One of the greatest joys of keeping a home garden is harvesting your own sweet and juicy tomatoes for homemade tomato sandwiches and burger toppings! But with all of the gorgeous heirloom tomato varieties to choose from, how exactly do you pick the best-slicing tomato for you?
To help you find the perfect slicing tomatoes for fresh eating and snacks, we’ve compiled this simple guide on tomato varieties. The tomatoes you’ll find below are all famous for their big, bold flavors, meaty flesh, and easy-to-grow nature. All you need to do is pick the tomato that sounds tastiest to you and start planting!
Jump to:
- 15 best-slicing tomatoes for fresh eating
- 1. Cherokee Purple
- 2. Brandywine
- 3. Black Krim
- 4. Paul Robeson
- 5. Oxheart
- 6. Early Girl
- 7. Pineapple
- 8. Big Beef
- 9. German Johnson
- 10. Mortgage Lifter
- 11. Garden Peach
- 12. Big Boy
- 13. Pink Berkeley Tie Dye
- 14. Aunt Ruby’s German Green
- 15. Chocolate Stripes
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
15 best-slicing tomatoes for fresh eating
While cherry tomatoes and canning tomatoes have their place, if you want a big, thick slice of tomato on your sandwich or burger, the cultivars below are impossible to beat. In this list, you’ll find both open-pollinated tomatoes that are perfect for seed saving, as well as hybrids that have improved disease resistance and other special features. And, to give you even more options to choose from, we’ve included plenty of brick-red tomato varieties and a few uniquely colored options too!
1. Cherokee Purple
| Tomato variety: | Cherokee Purple |
| Days to maturity: | 77 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Rich, sweet flavor |
Whenever I plant tomatoes, I always leave plenty of room to grow at least a few ‘Cherokee Purple’ tomato plants. These classic heirloom slicers are famous for their dusky, purple-brown skin and unbeatable flavor, which is juicy and has the perfect amount of sweetness. Sliced into sandwiches, salads, or placed on top of a freshly grilled burger, there’s nothing like a homegrown ‘Cherokee Purple’ tomato!
While these plants are indeterminate growers, they don’t vine as much as some other tomato plants, making them a bit easier to keep in small gardens and containers. However, ‘Cherokee Purple’ tomatoes can be more prone to sun damage than some other tomato varieties, which is why many growers avoid pruning away their extra leaves. These plants are also quite cold-hardy for a tomato, and they mature in about 77 days after planting.
2. Brandywine
| Tomato variety: | Brandywine |
| Days to maturity: | 82 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Superior flavor; Assorted color options |
‘Brandywines’ are some of the most flavorful tomatoes you can grow, and they actually have inspired many gardeners to shift away from “perfect looking” tomatoes and towards more flavorful heirlooms. ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes are so popular you can typically find them at local nurseries, although you can grow them from seed as well. Today, you can find an assortment of ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes on the market, including ‘Pink Brandywine,’ ‘Weaver’s Black Brandywine’ and ‘Yellow Brandywine.’
‘Brandywine’ tomatoes are potato-leafed varieties, which means they have more rounded leaves than many other tomato types. Plants should be spaced at least 24” apart in gardens, and they will benefit from extra support, such as tomato cages or bamboo poles. ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes have been around since at least the 1880s, and their fruit can weigh in at over 1 ½ pounds each!
3. Black Krim
| Tomato variety: | Black Krim |
| Days to maturity: | 80 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Dark skin; Meaty, slightly smoky flavor |
‘Black Krim’ originally hails from the Black Sea region of Russia. These flavorful tomatoes are prized for their juicy flesh and distinct taste that’s rich and meaty, with delicate, smoky undertones. ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes also have a highly saturated skin that’s dark with hints of metallic purple coloration, and the interior flesh of the tomato is dark too.
Like many other slicing tomatoes, ‘Black Krim’ is an indeterminate grower that will need trellising or extra support as it develops. These plants can also be a bit tricky to harvest since you’ll want to pick them when they’re still a bit firm. If you allow ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes to turn completely purple in the garden, their texture will become too soft for slicing.
