So, last week I discussed the varieties from last year that we’ll be growing again. This week, I bring you some of the new varieties we’re testing out in our 2022 garden. These are varieties that we also have available for pre-order in our shop. So, here it goes 7 new tomato varieties to try in 2022.
So, as I said, these tomato varieties are new, as in new-to-us. In reality, though, these varieties are actually very old. Most of these new varieties are heirlooms that have been around for decades. Heirlooms tomatoes typically have a flavor and look that is unmatched by hybrid varieties. Additionally, heirlooms often have unique stories that make growing them even more special. Heirlooms don’t really sacrifice much if any in production or disease resistance, compared to hybrids, so that’s why I choose to grow them.
1. Anna Banana Russian
So, last year, I grew primarily red and purple tomatoes. I knew there were other colors out there, but I figured from what I’d heard, I would like the flavor of the purple ones best. This year, I decided I wanted to do a bit of exploration into the world of other colored tomatoes: orange, yellow, green, white, and bi-colored. So, that’s where this variety comes in. The Anna Banana Russian is a yellow/orange oxheart tomato that weighs up to 13 ounces. Heart-shaped tomatoes are typically paste-type tomatoes with meaty flesh and few seeds.
The Anna Banana Russian is a variation of another popular heart-shaped variety the Anna Russian (a red heart tomato). Anna Russian had been on my list of tomatoes to try, but given my interest in trying other colors, I decided to give Anna Banana Russian a shot instead. If you’d like to give this variety a shot as well, you can check it out here. Note: Heart-shaped tomatoes start out very whispy/puny looking. So if you choose to get starts of this variety, know that as soon as you plant them they will take off despite the shabby first impression you may have of them.
2. Hillbilly
And, why wouldn’t you want to try a tomato called Hillbilly? I personally was intrigued by this variety due to its coloration and acclaimed flavor, but the name definitely sold me on it. Hillbilly is a potato leaf plant that produces bi-color beefsteak tomatoes. The tomatoes are a yellow/orange color with red streaking on the blossom end. The variety is known for its sweet juicy flavor and is most commonly used for slicing.
3. Orange Banana
Orange Banana is yet another, unique colored tomato that we’re adding to the garden this year. However, I didn’t choose this one just for the color. Last year, we grew several different paste tomato varieties. Most of them ripened fairly late and weren’t super prolific. For canning, that just didn’t work very well for me. I ended up canning garage ripened tomatoes late into November. Thus, I decided I needed to find an earlier ripening, productive paste tomato. Enter, Orange Banana.
According to Victory Seeds, this plant ripens in 52 days. Compared to most past varieties that ripen in 80-100 days, that is stellar! The seeds for this tomato were originally introduced in the U.S. by Marina Danilenko a pioneering seed seller from Moscow and her mother an avid tomato collector. If you want to read more about the unique story behind this tomato, you can find it here on Victory Seeds’ website.
4. Oregon Star
Oregon Star is another attempt at trying to find an earlier ripening productive paste tomato variety. This particular variety is determinate, meaning it will only grow to a certain height and its production will come all at once rather than throughout the remainder of the season. Last year, I only grew Indeterminate varieties as they continue producing all season long. However, for canning purposes, determinate varieties can be a good choice as they tend to pump out all their tomatoes at once rather than producing a few here and there over a prolonged period of time. The Oregon Star is a red, irregularly shaped tomato. Most fruits are seedless, which is another canning benefit.
5. Nepal
Nepal is a more classic-looking tomato than most of the varieties listed above. The fruit produced, is red with a flattened smooth globe shape. The variety is said to be quite productive. I heard about the variety (actually a lot of these varieties) in the book Epic Tomatoes by Craig LeHoullier. He notes this variety as being one of the varieties that converted him from hybrid tomatoes to heirloom tomatoes and says their flavor is outstanding. I’ll be curious to see how these compare to one of our flavor favorites from last year, the Smiley another classic-looking red tomato.
6. Riesentraube
So, the last 2 varieties are cherry/salad tomato varieties. I tend to prefer larger tomatoes for eating, but last year found that by choosing to grow only slicers and paste tomatoes, I didn’t have any fruit till mid-August. Around here, Cherry tomatoes typically start to ripen in July, way earlier than larger tomato varieties. Thus, I realized I needed to incorporate some of these smaller varieties into my garden in order to enjoy tomatoes for a longer portion of the season.
My dislike for cherry tomatoes is largely due to the sour gush of seeds and juice that you get when you bite into them. Most people love that about Cherry tomatoes, but I’m not a huge fan. Because of this, I decided to look for a Cherry tomato that had a more similar texture to that of a slicer or heart tomato: meaty rather than gushy. Riesentraube was recommended by some gardening groups so I decided to give it a whirl. The name (German) means “giant bunches of grapes”. They are red plum-shaped tomatoes with a pointed blossom end.
7. Sub Arctic Plenty
And finally, the Sub Arctic Plenty. This variety I chose specifically because it is one of the earliest ripening varieties. This tomato ripens in just 50 days. It was originally developed in Canada for colder climates. It has been grown in the Southern Yukon (bordering Akaska) and is extremely cold tolerant. The fruits are round, red, and weigh up to 2 ounces each. If you’d like to get early tomatoes from your garden, be sure to try out this variety.
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