7 late-season tomatoes

‘Cuor di Bue’, an heirloom mid-to-late-season tomato

The genuine Cuor di Bue tomato is an old mid-late variety that produces very fleshy, heart-shaped red fruits. Some of these tomatoes can reach up to 700 g.

‘Cuor di Bue’ has beefsteak-like flesh, very sweet and very juicy, ideal for stuffed tomatoes, juices or carpaccios.

The Cœur de Bœuf tomato must be staked from planting and placed in a sunny position. Sow it between February and May, for a harvest from late July to October.

Tomato 'Noire de Crimée', a highly regarded mid-to-late variety

The ’Noire de Crimée’ is an heirloom variety that produces large ribbed fruits which are slightly flattened, with epidermis and flesh of a brown-red to dark green, almost black colour. Fruits weigh between 250–500 g.

Noire de Crimée tomato is prized for its very mild, sweet flavour, completely non-acidic, making it a perfect variety for children. Its colour also provides a very decorative touch in a summer salad.

This tomato needs a warm, sunny summer for its fruits to reach this distinctive colour. It is also a variety that requires little water, is quite disease-resistant, and proves easy to grow. Sow it indoors between March and April for a harvest from late July to early August, extending to September–October.

Tomato 'Purple Calabash' — very productive, late-ripening variety

‘Purple Calabash’ is a tomato with good yield, which produces beautiful ribbed fruits with epidermis dark purple to violet. Fruits weigh on average between 100 and 180 g.

This variety is prized for flesh both dense, sweet and highly fragrant. Enjoyed both raw in salads and cooked into juices and sauces.

Very vigorous, Purple Calabash tomato is easy to grow provided it receives enough sun and is planted in rich, fresh soil. Sown under cover from March for a harvest from July to October.

Tomato 'Russe', a tasty variety with a long harvest period

Russe tomato produces large bright-red fruits, with slightly ribbed shoulders and a flattened top. Fruits weigh 300 to 600 g, sometimes more.

Firm, juicy flesh of Russe tomato offers a sweet flavour with musky notes. Tasty, it suits all preparations, from soups to stuffed dishes, as well as tarts and salads. It is also ideal for making sauces. However, it is prone to splitting.

‘Russe’ is a disease-resistant variety grown in sun in rich, cool, well-drained soil. It is sown under cover from March, and harvested from July until October.

Tomato 'Madagascar', late cocktail type

Madagascar tomato is a cocktail-type variety, the only one in this listing that mainly comprises large-fruited varieties. This bicolour tomato, pale pink to yellow, is of Madagascan origin. Its fruits set in clusters of 5 to 8 round fruits, sometimes with umbilical tips, weighing 30 to 50 g.

Firm flesh of Madagascar tomato offers a sweet, sugary flavour with a slight tang of acidity. It has exceptional keeping qualities.

Madagascar tomato is grown in open ground or in pots, in full sun, in a rich, free-draining soil kept moist. Sow from March to April in warmth, and harvest from July to October.

Tomato 'Ananas', a must-have late-season variety

Ananas tomato is an old variety that produces flattened, irregular and ribbed fruits, with an orange epidermis. This tomato weighs between 250 g and 400 g and has dense, firm flesh, juicy and almost without seeds.

Fragrant and juicy, Ananas tomato’s sweet and sugary flavour is popular with children. It is most often eaten in salads.

This tomato a must-have for the vegetable garden has fairly good tolerance to disease. Sow under cover between March and April, and harvest from August to October.

Tomato 'Agora' F1, late and disease-resistant

Tomato Agora is a late horticultural variety produced by Vilmorin. It produces large bright-red fruits weighing 300 g or more.

In terms of flavour, flesh of this tomato variety offers a much-appreciated balance between sweetness and acidity. Highly resistant to cracking, Tomato Agora is perfectly suited to preparation of stuffed dishes, purées and juices.

Tomato Agora also has the advantage of being very resistant to main tomato diseases. Hardy and vigorous, sown from February to March, harvested between August and October.

Further reading

Discover our selections of early tomatoes and mid-season tomatoes.