2020 Tomato Review

Germination Quality: 10
Vigor: 10
Productivity: 10
Flavor: 8
On the list for 2021: Yes

This variety has become so popular in recent years and for good reason. The vines are extremely vigorous and produce massive fruit clusters. The fruit is small, yellow and sweet. It's one of my favorites. They are perfect for fresh eating in salads. I also like to blister them and serve them on top of hummus, baba ganoush, or even just a simple blistered tomato and cheese toast.

Germination Quality: 10
Vigor: 10
Productivity: 8
Flavor: 9
On the list for 2021: Yes

This is an orange variety similar to the ubiquitous Sungold but without the splitting. The problem I always had with Sungold is that they were very prone to splitting, even in dry conditions. Citrine appears to overcome this issue. The fruit is perfectly round, with a skin that's not too tough and a sweet flavor. A definite yes for 2021.

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 9
Productivity: 7
Flavor: 8
On the list for 2021: Yes

This small, round red variety boasts even ripening. According to the seed supplier, all the fruits on a single truss are supposed to ripen simultaneously. However, after growing this variety 2 years in a row, I can confirm that this is not the case. Perhaps a marketing fail? In any case, this isn't a deal-breaker for me and I still like this variety very much. The skins are thin but firm and the tomatoes are quite meaty. I have been enjoying them fresh but also roasted for quick sauce.

Germination Quality: 7
Vigor: 8
Productivity: 8
Flavor: 9
On the list for 2021: Yes

This variety produced small, round, attractive red/purple fruits that are quite delicate. The flavor is enjoyable (tangy and sweet). My issue with this variety is that the fruits have very thin skins and they get soft very quickly after picking. In fact, if you don't use them soon after picking, they may end up busting under the weight of other tomatoes. A messy predicament that no one wants. I will definitely be growing these again.

Germination Quality: 5
Vigor: 4
Productivity: 5
Flavor: 5
On the list for 2021: No

After 2 years of trying to grow this "Instagramable" torpedo-shaped tomato, I have given up. The seeds have incredibly poor germination rates (maybe I have a bad batch). When the seeds finally germinate, the seedlings are slow to grow, puny and incredibly weak. They required serious babying to ensure seedling were viable to transplant. This variety has been so problematic that I don't think I'll ever bother growing it again.

Germination Quality: 6
Vigor: 5
Productivity: 4
Flavor: 8
On the list for 2021: No

I am quite disappointed about this variety to be honest. I actually love the shape, flavor and color of these fruits. However, the plants are just not healthy enough to withstand our pest and disease pressure. Maybe they are better suited for a greenhouse. I have grown this variety 2 years in a row and I think it's time to move on.

Germination Quality: 6
Vigor: 7
Productivity: 7
Flavor: 9
On the list for 2021: Yes

This variety really surprised me. Germination was really poor and seedlings were not very healthy. However, after I transplanted them out they took off and have been doing very well ever since. They produce torpedo-shaped fruits that stay quite green. It is difficult to tell when they are ripe, and I usually go by touch. They do take on an orange/green color when ready. Even though they are quite prone to splitting, picking them before they are fully ripe helped mitigate this issue. I will be growing this variety again.

Germination Quality: 10
Vigor: 10
Productivity: 10
Flavor: 9
On the list for 2021: YES!

Old Faithful! The best performing grape variety. Juliet produces fruits that resemble mini-paste tomatoes. They are flavorful, meaty and perfect for roasting and turning into quick pasta sauces. The vines are so productive that you will not keep up with harvesting. I have been growing this variety for 4 years and will continue to do so moving forward.

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 8
Productivity: 8
Flavor: 5
On the list for 2021: No

I have grown this variety for a few years now and I'm ready for a change. The vines perform well and the fruit is quite attractive however I'm not really a fan of the flavor. I have been using them in sauces mixed in with other varieties rather then eating them fresh.

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 9
Productivity: 7
Flavor: 7
On the list for 2021: Yes

A classic heirloom. Honestly, they are just gorgeous. The flavor was actually quite good. They are very fleshy which is what we want in a tomato, but I did find the skins a tad tough. This isn't a deal breaker though, because this variety is meant to be used for sauce rather then fresh eating. I used it in tomato galettes and pies as well.

Germination Quality: 9
Vigor: 10
Productivity: 10
Flavor: 10
On the list for 2021: YES

Classic! Best in show! Top of the heap! This variety just performed superbly this year. In fact, it usually performs really well in my garden. It's tasty, juicy, and had an excellent flesh/seed ratio. I have stained several shirts eating tomato toasts made with Black Krim this year because they are just so wildly juicy! Love it! Will definitely be growing again.

Germination Quality: 6
Vigor: 7
Productivity: 7
Flavor: 7
On the list for 2021: No

This variety was on my must grow list for a few years. In fact, it was my favorite. However this year, I was simply not impressed (when compared to the other amazing varieties I grew). Black Beauty also exploded in popularity this year, and I'm kind of over it. Time to find the next "it" variety!

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 8
Productivity: 7
Flavor: 8
On the list for 2021: Yes

This was a new variety for me in 2020. I had a couple of vines and they both performed really well, setting lots of large beautiful fruits. When ripe, the fruits have streaks of red and green. This was a great slicing variety and I used it in sandwiches, on tomato toast, with avocados and in other fresh preparations. Not suitable for saucing in my opinion as the color will muddy the sauce and make it quite watery. I will be growing these next year!

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 9
Productivity: 9
Flavor: unknown
On the list for 2021: No

What an utter disappointment. This variety started off well. Great germination, healthy seedlings, and 50+ fruits set. Then it all started going downhill. EVERY SINGLE FRUIT had blossom end rot! Every single one! How does that happen? They were growing in the same bed as most of my other tomatoes so it couldn't have been the environment. I'm chalking this up bad seed. I am not taking the risk of growing this variety again and wasting precious space. Seeds are going in the bin.

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 5
Productivity: 5
Flavor: 8
On the list for 2021: Yes (but from a different seed source)

I'm a big fan of oxheart tomatoes. They are great for sauce and for fresh eating. They usually have very small seed cavities and are mostly made up of fleshy tomatoey goodness. I have had great success with this variety in the past, however not in 2020. I strongly suspect it was the seed supplier (as I have had other quality issued from them this year). I will definitely be growing an oxheart variety next year, but it will be from a different seed source.

Germination Quality: 8
Vigor: 8
Productivity: 9
Flavor: 9
On the list for 2021: Yes

This variety was my only paste tomato, destined primarily for sauce. The seeds germinated well but the seedlings did require some babying before they were transplanted outside. When they established themselves, there was no stopping them. They were short plants (as most determinate plants are) but they produced very large fruits perfect for roasting and saucing. The flavor was quite balanced and the sauce turned out perfectly. I will definitely be growing them again, but I will probably grow more plants. 4 vines are not enough for the quantity of sauce I was hoping to prepare.