Every year when tomato seed-starting season arrives, I get genuinely excited because tomatoes are one of the crops that customers ask for again and again at our farm stand.

After several years of growing for both our farm stand and farmers market table, I’ve learned that not all tomato varieties perform the same when it comes to customer interest. Some sell quickly because of flavor, some because of color, and some simply because people recognize the variety and already know they love it.

This year I’m planting a mix of tried-and-true favorites along with a few new ideas I’m especially excited about — including a project I’ve never tried before that I think could be a great fit for customers with very small spaces.

Why Slicer Tomatoes Are Always in High Demand

If there is one thing I learned clearly from our first full farm stand season, it is that large slicing tomatoes are still what many people want most.

Customers love a tomato they can take home, slice thickly, and put on sandwiches or enjoy fresh.

Because of that, most of the larger heirloom varieties I grow each year are chosen very intentionally for both flavor and appearance.

Black Brandywine

One variety I’m growing again is Black Brandywine.

This seed comes from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange, which I especially enjoy ordering from because they are based here in Virginia and their seeds have always performed very well for me.

Black Brandywine gives that rich darker tomato color that immediately stands out in a display and draws attention. Brandywine itself sold very well for us last season, so bringing back this darker variation felt like an easy decision.

Brandywine

I’m also growing classic Brandywine, another heirloom favorite.

This variety produces the deep pink, large slicers that customers already recognize and trust.

Brandywine has become one of those tomatoes that people often specifically ask about when they come by my farmers market table because they know it is a favorite.

Striped German

One of my personal favorites is Striped German.

This variety has beautiful yeallow and slightly orange-toned flesh with a little pink and excellent flavor.

What I especially love is how it adds visual contrast to the display when placed beside darker red and purple varieties. It creates a much more striking presentation when customers walk in and immediately see several different colors together.

Cherokee Purple

Another tomato I never want to skip is Cherokee Purple.

Customers are naturally drawn to heirloom tomatoes, and Cherokee Purple consistently stands out because of its darker purple coloring and strong flavor.

People really do become excited about heirloom tomatoes when they see them arranged together at the stand, and Cherokee Purple is always one of the varieties that adds to that excitement.

Valencia: A Mid-Sized Favorite

For a slightly smaller tomato, I’m also growing Valencia.

This one surprised me last season because it sold very quickly. I have to thank my friend Bri who manages produce production here on the farm for introducing me to this one.

Valencia produces a beautiful yellow-orange fruit that contrasts nicely against all the deeper reds and purples.

That color difference matters most to me because I often daydream about how produce and products will look on the shelf long before they are finished growing. I get excited about the final product. A display with variety tends to invite more interest than a display filled with only one look.

San Marzano for Sauce and Plant Starts

For sauce tomatoes, I always include San Marzano.

This heirloom variety remains one of the most requested tomatoes when it comes to plant starts.

Many customers specifically want San Marzano plants because they already know it performs beautifully for sauce making at home.

I grow these both to sell as plants and for our own kitchen.

One reason I love San Marzano is that it freezes extremely well.

Instead of canning immediately, I often freeze large bags of them and later make sauce by thawing them directly in a pot. Once frozen, the skins slip off easily and excess water drains away, making a thick sauce much faster to prepare.

Cherry Tomatoes for Mixed Pints

Cherry tomatoes are not my top seller compared with slicers, but they still do well and customers appreciate having them available.

This year I’m growing three varieties for mixed-color pints:

Super Sweet 100
Sun Gold
Black Cherry

These three together create a beautiful mix of:

bright red
golden yellow
deep purple-black

That combination makes a very attractive pint for the farm stand shelf.

A New Project: Hanging Basket Tomatoes

One of the things I’m most excited about this season is trying tomatoes in hanging baskets.

The goal is to offer something especially useful for customers who do not have garden space.

A hanging basket gives someone with only a porch or small patio the ability to grow tomatoes easily.

For this I’m using Tumbling Tom, a variety specifically suited for baskets.

I also plan to experiment with hanging basket cucumbers and possibly snack peppers if time allows.

I love the idea that someone who thinks they do not have room for gardening can still grow food in a very simple way.

Starting Seeds Simply

For seed starting, I use both plug trays and soil blocks depending on what makes the most sense at the moment.

Plug trays work especially well for me because they hold moisture a little longer, which matters during busy weeks when life gets full.

For soil mix, I continue to use PRO-MIX, which has been the most consistent for me after trying several different options over the years.

Why Tomatoes Remain One of My Most Important Crops

Tomatoes continue to be one of the strongest crops for our farm stand because people genuinely get excited about them.

A beautiful heirloom display creates immediate interest.

And when the flavor matches the appearance, customers come back asking for the same varieties again.

That combination makes tomatoes one of the crops I put the most thought into every year.

The Tomato Varieties I’m Growing for Our Farm Stand This Year (And Why These Are My Favorites)