Red tomato varieties

Red is the default, and that is exactly what makes this page useful in a way the other colour pages are not. Forty of the 98 varieties in this catalogue are red, spanning 55 to 85 days from transplant and 1 g to 450 g, and covering every growth habit on the site: 24 indeterminate, 6 determinate, 4 dwarf, 4 micro dwarf and 2 semi-determinate. Colour, in other words, tells you nothing here. It does not narrow the season, the size, the plant, or the use. Which is why the decision on this page happens after the colour rather than because of it: if red is your starting point, every meaningful choice is still ahead of you, and the comparison table below is where you narrow it by days or by weight.

Varieties
49
Days to harvest (from transplant)
52–85
Fruit weight
0–16 oz (1–450 g)
Growth habit

29 Indeterminate

9 Determinate

6 Dwarf

3 Micro dwarf

2 Semi-determinate

Compare all 49 side by side

All 49 red tomato varieties

Abe Lincoln tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Abe Lincoln A 1923 Midwestern market classic: smooth, solid red fruit and plain old-fashioned flavour. 80 days (estimated) 6–12 oz (170–340 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Amish Paste tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Amish Paste Large heirloom paste tomato with enough flavour to eat fresh as well as cook. 80 days (estimated) 4–8 oz (110–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Better Boy tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Better Boy High-yielding red hybrid beefsteak with broad disease resistance. 72 days12–16 oz (340–450 g)Indeterminate
Big Beef tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Big Beef Widely grown red beefsteak slicer, large fruit, indeterminate vine. 73 days10–16 oz (280–450 g)Indeterminate
Big Boy tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Big Boy The 1949 hybrid that made F1 tomatoes mainstream: big, round, red, dependable. 78 days (estimated) 10–16 oz (280–450 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Blue Beech tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Blue Beech Oversized Italian-type paste heirloom: same dry flesh, fewer fruit per pan of sauce. 85 days (estimated) 6–10 oz (170–280 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Campari tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Campari The supermarket on-the-vine cocktail tomato, bred for greenhouse production. 70 days (estimated) 1–2 oz (40–70 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Celebrity tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Celebrity The reliable all-rounder: broad disease resistance and a manageable, semi-determinate plant. 72 days7–11 oz (200–300 g)Determinate
Costoluto Fiorentino tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Costoluto Fiorentino The Tuscan costoluto: flatter and more deeply lobed than the Genovese. 80 days (estimated) 6–10 oz (170–280 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Costoluto Genovese tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Costoluto Genovese Deeply pleated Ligurian heirloom: high acid that survives long cooking. 80 days (estimated) 5–8 oz (140–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Creole tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Creole Louisiana heirloom slicer bred for Gulf Coast heat and humidity. 80 days5–8 oz (140–220 g)Indeterminate
Early Girl tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Early Girl The short-season standby: first ripe fruit weeks before the big heirlooms. 59 days 4–6 oz (110–170 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Five Star Grape Modern grape hybrid selected for firm flesh and long life after picking. 62 days ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Flavor Bomb tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Flavor Bomb Modern cocktail-sized hybrid bred for flavour intensity rather than size. 70 days (estimated) 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
German Red Strawberry tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover German Red Strawberry Large red oxheart with dense, nearly seedless flesh and better flavour than most. 85 days (estimated) 10–16 oz (280–450 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Glacier tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Glacier Swedish potato-leaf variety bred for early, cold-tolerant fruit set. 55 days1–3 oz (40–80 g)Determinate
Husky Cherry Red tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Husky Cherry Red Compact red cherry tomato bred for containers and small spaces. 60 days~1 oz (15–30 g)Dwarf
Jersey Devil tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Jersey Devil Long tapering paste tomato, nearly seedless and dense enough to barely need reducing. 85 days (estimated) 5–7 oz (140–200 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Jet Star tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Jet Star Red, low-acid slicer bred for crack resistance, medium fruit. 72 days5–8 oz (140–220 g)Indeterminate
Juliet tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Juliet The default grape tomato: prolific, crack-resistant and unusually blight-tolerant. 60 days1–2 oz (28–57 g)Indeterminate
Little Bing tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Little Bing Modern micro-dwarf hybrid, selected for heavier fruit set than the older micros. 60 days 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Dwarf
Marmande tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Marmande The French ribbed slicer: continental Europe's answer to the American beefsteak. 75 days (estimated) 5–8 oz (140–230 g) (estimated) Semi-determinate
Martino's Roma tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Martino's Roma An Italian Roma selection with the flavour the standard type lacks. 75 days (estimated) 2–3 oz (50–90 g) (estimated) Determinate
Micro Tom tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Micro Tom A research model organism that became a windowsill plant: full crop in five inches. 75 days (estimated) <1 oz (5–10 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf
Mountain Magic tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Mountain Magic The blight-resistant answer: broad disease package in a crack-proof cocktail tomato. 72 days 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Nova Determinate red paste tomato, small plum-shaped fruit. 70 days1–3 oz (40–80 g)Determinate
Opalka tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Opalka Polish paste heirloom with the flavour Roma lacks, and alarmingly sparse foliage. 85 days (estimated) 4–6 oz (110–170 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Oregon Spring tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Oregon Spring Cold-tolerant early slicer bred at Oregon State University. 58 days5–8 oz (140–220 g)Determinate
Oxheart tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Oxheart Historic heart-shaped red tomato, origin of the oxheart shape name. 70 days5–8 oz (140–220 g)Indeterminate
Patio Princess Compact hybrid producing slicer-sized fruit on a plant under two feet. 68 days (estimated) 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Dwarf
Plum Regal tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Plum Regal Paste tomato bred to survive blight, for humid regions that keep losing sauce crops. 75 days 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Determinate
Principe Borghese tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Principe Borghese The Italian sun-drying tomato: dry-fleshed, cluster-borne, and poor eaten raw. 75 days (estimated) ~1 oz (20–40 g) (estimated) Semi-determinate
Red Pear tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Red Pear The red counterpart to Yellow Pear: equally old, equally rampant, equally mild. 78 days (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Red Robin tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Red Robin Eight inches tall and the fastest crop in cultivation: the classroom tomato. 55 days (estimated) 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf
Rio Grande tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Rio Grande Heat-tolerant determinate paste tomato that ripens as one concentrated canning crop. 78 days (estimated) 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Determinate
Roma tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Roma The default American paste tomato: blocky, meaty and bred for one big harvest. 76 days (estimated) 2–3 oz (60–90 g) (estimated) Determinate
Rutgers tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Rutgers The 1934 New Jersey canning classic: acidic, balanced and built for preserving. 75 days (estimated) 6–8 oz (170–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
San Marzano tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover San Marzano The classic Italian sauce tomato: thin skin, few seeds, low acidity. 80 days (estimated) 2–4 oz (70–110 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Siletz tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Siletz Cold-tolerant early slicer bred at Oregon State University. 52 days5–8 oz (140–220 g)Determinate
Spoon tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Spoon Currant-type tomato with pea-sized fruit, grown as a curiosity and a garnish. 75 days (estimated) <1 oz (1–2 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Stupice tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Stupice Compact potato-leaf plant ripening small red fruit weeks before most varieties, with a sweet-tangy bite. 55 days1–3 oz (30–85 g)Indeterminate
Sweet Hearts tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Sweet Hearts Grape hybrid bred for high sugar and heavy, uniform set on long trusses. 60 days (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Sweet 100 tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Sweet 100 Hundred-fruit trusses on a ten-foot vine: the classic sweet red cherry. 68 days (estimated) 0–1 oz (12–20 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Sweet Scarlet Dwarf tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Sweet Scarlet Dwarf Dwarf Tomato Project release: compact plant, heavy crop of sweet red cherries. 65 days (estimated) 6–16 oz (170–450 g) (estimated) Dwarf
Teardrop tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Teardrop Small pear-shaped fruit tapering to a fine point, borne in heavy clusters. 75 days (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Tiny Tim tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Tiny Tim The classic windowsill dwarf: a foot tall and still sets a full crop. 60 days (estimated) 0–1 oz (12–20 g) (estimated) Dwarf
Tumbling Tom tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Tumbling Tom Bred to trail, not climb: the standard hanging-basket tomato in British gardens. 70 days (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Dwarf
Verona tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Verona Elongated cocktail hybrid with flesh firm enough to hold shape when roasted. 67 days 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate
Vilma tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover Vilma Eight-inch micro-dwarf for windowsills and the smallest pots. 65 days (estimated) 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf

