As a passionate home gardener, I know the struggle of trying to cram all the vegetables, fruits, and flowers you want to grow into a limited garden space. It can feel like a constant battle to make the most of every inch, especially when it comes to the humble tomato plant.
These sprawling, prolific plants can quickly take over if you’re not careful.
However, there’s a secret to maximizing your garden’s potential while still enjoying a bountiful tomato harvest: all-purpose tomato varieties. These remarkable plants are true workhorses, providing you with a versatile bounty that can be used for everything from fresh salads to homemade sauces and canned goods.
In this comprehensive guide, I will explore the 7 best all-purpose tomato varieties that will help you streamline your gardening tasks, reduce your workload, and ensure you have the perfect tomatoes for every culinary need.
1. Amish Paste
If you’re looking for the ultimate tomato for sauces, salsa, and preserving the Amish Paste is the the perfect choice for you. As the best-selling paste tomato according to the Seed Savers Exchange, this heirloom variety is prized for its meaty, low-moisture flesh and rich, complex flavor. The oblong fruits grow up to 8 ounces and hold their shape beautifully when cooked down.
What I love most about Amish Paste is its exceptional performance in the kitchen. The thick, creamy interior is perfect for creating dense, flavorful tomato sauces, and the low water content means you spend less time simmering and reducing. I find that just a few Amish Paste tomatoes can yield a wonderfully thick, concentrated sauce that’s perfect for canning or freezing. And the flavor – oh, the flavor! There’s a depth and complexity to the sweetness that really sets this variety apart.
Amish Paste is also a prolific producer, giving you plenty of tomatoes to work with all season long. I usually grow several plants, as the yields are consistently high, and the determinate habit means I can easily manage the harvest. Whether you’re looking to put up jars of marinara or whip up a quick batch of salsa, Amish Paste is an invaluable addition to any home gardener’s arsenal.
2. Rutgers
Developed by the renowned Rutgers University in New Jersey, the Rutgers tomato is a true classic. It boasts a more traditional round shape but opens up to reveal a wonderfully meaty interior that’s perfect for canning and preserving. With a balanced acidity and sweetness, Rutgers tomatoes make an excellent base for sauces, soups, and even fresh slicing.
What I appreciate most about Rutgers is its versatility and reliability. This variety is known as the “Campbell’s Soup” tomato, and for good reason – the sturdy, flavorful fruits hold up incredibly well to cooking and canning. I find that Rutgers tomatoes maintain their texture and integrity even after hours of simmering, resulting in a sauce that’s thick, rich, and utterly delicious.
But Rutgers isn’t just a workhorse in the kitchen – it’s also a remarkably hardy and disease-resistant plant in the garden. I’ve found that it’s able to withstand a wide range of common tomato ailments, from early blight to fusarium wilt, with minimal intervention on my part. This makes it a reliable and low-maintenance option for any gardener, whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out.
3. San Marzano
When it comes to authentic Italian-style tomatoes, San Marzano is the gold standard. Hailing from the San Marzano region of Italy, these elongated, pointed fruits have a thick, almost hollow interior that’s ideal for making rich, concentrated sauces.
What sets San Marzano tomatoes apart is their intense, almost umami-like flavor. There’s a depth and complexity to these tomatoes that simply can’t be matched by many of their modern hybrids. The balance of sweetness and acidity is absolutely spot-on, creating a tomato that’s equally at home in a simple Caprese salad or a bubbling pot of ragù.
While San Marzano tomatoes may take a bit more effort to grow, the results are well worth it for any home cook or canner. I find that the plants tend to be a bit more finicky than some other varieties, requiring consistent watering and staking to support the heavy, elongated fruits. But with a little extra care, you’ll be rewarded with a bountiful harvest of tomatoes that will elevate any dish they touch.
Whether you’re simmering them down into a thick, luscious sauce or simply enjoying them fresh with a sprinkle of salt and a drizzle of olive oil, San Marzano tomatoes are a must-have for the discerning home gardener.
4. Celebrity
For a true all-rounder, the Celebrity Tomato is hard to beat. This hybrid variety is highly productive, disease-resistant, and versatile enough to handle everything from fresh eating to canning and preserving.
What I love most about Celebrity is its remarkable balance of flavor and texture. The medium-sized, globe-shaped fruits have a nice balance of sweetness and acidity, making them great for slicing, dicing, or cooking down into sauces and salsas. They hold their shape beautifully, even after prolonged cooking, and the thick walls and meaty interior make them an excellent choice for canning and preserving.
