloom tomatoes in no time, making them a great addition to your summer tomato varieties.

Pineapple Tomato

Discover the Pineapple tomato, a Kentucky heirloom with a sweet flavor and stunning yellow-orange skin.

1. Thin skin for a melt-in-your-mouth texture
2. Sweet flavor with citrusy tang
3. Eye-catching colors for a show-stopping garden.

This unique flavored tomato is one of the best summer tomato varieties, offering a distinct flavor profile and excellent slicing qualities, making it perfect for summer gardens, with a rich history and manageable acidity levels.

It also comes with useful growing tips to get the most out of this incredible variety, allowing gardeners to enjoy its full potential and making it a great choice for those looking for a distinct flavor profile.

Purple Calabash

With Purple Calabash, you’ll enjoy ancient flavor in your modern garden.

This heirloom tomato boasts drought-tolerant, deeply ruffled, burgundy-purple fruits with a wine-like taste.

Give them full sun and support for sprawling vines.

They’re heat champions, producing 9-12 oz fruits with a unique citrusy finish, perfect for your summer harvest, offering a distinct Calabash Care experience.

Aunt Ruby’s German Green

You’ll love Aunt Ruby’s German Green, a rare heirloom treasure.

This green tomato variety boasts a sweet-spicy-tart flavor.

• Water consistently for a summer harvest
• Feed with rich compost
• Support heavy fruits with sturdy cages.

Aunt Ruby’s German Green is a heat-tolerant tomato, perfect for summer gardens, offering one of the best tomato varieties for a unique taste experience with its German Green heirloom seeds.

Container-Friendly Tomatoes for Small Spaces

You can grow great tomatoes even in small spaces with container-friendly varieties like Patio Tomatoes and Tiny Tim.

These compact tomatoes are perfect for you to plant in containers, and they’ll thrive in tight spaces, producing plenty of delicious fruit, making them ideal for small spaces.

Patio Tomatoes

You can grow amazing patio tomatoes in small spaces, like urban gardening.

With proper tomato care, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest from your patio containers, perfect for small space gardening and urban gardening with heat-tolerant tomatoes like Sungold.

Effective small space gardening techniques can also enhance your overall yield and plant health.

Tiny Tim

You’ll adore Tiny Tim, a dwarf variety perfect for small spaces.

With compact growth, it’s a great choice for patio tomatoes, producing small fruits that are sweet and tart.

Tiny Tim care is straightforward, requiring 6 hours of sun and well-draining soil.

As a determinate variety, it stands proud on its own, no staking needed.

Enjoy your mini harvests throughout summer with this container-friendly tomato, ideal for small space gardening and a great addition to your summer tomato varieties.

Tiny Tim is a top pick for its ease and productivity.

For ideal growth, understanding tomato seed purchase options is essential for gardeners.

Red Robin

You’ll appreciate the Red Robin tomato, a micro-dwarf variety perfect for small spaces.

It packs big flavor into an 8-12 inch frame, yielding sweet, red cherry tomatoes in 55 days.

Red Robin’s compact size and heat tolerance make it an ideal summer tomato variety, thriving in small gardens with minimal care, a great choice for those seeking disease-resistant and heat-tolerant tomatoes.

For maximum growth, understanding tomato seed selection is vital.

Tumbling Tom

You’ll enjoy Tumbling Tom, a small-space friendly, hanging basket variety with a cascading growth habit.

This prolific fruiting cherry tomato produces up to 70 fruits per plant in 50-55 days.

With low-maintenance care, it’s perfect for patio tomatoes and container gardens, offering a sweet summer treat among the best summer tomato varieties.

For ideal growth, understanding tomato plant care is essential for a successful harvest.

Fast-Growing Tomatoes for Late Planters

You’re running a bit behind on planting tomatoes, but don’t worry, you can still grow some great varieties.

Fast-growing tomatoes like Fourth of July, Early Girl, and Bush Early Girl can thrive even when planted late, giving you a bountiful harvest in no time.

Fourth of July

You’ll love the Fourth of July tomato, ready to harvest in just 49 days.

1. Savor them at your Summer BBQ
2. Add to Star Spangled Recipes
3. Enjoy before Fireworks Safety concerns arise

This variety thrives in high altitudes and small spaces, producing 4-ounce fruits with classic flavor.

Plant them deep in rich soil for a bountiful harvest.

With these heat-tolerant tomatoes, you’ll have a patriotic treat for Family Reunions, making them one of the best summer tomato varieties for heat.

Early Girl

You’ll get a fast harvest with Early Girl tomatoes, ready in 52-60 days.

The key to successful growth includes following the care tips, such as planting deep for Early Growth, and ensuring full sun for Girl Seeds, while also being mindful of disease resistance and heat tolerance.

Bush Early Girl

You’re running late with your summer planting, but Bush Early Girl tomatoes save the day. These compact, disease-resistant tomatoes thrive in tight spaces, producing 6-ounce fruits in 54 days.

Consider companion planting tomatoes with basil for pest control and flavor enhancement.

Bush Early Girl tomatoes are perfect for summer, offering heat tolerance and a bushy growth habit, making them one of the best tomatoes for heat, with similar characteristics to Early Girl tomatoes.

Sub Arctic Plenty

Growing Sub Arctic Plenty tomatoes, you’ll thrive in cold climates.

This variety excels in cold climate growing, offering a unique flavor profile and impressive yield comparison to other summer tomatoes, making it a top choice for fast-growing tomatoes.

Disease-Resistant Tomatoes for Humid Climates

You’re looking for tomato varieties that can thrive in humid climates, and disease-resistant options are a great choice.