4. Paul Robeson
| Tomato variety: | Paul Robeson |
| Days to maturity: | 78 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Dark skin; Smoky flavor |
Named after the famous actor, athlete, and activist, the ‘Paul Robeson’ tomato is a tasty affair with a flavor that’s similar to ‘Black Krim,’ but with an added smokiness. This heirloom tomato variety has deep maroon skin with green shoulders and a juicy interior. These plants are indeterminate growers, and they’re open-pollinated too, which makes them ideal for seed saving.
‘Paul Robeson’ tomatoes can have a tendency to split, but this is less likely to occur if you water your plants regularly. Adding mulch around the base of your tomato plants can also regulate moisture levels and keep soil from drying out as quickly. When grown from seed, these tomatoes should begin to fruit in about 78 days.
5. Oxheart
| Tomato variety: | Oxheart |
| Days to maturity: | 88 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Distinct shape; Mild and sweet flavor |
‘Oxheart’ tomatoes are another wildly popular slicing tomato that’s known for its unique heart-shaped, tapering form. This tapering shape occurred as the result of a random mutation in the 1920s, but it makes this heirloom tomato stand out and adds to its charm too. These plants reliably produce large harvests of tomatoes, and those tomatoes can weigh up to 2 pounds each!
‘Oxheart’ tomatoes are firm and meaty, and they don’t have many seeds, making them useful for canning as well as fresh eating. Sometimes, ‘Oxheart’ plants may not look very pretty as their leaves can droop or twist, but this is normal. However, these tomatoes don’t have a great shelf life, so if you want to enjoy their mild, sweet flavor, be sure to eat them soon after picking!
6. Early Girl
| Tomato variety: | Early Girl |
| Days to maturity: | 50 to 62 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | No |
| Unique features: | Large harvest size; Disease resistance; Early harvest |
‘Early Girl’ tomatoes are a good choice for beginning growers since they produce so reliably and are some of the first tomatoes to fruit in summer. These vigorous plants can begin to fruit in as little as 50 days! Some growers even wait until the end of summer to plant ‘Early Girl’ tomatoes in order to get a big crop of tomatoes in autumn.
As a hybrid tomato variety, ‘Early Girl’ isn’t good for seed saving, but this multi-purpose tomato type can be used in lots of other ways. These tomatoes have a bright red flesh that’s smooth and easy to slice, and the plants are also resistant to wilt. In ideal conditions, a single ‘Early Girl’ tomato plant can produce up to 300 pounds of tomatoes each!
7. Pineapple
| Tomato variety: | Pineapple |
| Days to maturity: | 85 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Bright yellow coloring; Extra sweet with low acidity |
‘Pineapple’ tomatoes may look like pineapples with their bright yellow flesh, but they have a flavor that’s all their own. Intensely sweet and with minimal acid, ‘Pineapple’ tomatoes are delicious, cooked or raw, and they make a colorful addition to salads, salsas, and pasta sauces. These large heirloom tomatoes originally come from Kentucky, but they’ve taken the gardening world by storm thanks to their bright, yellow coloring and reliable growth rate.
‘Pineapple’ tomatoes can grow quite large and usually weigh in at around 1 pound each. Fruit is often marbled with streaks of red, and it may develop some blemishes or cracks in the garden, but this won’t impact the flavor of ‘Pineapple’ tomatoes one bit! As these plants are less common than many other tomato varieties, you may need to order them online, but they’re worth it!
8. Big Beef
| Tomato variety: | Big Beef |
| Days to maturity: | 73 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | No |
| Unique features: | Early harvest; Large fruit |
Beefsteak tomatoes are another top choice among home growers, and they are one of the most coveted tomato varieties to use as hamburger toppings. However, these plants are rarely grown commercially because their large size can make them difficult to work with on an industrial scale. That’s why, if you love beefsteak tomatoes, the best way to get them is to grow your own!
Today, there are many different beefsteak tomato varieties to choose from, including ‘Beefmaster,’ ‘Bucking Bronco’ and ‘Big Beef.’ While all of these plants are tasty and reliable, ‘Big Beef’ is often easier to find at local garden centers. These plants are resistant to many common tomato diseases, and they produce massive fruit earlier in the season than many other tomato cultivars.