But a Celebrity’s real standout feature is its remarkable productivity and disease resistance. As a determinate variety, it sets all of its fruit at once, making it easier to manage and harvest. The plants are remarkably sturdy, able to withstand a wide range of common tomato ailments with minimal intervention on my part. I’ve found that I can consistently rely on Celebrity to deliver a bountiful harvest, even in challenging growing conditions.
Whether you’re looking to stock your pantry with homemade tomato products or simply enjoy a steady supply of fresh, flavorful tomatoes all season long, Celebrity is a variety that’s sure to become a staple in your garden.
5. Cherokee Purple
If you’re looking to add some color and complexity to your tomato lineup, the Cherokee Purple is a must-try. This heirloom variety boasts a deep, almost purple-brown skin and a rich, almost beefsteak-like interior. The flavor is a delightful blend of sweetness, tanginess, and a hint of smoky, almost earthy notes.
What I love most about Cherokee Purple is the depth and complexity of its flavor profile. There’s a level of nuance and richness that you simply don’t find in many modern tomato varieties. The interplay of sweetness, acidity, and subtle umami notes creates a tomato that’s endlessly fascinating to eat, whether you’re enjoying it fresh or incorporating it into a dish.
While Cherokee Purple may not be the best choice for canning and preserving (the irregular shape can make it a bit tricky to work with), it’s an excellent option for fresh eating, salads, and even roasting. I find that the unique coloration and complex flavor profile make it a real standout in the garden, and it’s always a hit with my family and friends.
As an indeterminate variety, Cherokee Purple will continue to produce fruit throughout the season, giving you a steady supply of these beautiful, flavorful tomatoes. With a little extra care and attention, you’ll be rewarded with a truly special and unforgettable eating experience.
6. Gill’s All-Purpose
As the name suggests, Gill’s All-Purpose is a true workhorse in the garden. This variety, developed by Texas A&M University, is known for its exceptional disease resistance, high yields, and versatility in the kitchen.
What I appreciate most about Gill’s All-Purpose is its remarkable adaptability. The medium-sized, globe-shaped fruits have a classic tomato flavor with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity, making them suitable for a wide range of culinary applications. I find that they hold up beautifully to cooking, whether you’re simmering them down into a thick sauce or dehydrating them for flavorful tomato powder.
But Gill’s All-Purpose isn’t just a kitchen superstar – it’s also an incredibly resilient plant in the garden. Developed with the challenges of the Texas climate in mind, this variety is able to withstand a wide range of common tomato diseases and pests, from early blight to hornworms. I’ve found that I can consistently rely on Gill’s All-Purpose to deliver a bountiful harvest, even in less-than-ideal growing conditions.
Whether you’re looking to can and preserve your tomato bounty or simply enjoy a steady supply of fresh, flavorful fruits all season long, Gill’s All-Purpose is a variety that’s sure to become an indispensable part of your gardening lineup.
7. Juliet
Last but not least, the Juliet tomato is a personal favorite of mine. This grape-sized variety is the perfect all-purpose tomato for the home gardener. The oblong, plum-shaped fruits have a delightful, almost candy-like sweetness that makes them a joy to eat fresh, but they also hold up remarkably well to cooking and preserving.
What I love most about Juliet is its remarkable versatility. These little tomatoes are equally at home in a fresh salad, a homemade salsa, or a simmering pot of sauce. The thin skins and low moisture content make them a breeze to work with, whether you’re dicing them for a bruschetta topping or roasting them to concentrate their flavor.
But Juliet’s real standout feature is its incredible productivity. As an indeterminate variety, the plants will continue to produce fruit throughout the season, giving you a steady supply of these delectable little tomatoes. I find that I can easily harvest handfuls of Juliets several times a week, which is perfect for keeping up with my family’s insatiable tomato cravings.
Whether you’re looking to add a touch of sweetness to your homemade dishes or simply enjoy the satisfaction of plucking perfectly ripe tomatoes straight from the vine, Juliet is a variety that’s sure to become a staple in your garden.
Final Verdict
Confused? Which one to choose? Fear not! I’ll make it easy for you.
Best for Canning and Preserving: Amish Paste and San Marzano These varieties have low moisture content and meaty interiors, making them ideal for rich, concentrated sauces.
Best for Fresh Eating: Cherokee Purple and Juliet
Cherokee Purple offers a complex, smoky-sweet flavor, while Juliet’s grape-sized fruits have a delightful candy-like sweetness.
Best All-Around Performer: Rutgers and Gill’s All-Purpose These well-rounded varieties handle fresh eating, cooking, and canning with ease, and are highly productive and disease-resistant.
The Standout Winner: Celebrity This hybrid tomato combines incredible versatility, high yields, and excellent disease resistance, making it the ultimate all-purpose choice.
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