Tomatoes like Better Boy, Celebrity, and Mountain Magic are good options, as they’re bred to combat common diseases and can help you grow a healthy crop in humid conditions, making them great for such environments.

Better Boy

You’ll enjoy Better Boy tomatoes, a disease-resistant variety that thrives in humid climates, offering a classic flavor profile and vigorous growth habit.

With a yield of one-pound fruits in 70-75 days, making them an excellent choice for heat tolerant tomatoes and summer gardens.

Celebrity

You often find Celebrity tomatoes thriving in summer gardens due to their exceptional disease resistance and heat tolerance.

With compact growth and early production, Celebrity tomatoes are among the best summer tomatoes, making them a great choice for gardeners seeking low-maintenance varieties with disease resistance.

They are ideal for gardeners who want low-maintenance varieties that can thrive in various conditions.

Mountain Magic

Mountain Magic tomatoes are like a watchful sentinel in your summer garden, guarding your crop against diseases.

These sweet little tomatoes pack a punch with their heirloom charm and modern disease resistance.

Mountain Magic is a reliable variety for gardeners seeking sweet, juicy tomatoes with built-in protection against common tomato ailments.

Jasper

You’ll love Jasper tomatoes for their sweet, rich flavor and impressive heat tolerance.

These cherry-sized champions ripen in 60 days, producing crack-resistant fruit perfect for salads and snacking.

With disease-resistant qualities and a long-bearing season, Jasper seeds are ideal for summer gardens.

They thrive in humid climates, offering an extended harvest.

For ideal Jasper care, plant in full sun and support with cages.

This heat-tolerant variety is a great choice for heirloom tomatoes, summer tomatoes to grow, and disease-resistant tomatoes, making it a valuable addition to any garden with its ¾-inch fruit size and fast growth rate.

Long-Season Tomatoes for Extended Harvests

You’re looking for tomatoes that will keep producing all season long, and that’s where long-season tomatoes come in.

By choosing the right indeterminate varieties and providing proper care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh, delicious tomatoes throughout the summer.

Indeterminate Varieties

Want tomatoes all summer long? Indeterminate tomatoes are your answer.

These vigorous vines produce fruit until frost. Some varieties, like Brandywine, can reach 12 feet tall!

• Indeterminate growth means continuous fruiting.
• Beefsteak tomatoes get huge, so plan for vine support.
• Extend your season with these heat tolerant tomatoes.

Pruning Techniques

Mastering pruning techniques boosts your indeterminate tomatoes’ health.

Support Systems

You’ll need a reliable support system for your tomatoes.

For determinate tomatoes, use tomato cages or stake systems with soil anchors. Indeterminate tomatoes require trellising or DIY A-frames.

Consider espalier for space-saving. Keep plants off the ground to prevent disease and boost airflow.

Staking, caging, and trellising are essential for healthy growth. Use tomato stakes for single-stem plants and tomato cages for bushy types.

Proper support guarantees your tomatoes stay upright, promoting better fruiting and easier harvesting, making your gardening experience more enjoyable and rewarding with a bountiful harvest of delicious tomatoes.

Fertilization Schedule

Now that you’ve set up your support systems, it’s time to fuel your summer tomatoes.

A smart fertilization schedule is key to juicy harvests.

By following this approach, you’ll be enjoying your homegrown tomato varieties all summer long, with healthy and thriving plants that produce abundant fruit.

Unique Flavored Tomatoes for Adventurous Growers

You’re looking for unique flavored tomatoes to add some excitement to your garden, and you’re in the right place.

With varieties like Paul Robeson, Japanese Black Trifele, and Chocolate Stripes, you’ll discover new flavors and textures to elevate your summer dishes.

Paul Robeson

You’re about to uncover the Paul Robeson tomato’s rich history.

This heirloom variety boasts Russian Heritage and Tomato Origins that date back. With heirloom seeds, you’ll grow unique Fruit Characteristics.

The Paul Robeson has brick-red to almost-black skin and a smoky, tangy taste. To achieve perfect flavor, understanding ripening stages is essential for harvesting heirloom tomatoes.

Japanese Black Trifele

Looking for a bold statement in your summer garden? The Japanese Black Trifele is a showstopper among unique flavored tomatoes.

This eye-catching heirloom variety boasts rich mahogany skin, green-tinged shoulders, and a pear-like shape that’s anything but ordinary. Its flavor? A perfect marriage of smoky, earthy richness with a touch of sweetness—a treat for your taste buds.

These heat-loving, rare varieties flourish under the right Trifele care, rewarding you with meaty, firm fruit built for grilling, slicing, or elevating any salad. A cousin to the Black Krim tomato, it shares the same moody depth and character.

• Thick skin holds up beautifully in cooking.
• One of the best tomatoes for high heat climates.
• Versatile for multiple recipes.
• Grown from treasured heirloom seeds.

Chocolate Stripes

In the case of unique flavored tomatoes, Chocolate Stripes stands out as an heirloom variety you’ll love.

These gorgeous striped tomatoes boast a rich chocolate color with olive-green streaks, creating some of the most striking fruit patterns in your garden.

Their sweet, earthy, slightly tangy flavor makes them perfect for summer harvest salads or adding flair to sandwiches.

These productive heirloom tomatoes thrive in high heat, making them one of the best tomatoes for high heat climates.

Just provide proper support to handle their large, meaty fruits.

If you adore beautiful, Brandywine-style heirlooms, Chocolate Stripes deserves a spot in your garden lineup!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)