Old tomato varieties and wild tomatoes – an overview

Since every single tomato has its own individual aroma, combined with a characteristic blaze of colors and an unmistakable shape, the following overview should not be interpreted as a ranking. For a better overview, the old tomato varieties have been sorted according to their visual appearance:

Beefsteak tomatoes

They are probably the largest and most aromatic fruits that are between 12 cm and 18 cm tall and weigh up to 500 g. The plants on which they thrive can grow up to 3 m high.

Moldovan sand

This variety was brought along by a Moldovan family when they emigrated to the USA. There it has found widespread use within a short period of time:

• Size up to 2.00 m
• Harvest from early August to early October
• Fruits pink to light red
• 500 g to 700 g in weight

Malinoswki

• Country of origin Russia or Poland
• Size 1.50 m to 2.50 m
• normal sized leaves
• Harvest time August and September
• light red fruits weighing up to 350 g

Grandmother Antonia

• comes from Piedmont
• very robust old variety
• normal size to 2.50 m
• heavy fruits up to 1 kg
• Harvest time from mid-August

Black Prince

• Homeland of Siberia
• robust Stabtomate
• red-brown to black fruits
• medium-sized fruits 150 g to 350 g
• Harvest from the end of July

Mandarin

• probably comes from Russia
• sweet, mandarin-colored fruits
• medium-sized stick tomato
• Harvest from early August to early September

Aunt Ruby’s German Green

• bred in Germany
• very vigorous plant
• orange-green striped fruits
• tasty aroma
• prefers a warm location
• Harvest time August to October

Marmande

• old french tomato variety
• bright red fruits
• very fine aroma
• abundant stake tomatoes
• Fruits up to 200 g in weight
• Harvest from the end of July

Brandywine

• in trade since 1885
• one of the most famous tomatoes
• light wine aroma
• heavy, red fruits up to 500 g
• harvest

White beauty

• comes from Germany
• very fleshy, large tomato
• almost white in color
• tolerates cultivation outdoors very well
• mild, slightly sour taste
• Harvest from August

Sankt Ignatius

• at home in South Tyrol
• historical tomato variety
• growing well
• thin skin
• slightly sour taste
• Harvest from the beginning of August

Big Rainbow

• is one of the 100 best varieties
• is from Minnesota
• large, orange-yellow-red striped fruits
• up to 500 g in weight
• long lasting yield
• grows up to 2 m high
• Harvest from the beginning of August

Bradley

• old tomato variety with its own festival
• a bit small for a beefsteak tomato
• Plant grows to a height of 2 m
• pink fruits
• very aromatic and juicy
• Harvest from the end of July / beginning of August

Schellenberg’s Favorit

• old German traditional variety
• came to the US through a GI
• very large, orange-colored fruits
• large plant up to 2.50 m high
• Harvest from mid-August

Elbe

• German variety known since 1889
• golden yellow to orange fruits
• grows to a height of 2.50 m
• Fruits weigh up to 350 g
• Harvest late from the end of August

Hillbilly

• comes from the mountains of West Virginia
• became known in 1880
• two-tone striped beefsteak tomato
• soft, juicy flesh
• mild, fruity taste
• Fruits weigh up to 500 g
• Harvest from the beginning of August

Bottled tomatoes

These tomatoes have an elongated, pear-shaped shape and are preferably grown in the Mediterranean region. They are very popular as toppings for pizza and are often used to make sauces.

Andentomate

• is located in the south of France
• resembles a pointed pepper in shape
• the red fruits are up to 18 cm long
• very juicy and low in seeds
• Harvest from the end of August

Orange bottle tomato

• Probably home to Russia
• orange fruits
• not very juicy
• thick shell
• is good for grilling
• Harvest August to October

San Marzano

• Seed 1770 gift from Peru to Naples
• the classic Italian tomato for gourmets
• elongated, red fruits
• up to 100 g in weight
• very aromatic taste
• firm pulp, not very juicy
• Harvest from the end of August

Roma

• classic bottle tomato
• bushy growing plant
• red fruits have only a few pips
• is preferably used for making sauces
• But it also tastes very good fresh
• Harvest from the end of July

Yellow date wine tomato

• old, German variety
• oval to elongated yellow fruits
• richly bearing
• sweet fruit tomato
• Harvest from August

Black from Tula

• is one of the most popular black varieties
• native to Ukraine
• red-brown to black fruits
• Plant is not very productive
• complex, unusual taste
• Harvest from the end of July

Amish Paste

• very old variety from Wisconsin
• robust Stabtomate
• red, oval to elongated fruits
• works well as a kitchen tomato
• very few pips
• Harvest from the end of July

Ball tomatoes

Spherical tomatoes are probably the best-known tomato variety and are particularly common in hobby gardens and greenhouses. The alternative designation of the tomato as ‘love apple’ can probably be traced back to its appearance.

Bernese Rose

• comes from Switzerland
• very vigorous plant
• pink, round fruits
• aromatic, slightly sweet taste
• is one of the most popular old tomato varieties
• Harvest time from the end of August

Peach tomato ‘Peche’

• very rare old variety from the 19th century
• robust stake tomatoes also outdoors
• medium-sized fruits
• slightly velvety peach skin
• aromatic, slightly sour taste
• Harvest from the end of August

Golden queen

• was bred in Germany in 1870
• has been grown continuously since then
• tasty, yellow fruits
• very robust, high-yielding plant
• Fruits up to 80 g in weight
• Harvest from early August to mid-September

Tigerella

• comes from England
• has recently been cultivated again
• quite small, red-green striped fruits
• hard shell
• a further development of the old variety Ailsa Craig
• Harvest: from the end of August to the end of September

