Tomato season is a personal favorite. Spring brings the excitement of planting, knowing summer will reward the effort with juicy, flavorful tomatoes. By midsummer, the sight of plump tomatoes hanging on fragrant vines is motivating. As late summer arrives, my zone 7 garden yields a delicious payoff, affirming why tomatoes are cherished backyard plants.

Technically, tomatoes are fruits because they contain seeds. However, we often call them vegetables, and that’s perfectly fine for most gardeners. Each season, I experiment with at least one new variety in pursuit of discovering an exceptional addition. Yet, I often return to five favorite varieties that thrive under specific conditions: a minimum of 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily and 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week.

Bull’s Hearts (Oxhearts)

These tomatoes hold a special place in my garden. My affinity for them began on a trip to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, where they are known as cuore di bue. In France, they are referred to as coeur de boeuf. Regardless of the name, they produce large, meaty, aromatic, and flavorful heart-shaped fruits with few seeds. These tomatoes are ideal for salads, sandwiches, and due to their low water content, making paste and sauce.

Subtypes vary, including pink, Russian, and Hungarian, with both heirloom and hybrid options. Typically, harvesting occurs approximately 80 days after planting.

Rutgers

Introduced to home gardeners in 1934, Rutgers tomatoes have become a favorite in my garden. Developed by Rutgers University and the Campbell Soup Company, they are technically hybrids. However, being open-pollinated, they allow for seed saving and replanting as with heirlooms. Often called Jersey tomatoes, these bright red, flavorful 4- to 6-ounce slicer tomatoes are meaty, making them excellent for salads and sandwiches. Harvest typically occurs in about 75 days.

Big Boys

While Big Boys resemble standard supermarket tomatoes, their taste is anything but ordinary. As one of the tastiest hybrids, the Burpee Seed Company introduced this beefsteak variety in 1949. Highly productive, these plants yield a continuous supply of 10- to 12-ounce, aromatic tomatoes, starting approximately 78 days after planting.

Sungold Cherry Tomatoes

Sungold cherry tomatoes have earned a dedicated following. Prone to splitting, they are not typically found in grocery stores. For those looking to taste their exceptional sweetness, growing them is essential. The plants produce clusters of sweet, low-acid, orange tomatoes about an inch in diameter. They are perfect for salads, crudité platters, or as a straight-from-the-vine snack, ready in about 60-65 days.

Brandywines

Dating back to the late 1800s, Brandywines are large, juicy heirloom beefsteaks. The plant’s potato-like foliage produces 6- to 7-inch pinkish-red fruits weighing up to a pound, providing perfectly sized slices for sandwiches. Pink-fruited varieties are available for those looking to try different hues.

Jessica Damiano writes gardening columns for The Associated Press. Her award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter offers gardening tips and advice.

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