Best Tomatoes of 2024: My Top 10 Varieties

Hey all! Real Farmer Jeff here.

As many of you may know, tomatoes are my favorite garden vegetable (I know it’s technically a fruit). In fact, I have grown more than 40 varieties of tomatoes in the last few years.

If you’re looking for the best tomatoes to grow or eat this year, you’re in the right place! After testing and tasting countless varieties, I’ve narrowed it down to my top 10 favorites of 2024.

Whether you’re after the juiciest heirlooms, the sweetest cherry tomatoes, or the most reliable producers for your garden, this list has something for every tomato lover.

So let’s dive in and find your next must-grow tomato!

Top 10 Tomato Varieties:

1. Fourth of July

This variety got its name because it generally ripens and is ready for harvest at the beginning of July. It ripens about a month before other mid-size varieties, which is why it is a must grow in my garden.

It has a vibrant, classic look. It’s a small to medium-sized, round fruit with bright, glossy red skin and a smooth, picture-perfect texture. Early Girl tomatoes are another very similar variety in my book.

Fourth of July tomatoes are great for fresh salads, sandwiches, and early summer eating since they ripen quickly and have a sweet, tangy flavor.

2. Old German

This is Kyrié’s favorite tomato variety, so I grow it every year for her. When I first grew it, I didn’t realize how big they get! I’ve grown many that are multiple pounds.

Apart from their impressive size, they are also beautiful – the color is gorgeous. Note that these are also sometimes called “Striped German.”

I love eating Old Germans for tomato sandwiches (as pictured). They’re best for slicing and enjoying fresh because of their large size, meaty texture, and sweet, fruity flavor.

5. Homestead

Of all my tomato plants, these produced the most classic and perfect looking red tomatoes. Every tomato looked even better than store-bought quality with very few cracks or imperfections.

Homesteads are a great mid-size tomato and taste like a classic garden fresh tomato. They’re very versatile and can be used for canning or sauces even though they are bigger than alternative paste tomatoes. Perhaps the best all-purpose tomato I typically grow!

6. Black Cherry

This is Kyrié’s favorite cherry tomato variety. She describes them as tasting like a tomato and grape hybrid.

Black cherries have skin that is a deep mahogany to purplish-black hue, often with subtle hints of red. Inside, the flesh is juicy and dark, offering a sweet yet smoky, slightly earthy flavor that sets it apart from other cherry tomatoes. We have prolific harvests from these plants!

7. Jubilee

Jubilee tomatoes are a beautiful, golden-orange heirloom variety known for their smooth, round shape and medium to large size (typically 6–10 ounces).

Their firm, meaty flesh has a mild, sweet flavor with low acidity, making them perfect for fresh eating, slicing, and salads. They’re a bit more sensitive to high heat, but their incredible flavor makes it worth the risk.

In both of the photos below, Jubilee is the only bright yellow-ish orange tomato.

8. Aunt Ruby’s German Green

Green tomatoes are underrated! They may seem intimidating to grow since it can be trickier to know when they’re ripe. But it’s actually easy to tell – just go by how they feel!

Bonus Favorites: For my top 10 tomato varieties of 2024, I was torn between the Green Zebra, Dwarf Emerald Giant, or Aunt Ruby’s German Green because I love them all. These are all green tomato varieties.

Green tomatoes generally have more of a subtle, tart taste. Definitely worth growing at least one green tomato plant in your garden!

9. Ananas Noir

This tomato has a fun name. It means “Black Pineapple” in French (although it’s not black, nor does it look like a pineapple).

In my opinion, Ananas Noir is top 5 most stunning tomatoes. Its striking contrast of pink and green tones is absolutely gorgeous.

In addition to its appearance, its flavor is complex and memorable! Perfect for juicy tomato sandwiches.

10. San Marzano

This is the classic paste tomato that is popular in Neapolitan pizza sauce. Grown traditionally in the volcanic soil of the San Marzano region near Naples, Italy, these tomatoes are prized for their rich flavor and thick, meaty texture.

San Marzano tomatoes are similar in shape to Roma tomatoes but slightly thinner and more pointed at the tip.

They have fewer seeds and lower water content. Because of that, I highly recommend this tomato for sauces or pastes! Additionally, I prefer the taste to Roma tomatoes. San Marzanos are amazing for pico de gallo as well!