Ailsa Craig

• Bred in Scotland in the early 20th century
• normal sized, round fruits
• abundant stake tomatoes
• prefers a warm location
• Harvest from the beginning of August

King Humbert

• has been cultivated since 1885
• named after King Umberto of Italy
• high-yielding stake tomato
• red, plum-shaped fruits
• well suited for cooking and drying
• Harvest from mid-July

Bloody Butcher

• old English stake tomato
• red fruits of different sizes
• robust plant
• juicy and not very firm
• needs a lot of sun
• Harvest from late July to late September

Auriga

• was bred in the GDR
• bears bright orange fruits
• very juicy
• spicy and sweet aroma
• the round fruits weigh up to 100 g
• Harvest from the end of July

Ochsenherz ‘Coer de Boef’

• old Hungarian variety from 1901
• different shapes
• partly hollow inside
• still juicy pulp
• Harvest from the end of August

Quedlinburg early love

• traditional German tomato variety
• medium-high stick plant
• should be maxed out
• red, round fruits up to 60 g
• Can be used as a bush tomato
• Harvest from mid-July

Moneymaker

• old English variety from 1916
• richly bearing
• red, smooth fruits
• Weight between 70 g and 120 g
• somewhat thick-skinned
• Harvest from the end of July

Cherrytomaten

This type of tomato is also called cherry tomato. Its cherry-sized fruits thrive on long panicles that, with good care, can hold up to 20 tomatoes. They are very popular as snack tomatoes with children because they fit into the smallest mouth. They are also used to decorate fresh salads.

Arcadia

• probably comes from the USA
• rich bearing plant
• sweet, small red fruits up to 20 g
• unfortunately a bit capricious in yield
• Harvest time from July

Black Cherry

• normal sized plant
• dark brown to black fruits
• Weight up to a maximum of 30 g
• particularly tasty aroma
• Harvest time July to September

Sugar grape

• was long considered lost
• richly bearing tomato plant
• small, deep red fruits
• strong and robust
• also suitable for the field
• sweet, aromatic taste
• Harvest from late July to late October

Small tomatoes

• old romanian tomato variety
• round, red small fruits
• sweet and sour aroma
• robust stake tomatoes up to 3 m high
• ideal for hobby gardeners
• Harvest from the end of August

Better

• German variety from the 18th century
• red, round fruits
• long lasting yield
• can be harvested until the first frost
• robust and resistant
• Harvest from the beginning of August

Red balconies

• very small plant up to 0.50 m high
• well suited for buckets and boxes
• red, mildly sweet fruits
• not exhausted
• Harvest very early from early / mid-July

Golden Queen

• historical variety since 1882
• not to be confused with the golden queen
• only real with the reddish tip
• yellow, round fruits
• Harvest from mid / end of August

Amish Cherry

• lots of small orange fruits
• high-yielding plant
• Fruits with a sweet taste
• Harvest early from early / mid-July

Red Pear

• one of the oldest American varieties
• bears a lot of small red fruits
• juicy and sweet taste
• slightly pear-shaped
• also do well as a houseplant
• prefer a sunny, warm location
• Harvest from the beginning / middle of August

Wildtomaten

This type of tomato is a plant that has not been influenced by breeding. The varieties presented below were also found in their area of ​​origin and still grow there today. Because they are extremely robust, wild tomatoes are ideal for growing outdoors. Since the dreaded late blight cannot harm them, there is no need to be exhausted. The fruits are usually tiny compared to the grown tomatoes; however, they grow in large numbers.

Yellow savages

• robust, insensitive to cold and moisture
• grows up to 3 m high
• yellow, small fruits
• firm skin, but not hard
• also suitable as a decorative container plant
• Harvest from the second half of July

Humboltii

• strong growing plant
• robust and therefore suitable for the field
• cherry-sized, red fruits
• soft shell
• sweet aroma
• Harvest from mid-July to late October

Red savages

• lush growing plant
• does not have to be exhausted
• pea-sized, red fruits
• richly bearing
• fruity sweet taste
• Harvest from the 2nd half of July to the end of October

Mexican wild tomato

• robust, strong-growing plant
• maxing out not required
• bears up to 400 small red fruits
• particularly low in acid
• Harvest from mid-July

Peruvian wild tomato

• comes from the Peruvian highlands
• produces very small, red fruits
• bushy growing stake tomato
• grows up to 2 m
• richly bearing
• Harvest from the beginning of August

Galapagos Island

• comes from the island of Santa Cruz
• red, slightly pear-shaped fruits
• particularly juicy and sweet
• a rarity among the wild tomatoes
• very robust and resistant
• Harvest from late July to October

Tindindogo

• grows in Kenya
• numerous yellow mini tomatoes
• sweet taste aroma
• resistant to brown rot
• Harvest from July to October

Poro Poro

• Home is Tahiti
• a historic wild tomato
• Starting point for numerous breeds
• the leaves are also edible
• suitable as a decorative container plant
• piquant, spicy taste
• Harvest all summer

Rote Murmel

• is native to the Andes
• grows bushy to 1.50 m high
• numerous, marble-sized fruits
• slightly sweet aroma
• resistant to cold and wet
• grows until just before the first frost
• Harvest: July to the end of October

Old tomato varieties and wild tomatoes have their very special advantages

Hobby gardeners, who do not want to be satisfied with the bland industrial tomatoes in the trade, take action themselves and plant tomatoes in their garden. In particular, the old tomato varieties, some of which already seemed lost, have grown in popularity enormously in recent years. Some of these varieties have proven themselves over many decades, if not centuries. They come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and flavors. The numerous wild tomatoes go even further, because they are not only extremely resistant to adverse weather conditions and the dreaded brown rot. In addition, the gardener can simply let them grow, because pruning is not necessary for wild tomatoes.