How to choose

  1. Sort by days first if your season is short. The range on this page is 30 days wide, from Red Robin and Early Girl at 55 to 57 through to the 85-day heirlooms like Opalka and German Red Strawberry. That single number decides more about your harvest than anything else on the page, and it is counted from transplant, not from sowing.

  2. Then decide what the tomatoes are for, because red is the colour where the use cases diverge hardest. This page holds the entire paste and sauce contingent (Roma, San Marzano, Amish Paste, Opalka, Rio Grande, Plum Regal, Martino's Roma, Principe Borghese), the classic sandwich slicers (Abe Lincoln, Better Boy, Big Boy, Rutgers), and nearly every small snacking variety in the catalogue. Those three groups share nothing but the colour.

  3. Habit is the third filter and it is unusually varied here. All four micro dwarf varieties in the catalogue are red, as are four of the dwarfs, so if you are growing on a windowsill or a balcony this page holds most of the realistic options. At the other end, the determinate reds are the preserving block: a concentrated harvest for sauce, all arriving inside a fortnight.

  4. Do not read red as ordinary. Costoluto Genovese, Zapotec-style ribbed fruit, Jersey Devil's long pointed shape and Spoon at one to two grams are all on this list. Sort by fruit weight and the spread becomes obvious immediately: the smallest and the largest red tomatoes here differ by a factor of more than two hundred.

