Whether you’re just dipping your toes into gardening or already dreaming of your summer harvest, tomatoes are a delicious and rewarding place to start. From sweet cherry tomatoes to heirloom giants with rich flavor, there’s a tomato variety for every gardener, and every garden. With a little sun, water, and support, these warm-weather favorites can thrive in containers, raised beds, or backyard plots.
Tomatoes not only bring beauty to your garden but also flavor to your kitchen. The key is choosing varieties that suit your space, experience level, and taste preferences. Below are four of our favorite tomatoes to grow, especially if you’re newer to gardening but ready to branch out beyond the basics.
Our Favorite Tomatoes:
Sungold Cherry Tomato
Sungold is one of the sweetest and most reliable cherry tomatoes for first-time growers. These golden-orange gems ripen early and produce heavily throughout the season, making them a super satisfying pick for beginners. They love full sun, regular watering, and support from a cage or trellis to keep the vines upright. It’s best to harvest them when fully ripe for peak flavor. With their juicy texture and candy-like taste, Sungolds rarely make it to the kitchen—they’re usually eaten right off the vine!
Big Boy Slicing Tomato
If you’re looking for a classic, all-purpose tomato, Big Boy is a must. Known for its large, round fruit and balanced flavor, this variety is ideal for sandwiches, burgers, and fresh salads. Big Boys grow on vigorous plants that need plenty of sun, consistent watering, and sturdy support to handle the weight of their fruit. Pruning lower leaves and suckers can help airflow and improve yields. It’s a great choice for beginners who want that traditional tomato experience with impressive results.
Brandywine Heirloom Tomato - Pink or Yellow
Brandywines are beloved heirlooms known for their rich, complex flavor and beautiful, large fruit. Available in pink or yellow varieties, they’re a bit slower to mature than hybrids but worth the wait. These tomatoes need full sun, regular watering, and strong staking or caging to support their hefty size. They’re a bit more sensitive to growing conditions than others, but with a little care, they reward gardeners with deeply flavorful, show-stopping tomatoes. If you’re feeling adventurous, Brandywine is a great step into the world of heirlooms.
Cherokee Purple Heirloom Tomato
Cherokee Purple is another standout heirloom, treasured for its dusky reddish-purple color and bold, smoky-sweet flavor. These tomatoes have a soft texture and juicy flesh, perfect for slicing and savoring fresh. Like Brandywine, Cherokee Purple plants need full sun, deep watering, and solid support to thrive. They may not be the highest yielding, but the unique taste and old-world charm make them a favorite among gardeners who appreciate depth of flavor. A great pick for someone wanting to grow something truly special.
Keep Growing with Confidence
Starting your tomato journey with varieties that are beginner-friendly, and taste amazing, is a great way to build confidence in the garden. Whether you’re snacking on Sungolds straight off the vine or slicing into a Cherokee Purple for your next caprese salad, you’ll be rewarded with unbeatable flavor and a deeper connection to your food.
Remember, every gardener starts somewhere, and each season brings new lessons and fresh tomatoes to enjoy. Stick with it, have fun, and don’t be afraid to get your hands a little dirty, your future harvest is worth it.