9. German Johnson
| Tomato variety: | German Johnson |
| Days to maturity: | 80 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Productive plants; Sweet flavor |
‘German Johnson’ is an old, heirloom tomato variety that was developed in North Carolina. This robust plant can get quite massive, and it should always be grown with extra support or tomato cages to keep it from falling over or dropping branches. In a single season, one ‘German Johnson’ plant averages about 40 tomatoes each, and those tomatoes often weigh over 1 pound!
‘German Johnson’ has a similar look and feel to ‘Brandywine’ tomatoes, but they are often more productive and vigorous. The fruit is creamy and sweet with the perfect amount of tang. Like other heirloom tomatoes, ‘German Johnson’ tomatoes usually have bumpy flesh, but the tomatoes are smooth on the undersides and less prone to cracking as long as they receive consistent watering.
10. Mortgage Lifter
| Tomato variety: | Mortgage Lifter |
| Days to maturity: | 85 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Large fruit; Vigorous plants |
‘Mortgage Lifter’ tomatoes were first developed in the 1940s by M. C. Byles of West Virginia. At the time, Byles was able to sell these massive tomatoes for $1 each, which allowed him to pay off the mortgage on his home and earned this tomato its inspirational name! ‘Mortgage Lifter’ tomatoes have pretty pink flesh and smooth skin that makes them super easy to slice.
Some bush-type tomatoes are perfect for small spaces because they grow compactly, but ‘Mortgage Lifter’ needs plenty of room to spread. These vigorous plants can vine over 9’, and they need sturdy supports to keep them upright. Some ‘Mortgage Lifter’ tomatoes can reach up to 4 pounds in size, but most max at around 2 ½ pounds!
11. Garden Peach
| Tomato variety: | Garden Peach |
| Days to maturity: | 71 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Pale yellow, fuzzy skin; Distinct flavor |
‘Garden Peach’ is another slicing tomato with lots of history behind it. These tomatoes were first listed in a seed catalog in the 1890s, and they are notable for their pale yellow skin that is soft and slightly fuzzy like a peach. When ripe, ‘Garden Peach’ will usually blush a pale pink tone, which signals to gardeners that it’s time to start harvesting!
‘Garden Peach’ is sweet and fruity with a complex flavor that isn’t quite like any other tomato you’ll encounter. The fruit is also sturdy, and it holds together well, even when sliced and grilled. Like other indeterminate tomato types, ‘Garden Peach’ can produce fruit throughout the growing season, so you’ll always have delicious tomatoes on hand whenever you want them!
12. Big Boy
| Tomato variety: | Big Boy |
| Days to maturity: | 78 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | No |
| Unique features: | Productive plants; Large fruit |
‘Big Boy’ tomatoes have been a favorite among backyard gardeners for decades. These plants were first developed by Burpee in 1949, and they display scarlet red skin that’s smooth to the touch. Inside, ‘Big Boy’ tomatoes are sweet and juicy, and they nearly melt in your mouth with each bite!
‘Big Boy’ is an indeterminate tomato variety, and it will fruit all season long, although the majority of the tomatoes will ripen in mid-season. Vines of this plant grow rather long and will need staking to keep them from taking over. The fruit is also resistant to cracking, and under ideal conditions, a single ‘Big Boy’ plant can produce up to 100 tomatoes in a single growing season!
13. Pink Berkeley Tie Dye
| Tomato variety: | Pink Berkeley Tie Dye |
| Days to maturity: | 68 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Uniquely colored skin; Early harvest; Disease resistance |
If you grow ‘Pink Berkeley Tie Dye’ tomatoes, just be warned you may find yourself blasting some Jimi Hendrix in your garden by the end of the season! These funky tomatoes have a whimsical look, with burgundy flesh and bright green stripes that looks a lot like homemade tie-dye. Plus, these open-pollinated plants mature early for a beefsteak cultivar, and they can be ready to pick in about 68 days.
While ‘Pink Berkeley Tie Die’ is an indeterminate-type tomato, it usually maintains a more compact growth habit that can make it easier to keep in garden beds. These plants display excellent disease resistance, and the tomatoes are long-lasting, even after picking. These tomatoes also have an excellent flavor with a perfect tang, as if they’ve already been lightly salted.