Compare side by side

Color Uses
Abe Lincoln 80 (estimated) 6–12 oz (170–340 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Slicing, Canning, Sauce & paste
Amish Paste 80 (estimated) 4–8 oz (110–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Slicing, Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Better Boy 72 12–16 oz (340–450 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Slicing, Fresh & salads
Big Beef 73 10–16 oz (280–450 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Big Boy 78 (estimated) 10–16 oz (280–450 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Slicing, Fresh & salads
Blue Beech 85 (estimated) 6–10 oz (170–280 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Campari 70 (estimated) 1–2 oz (40–70 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
Celebrity 72 7–11 oz (200–300 g) Determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Slicing, Fresh & salads, Canning
Costoluto Fiorentino 80 (estimated) 6–10 oz (170–280 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Slicing, Sauce & paste, Canning
Costoluto Genovese 80 (estimated) 5–8 oz (140–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Slicing, Sauce & paste, Canning
Creole 80 5–8 oz (140–220 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Early Girl 59 4–6 oz (110–170 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Slicing, Fresh & salads
Five Star Grape 62 ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
Flavor Bomb 70 (estimated) 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
German Red Strawberry 85 (estimated) 10–16 oz (280–450 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing, Sauce & paste
Glacier 55 1–3 oz (40–80 g) Determinate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Husky Cherry Red 60 ~1 oz (15–30 g) Dwarf 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Jersey Devil 85 (estimated) 5–7 oz (140–200 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Slicing, Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Jet Star 72 5–8 oz (140–220 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Juliet 60 1–2 oz (28–57 g) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Snacking, Fresh & salads, Roasting
Little Bing 60 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Dwarf 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Snacking
Marmande 75 (estimated) 5–8 oz (140–230 g) (estimated) Semi-determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing, Sauce & paste
Martino's Roma 75 (estimated) 2–3 oz (50–90 g) (estimated) Determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Micro Tom 75 (estimated) <1 oz (5–10 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) Snacking
Mountain Magic 72 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
Nova 70 1–3 oz (40–80 g) Determinate 2 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning
Opalka 85 (estimated) 4–6 oz (110–170 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Oregon Spring 58 5–8 oz (140–220 g) Determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Oxheart 70 5–8 oz (140–220 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing, Sauce & paste
Patio Princess 68 (estimated) 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Dwarf 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Plum Regal 75 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Determinate 2 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Principe Borghese 75 (estimated) ~1 oz (20–40 g) (estimated) Semi-determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Red Pear 78 (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Red Robin 55 (estimated) 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) Snacking
Rio Grande 78 (estimated) 3–5 oz (90–140 g) (estimated) Determinate 2 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Roma 76 (estimated) 2–3 oz (60–90 g) (estimated) Determinate 2 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Rutgers 75 (estimated) 6–8 oz (170–230 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Canning, Sauce & paste, Slicing
San Marzano 80 (estimated) 2–4 oz (70–110 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Sauce & paste, Canning, Drying, Roasting
Siletz 52 5–8 oz (140–220 g) Determinate 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Slicing
Spoon 75 (estimated) <1 oz (1–2 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) Snacking, Fresh & salads
Stupice 55 1–3 oz (30–85 g) Indeterminate 3 (estimated) / 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Slicing
Sweet 100 68 (estimated) 0–1 oz (12–20 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 5 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Snacking, Fresh & salads
Sweet Hearts 60 (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 5 (estimated) / 2 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
Sweet Scarlet Dwarf 65 (estimated) 6–16 oz (170–450 g) (estimated) Dwarf 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Teardrop 75 (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Tiny Tim 60 (estimated) 0–1 oz (12–20 g) (estimated) Dwarf 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Tumbling Tom 70 (estimated) ~1 oz (15–25 g) (estimated) Dwarf 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking
Verona 67 1–2 oz (40–60 g) (estimated) Indeterminate 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Fresh & salads, Snacking, Roasting
Vilma 65 (estimated) 0–1 oz (10–18 g) (estimated) Micro dwarf 4 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) / 3 (estimated) Snacking

Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.

Frequently asked questions

Are red tomatoes better than coloured ones?

Not as a rule, and the catalogue is deliberately built so you do not have to settle this by reputation. Red is the most common colour because most commercial breeding went that way, which means the red group contains both the most thoroughly bred modern hybrids and a large share of the classic heirlooms. Compare the recorded figures per variety rather than the colour.

Which red tomato is best for sauce?

Look at the paste and plum varieties on this page: Roma, San Marzano, Amish Paste, Opalka, Rio Grande, Plum Regal, Martino's Roma and Principe Borghese. Dense flesh and low seed content matter more than colour, and several of them are determinate, meaning the crop arrives together, which is what you want when you are cooking it in batches.

Which red tomatoes ripen earliest?

Red Robin at 55 days and Early Girl and Sungold-class varieties in the 55 to 62 band are the quickest here. Sort the days column ascending to see the full order. In a short season the early end of this list is where to start.

Are there red tomatoes for pots?

More than in any other colour group. All four micro dwarf varieties in the catalogue are red (Little Bing, Micro Tom, Red Robin, Vilma), along with dwarfs including Tiny Tim, Tumbling Tom, Patio Princess and Sweet Scarlet Dwarf. The container-friendly page filters the whole catalogue on documented suitability.

How many red varieties are in this catalogue?

Forty out of 98, which is the largest colour group by a wide margin and roughly matches the balance of what home-garden seed catalogues actually offer.

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