7 tomato varieties naturally resistant to late blight

The tomato 'Honey Moon F1', the most resistant of them all

When listing tomatoes naturally resistant to late blight, it’s hard not to start with the variety ‘Honey Moon‘, bred by the French seed merchant H. M. Clause and launched in 2018. Carrying the combination of resistance genes Ph2 and Ph3, this tomato variety benefits from a robust level of resistance to this fungal disease. While showing a productivity that is perfectly respectable. This hybrid variety is of the ‘Rose de Berne’ type as it offers round, very fleshy fruits with a very thin epidermis, light red to pink, sometimes green-tinged on the top. As for the flesh, low in seeds, it is very tasty and sweet. The tomatoes produced reach a large size of around 250–300 g. The fruits of this variety therefore have real appeal both for their colour and their flavour or their size. They can be eaten raw or cooked.

The ‘Honey Moon’ variety

Quant aux plants, ils montrent une belle vigueur. Stocky with an indeterminate habit, this tomato variety can reach a height of 1.20 m. As it is a full-season variety, its fruits are harvested 8 to 10 weeks after planting, i.e. from July to September–October. It is perfectly suited to pot cultivation.

Paoline F1 tomato, tasty and vigorous

Another release from HM Clause, the tomato variety ‘Paoline F1’ shows excellent resistance to late blight, but also to other common diseases such as verticillium wilt, powdery mildew, fusarium wilt and tomato mosaic.

That said, it is a hardy variety that has proven its strong vigour, even in less favourable climatic conditions. It is also very easy to grow, even in the poorest soils. Nevertheless, despite all these qualities, productivity and flavour are not compromised.

The Paoline variety

The Paoline variety produces tomatoes with a very traditional look, nicely round and a bright, intense red. Its size remains in the average range of about 7 to 9 cm in diameter, and it has good flavour. The tomatoes produced weigh between 130 and 180 g. Very tasty, firm and juicy, this tomato offers on the palate a true balance between sweetness and acidity. In short, whether eaten raw or cooked, this tomato delivers a real explosion of flavour on the palate.

This indeterminate habit can climb to a height of up to 1.8 m. Classed among early varieties, it produces its first fruits from late June to October.

Cherry tomato 'Rubylicious F1' with exceptional productivity.

Cherry tomatoes are known to be more resistant to powdery mildew than traditional tomato varieties. But this variety is head and shoulders above the rest! ‘Rubylicious F1’ is a hybrid cherry tomato variety that proves robust but also extremely productive. Each cluster contains between 15 and 25 small, perfectly round tomatoes in a very vivid red. They measure 2 to 3 cm in diameter and weigh around 15 g. Under their crimson skin lies a firm, crisp, and juicy flesh with a very sweet flavour. These are small tomatoes you can pop straight from the plant, or as an aperitif during a lovely summer evening. Nevertheless, its sweet flavour makes it perfect for adding to a mixed salad.

The variety ‘Rubylicious’

From a horticultural perspective, this cherry tomato variety benefits from an indeterminate habit and very vigorous growth. It can reach 1.5 m in height with a spread of 50 cm. It is grown mainly in open ground, outdoors or under glass. Harvest runs from July to October, depending on climate conditions.

The tomato 'Joyau d'Oaxaca', of Mexican origin

The tomato variety ‘Joyau d’Oaxaca’ yields beautiful pineapple-type tomatoes. Particularly early, this variety, which originates from the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, offers plump and ribbed tomatoes with orange-red skin. As for the flesh, it is variegated, a mix of yellow-orange and pinkish-red. All things considered, these tomatoes, which display a medium calibre and weigh around 90–150 g, are very attractive in a salad, a sandwich or a tart. Its flesh has a high sugar content and is dense and juicy. It contains very few seeds, which makes tasting even more enjoyable. This tomato is renowned for its flavour and its resistance to late blight. Its slightly exotic appearance and lightly fruity flavour should delight even the most curious gourmets.

The variety ‘Joyau d’Oaxaca’

In the vegetable patch, this tomato variety with a semi-determinate habit features dense foliage and good vigour. It also proves very productive, bearing clusters of three fruits. It is a semi-early variety that yields its first fruit 65 days after planting.

The tomato ‘Legend’, an American-origin variety.

The tomato ‘Legend’ is an American-origin variety, developed by Dr Jim Baggett at Oregon State University, and selected for its resistance to late blight. The fruits of this variety are perfectly round, slightly flattened, and a very bright red. Of medium size, they weigh between 150 and 300 g and have a diameter of 7 to 10 cm. Their skin is smooth and glossy, the flesh is fleshy, melting and juicy, sweet and sugary, with a hint of bitterness. It is a tomato renowned for its flavour, ideal in salads, cold dishes and sauces.

The Legend variety (©La Ferme de Sainte-Marthe)

Determinant habit, this variety benefits from a bushy, compact growth. It is therefore perfect for pot cultivation on a balcony or terrace. Nevertheless, open-ground planting also suits it. It does not exceed 1.50 m in height. As this variety is early-maturing, the fruits can be harvested about 70 days after transplanting.

The tomato ‘Pyros’, a kitchen garden classic.

Developed by HM Clause in 1974, the Pyros F1 variety is a reference among tomatoes not only for its resistance to late blight, but also for its exceptional yield. It is a variety that yields fruits that are well rounded, very slightly flattened at the poles, very fleshy and ribbed at the shoulders, and with a bright red skin that can sometimes lean towards orange. With a uniform size, this tomato weighs about 140 to 150 g. If you enjoy making stuffed tomatoes, this is certainly the variety for you. Its flesh is relatively firm, dense, very tasty and sweet.

The Pyros variety

This mid-season variety is especially popular for its yield. Each plant can yield between 4 and 8 kg of fruit if weather and cultivation conditions are optimal.

Tigerella tomato with orange-marginate fruits.

The variety ‘Tigerella’ is very resistant to blight, but also distinctive and tasty. Original, because the tomatoes are multicoloured and striped with yellow-orange, red and green. It is a relatively old British selection, now fixed, which produces tomatoes in clusters, weighing 50–100 g. Often referred to as the ‘Tiger tomato’, this variety is also tasty. Its fruits offer a balanced sweet and acid flavour. With its multicoloured appearance, this tomato makes a statement in salads, but can be used in all culinary preparations thanks to its firm and juicy flesh.

The Tigerella variety

Early-cropping variety; the first fruits reach ripeness in 65 days after transplanting. It is a vigorous tomato with an indeterminate habit, which adapts very well to cold regions with short growing seasons. However, planting in a milder climate suits it as well.