14. Aunt Ruby’s German Green
| Tomato variety: | Aunt Ruby’s German Green |
| Days to maturity: | 85 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Uniquely colored skin; Superior flavor; Good for salsa verde |
Time and again, ‘Aunt Ruby’s German Green’ has been rated the best-tasting green tomato around. In fact, this tomato is said to have a flavor that is so rich and spicy that it’s second only to Brandywines! Not to mention, this unique tomato has a bright green color that will add something different to your garden and tomato recipes!
As open-pollinated heirlooms, ‘Aunt Ruby’s German Green’ tomatoes are great for seed saving as well as fresh eating. And, if you love making salsa verde, these tomatoes can form the tastiest base for your homemade salsas. Just be sure to pick your tomatoes before they get too soft, and don’t allow them to get too cold, which can impact flavor.
15. Chocolate Stripes
| Tomato variety: | Chocolate Stripes |
| Days to maturity: | 75 days |
| Indeterminate or determinate? | Indeterminate |
| Open-pollinated? | Yes |
| Unique features: | Uniquely colored; Disease resistance |
Another open-pollinated, indeterminate-growing tomato, ‘Chocolate Stripes’, is a striking tomato variety that was developed for its colorful, striped skin. These tomatoes have a solid mahogany color that’s accentuated by olive-green patterning. If you’re looking for a gorgeous tomato to accentuate charcuterie boards and salads, try out ‘Chocolate Stripes.’
‘Chocolate Stripes’ has meaty flesh that’s sweet and flavorful, but it’s also a hardy plant that shouldn’t give you much trouble in the garden. This plant was specifically bred for better disease resistance, and it can continue to fruit through the end of summer and into autumn. Keeping your plants well-watered and topping them off with fertilizer as needed will help you get an even larger harvest of fresh slicing tomatoes.
Frequently asked questions
Slicing tomatoes can be used in pretty much any recipe, but they are particularly good for fresh eating. Try out slicing tomatoes on top of your hamburgers and sandwiches, or use them to construct caprese salads. These tomatoes can also be cooked or grilled and used in pasta and other dishes too.
Heirloom tomatoes are a bit of edible history. These tomato varieties are often passed down between generations, and they are typically associated with particular geographic areas. Heirloom tomatoes are also open-pollinated, which makes them ideal for seed saving.
Heirloom tomatoes are selected for their taste rather than their appearance. As a result, they are often sweeter and more intensely flavored than other tomato varieties. That’s why they are traditionally served in simple tomato sandwiches with salt, pepper, and a bit of mayo.
Heirloom and open-pollinated tomato varieties are the plants you want for seed saving. While hybrid tomato cultivars may be tasty and attractive, their seeds can produce plants that are very different from the parent plant. Open-pollinated tomatoes “breed true,” and any seeds you gather from them should mature into plants that look just like the parent plant.
Heirloom and slicing tomatoes are generally considered to be the best tomato varieties for sandwich-making. These tomatoes are flavorful and sweet with meaty flesh and the perfect texture. Canning tomatoes, on the other hand, can have firmer flesh, which isn’t as good for sandwich-making.
By definition, all heirloom plants are open-pollinated, but not all open-pollinated plants are heirlooms. The term “heirloom” often has cultural associations, and heirloom plants are typically handed down through the generations, or they are associated with particular countries and regions. Open-pollinated plants, on the other hand, can occur in the wild, and they don’t necessarily have any cultural ties.
Summary
While cherry tomatoes make good snaking, and canning tomatoes produce the tastiest sauces and salsas, slicing tomatoes are the tomatoes to grow if you love sandwiches, backyard burgers, and more. A good slicing tomato has the perfect texture for fresh eating, and its size makes them easy to work with in the kitchen. Not to mention, homegrown heirloom slicers are famous for their rich and savory flavor that tastes like liquid sunshine!
If you want to grow the best tomatoes around, choosing the right slicing tomatoes for your garden is a good place to start. You can also take your tomato harvest to the next level with these homemade tomato fertilizers and these tips to keep tomato hornworms off your produce!
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