20 tomatoes put to the test: our top 5

This year, we tested around twenty varieties of tomatoes to grow in the vegetable garden to select the best among them. However, as tomato cultivation varies from region to region, Ingrid and Sophie tested them in their respective gardens: one in the north of France, the other in the south of the country. This almost sparked a tomato war! But it was all for the delight of their taste buds. Discover our 5 favourite tomato varieties, selected based on several criteria and according to the region, with a bonus variety that left us a bit disappointed.

Our selection criteria

1- Taste

Taste is one of the most important criteria. Depending on the varieties and growing conditions, tomatoes can have a more or less sweet or tangy flavour, with textures ranging from juicy to crunchy. It’s worth noting that cherry tomatoes are often the sweetest, but again, it all depends on ripeness and the growing region.

2- Productivity

The productivity of tomato plants is also a key selection criterion, especially as it strongly depends on the varieties and their earliness, particularly in the north. The climatic conditions of cultivation (sunlight, temperatures, etc.) can also influence the yield of each tomato plant.

3- Cultivation and care

Some tomato varieties can form a tall and wide bush, which requires staking to prevent branch breakage under the weight of the fruits. Other cultivars are much smaller ('Green sausage') and take up less space, even being suitable for pot cultivation. We also considered the resistance of the varieties to diseases, particularly the infamous blight, as well as to pests and drought that we experienced in the summer of 2022.

4- Fruit size

The size of tomatoes can vary significantly depending on the variety, from a few centimetres for cherry tomatoes ('Yellow pear', 'Mexican honey') to over 10 centimetres for the largest varieties, such as tomato 'Ananas' or 'Brandywine'. They also vary in shape, colour, and texture. Small cherry tomatoes are perfect for appetizers, medium varieties for salads, while the larger ones are ideal for making sauces, tomato purée, or stuffed tomatoes.

Ingrid: our top 5 for the north

Tomato 'Mexican Honey': the most abundant - 19/20

This is the tomato that captivated me the most. This cherry tomato variety is among the first to harvest, but also among the last! It has good productivity throughout the summer (almost daily!), good resistance to drought and also to diseases (the last to catch blight in autumn). These small red tomatoes are very juicy, with a slightly sweet flavour.

tomato test north — Tomato 'Mexican Honey'

Tomato 'Green Zebra': the most original - 17/20

Here’s a beautiful original tomato, with its lovely anise green colour, striped with yellow-orange and a very sweet and tasty emerald green flesh. We loved it in salads or simply with a drizzle of olive oil. It is a bit late, but this detail is quickly forgotten thanks to its taste, good productivity, and drought tolerance.

best tomato varieties for the north — Tomato 'Green Zebra'

Tomato 'Oaxacan Jewel': an excellent heirloom tomato - 16/20

I particularly love heirloom tomatoes, and this variety met my criteria: early, with beautiful juicy fruits (50 to 130 g) with a pink-orange skin and a lovely bicolour flesh, yellow-orange and red. It is perfect in salads and for making sauces.

the best tomatoes for the north — Tomato 'Oaxacan Jewel'

Tomato 'Green Doctor's Frosted': the sweetest - 15/20

These surprising small green cherry tomatoes have particularly juicy and sweet flesh! A delight for appetizers. Almost like a sweet treat that you eat out of sheer indulgence! It’s actually my children’s favourite.

Tomato 'Brandywine': the most fleshy - 14/20

A beautiful variety that provided us with large fruits, between 200 and 300 g each! This tomato is beautifully pink-red, slightly ribbed, very juicy and flavourful. Excellent in salads, in sauces, or as stuffed tomatoes.

tomato test garden north — Tomato 'Brandywine'

Sophie: our top 5 for the south

Tomato 'Green Zebra': the tastiest - 18/20

With its stunning colours, striped with yellow and green, the 'Green Zebra' catches the eye in the garden, as well as on the plate. Then, upon tasting, it reveals the best qualities among all the tested tomato varieties: it has a sweet and tangy flavour, slightly sweet, and a fairly firm texture that makes it ideal for salads. Medium-sized, it is easy to handle, use in cooking, and snack on directly in the garden! I found it easy to grow, resistant to drought and common tomato diseases, in short, accessible to all gardeners, even beginners.

Tomato 'Liguria': the most fleshy - 18/20

Of the Beefheart type, the variety 'Liguria' produces many very large ribbed red fruits. This variety captivated me with its generosity, but also with its very interesting taste qualities, with few seeds. It can be enjoyed raw, but is also ideal for stuffed tomatoes, sauces, or purées.

Tomato 'Prince Borghese': the sweetest - 16/20

A cocktail-type cluster tomato, very tasty and quite firm, with a well-sweetened flavour. In the garden, 'Prince Borghese' forms plants about 1m tall that are quite compact, making it ideal for cultivation in a square garden or in small gardens. The clusters are numerous and generous, and the fruits can be stored for a long time.

Tomato 'Brandywine': the juiciest - 15/20

The colour of this tomato is not very attractive, as we instinctively associate taste qualities with a beautiful red colour. Its skin is a pale red, striped with green at the base. But once tasted, you immediately change your mind: 'Brandywine' has a fine, fragrant, and sweet flavour and is very juicy. Best enjoyed as is, well-ripened and sun-soaked, just with a drizzle of olive oil!

Tomato 'Rio Grande': the most productive - 14/20

A 'Roma' type variety that produces clusters of very fleshy oblong red fruits, 'Rio Grande' is not only particularly tasty and firm in texture, but this tomato variety also produces an abundance of fruits throughout the season. Its plants have vigorous growth and can reach a height of 1.5 to 2 metres, producing many fruits. Its disease resistance is an added advantage that helps ensure a plentiful and delicious harvest.

The less successful varieties

For the north: tomato 'Ananas' - 2/20

Very late, despite sowing in April, I harvested the first 'Ananas' tomato only in September! This variety is not suited for my region and struggles with drought and is very sensitive to blight.

For the south: tomato 'Lemon Tree' - 4/20

This tomato is disappointing in taste. Its mealy flesh did not win us over; it is neither juicy nor flavourful and too tangy.

Conditions of the two trials

For these two trials, two gardens:

The first, at Ingrid's, is located in the far north of France, in the town of Hazebrouck, 40 km from Lille.
The second, at Sophie's, is located in the south of France, near Narbonne and the Mediterranean coast.

We applied similar growing conditions in both gardens, namely:

Sowing tomato seeds in pots at the beginning of April, first indoors, then in a cold greenhouse once they have germinated.
By mid-May, after the risk of frost has passed, the tomato plants are transplanted into the vegetable garden.
The suckers (side shoots) were not removed.

The first harvests at Sophie's began in early July, with the tomatoes 'Prince Borghese' and 'Oaxacan Jewel'.
At Ingrid's, the first harvest started later, around the end of July, with the same varieties, but also 'Green sausage', 'Mexican Honey', and 'Orange Berry'.
It is worth noting that both regions experienced summer drought, with plenty of sunshine and little rain.