The list of various garden crop varieties is updated annually, so gardeners need to know which tomato varieties have been named the best for the 2021 season. The lists include the most productive and disease-resistant varieties for various regions of Russia. Detailed descriptions and photos will help you understand the characteristics of each variety.
General recommendations
The time to plant seeds for seedlings is fast approaching, so it's time to consider the best tomato varieties for 2021—this is the key to a good harvest this season. For planting, adhere to the dates recommended by the lunar calendar and follow general recommendations for choosing the most profitable variety. First, consider the taste, purpose of the fruit, its size, and ripening time. It's best to make your choice based on your region.
Let's look at the basic rules for choosing a good, productive variety:
- Crop zoning is the key factor to consider. A tomato that thrives in the central part of Russia will not produce a full harvest when grown in the Urals due to the different climatic conditions. Therefore, varieties recommended for southern Russia are always stocky, with thick tops, which are necessary to protect the plant from sunlight. Only early-ripening varieties are suitable for cultivation in the northern region; others simply won't have time to ripen.
- Planting location (greenhouse or open ground). In central and southern Russia, tomatoes are most often grown in open ground. In Siberia and the Urals, this method is very difficult to replicate; not every variety can produce fruit in cool, drab summers. In the former case, consider varieties suitable for gardening, while in the latter, consider greenhouse varieties.
- Ripening time. It's best to select several varieties, planting them so that the harvest is consistent from mid-June to late September. For temperate climates, it's best to sow early tomato seedlings indoors, then grow the rest in a greenhouse, then plant them outdoors. In colder regions, the tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse and then transplanted outdoors once temperatures stabilize.
- The need for meticulous care. Pinching, staking, and shaping require a fair amount of free time. If you don't have that, consider varieties that can grow without these interventions. Watering, pest control, and weed control are sufficient for them.
- Fruit Purpose. Tomatoes aren't just for general use. Some varieties are intended for processing (canning), while dessert varieties are eaten fresh. Late-ripening varieties store best, so it's best to plant each variety in your plot.
- Color, shape, and size of tomatoes. Shapes include oval, round, flat-round, and pear-shaped. Colors include yellow, orange, plum, red, crimson, striped, white, and green. Sizes range from enormous to very small.
The most productive tomato varieties
The yield of a particular variety is important because the fruits are the result of painstaking work. They vary in their care requirements, planting guidelines, and other factors. Let's try to identify the most productive tomato varieties 2021, let's look at their main parameters and photos.
Apollo Pink
A high-yielding variety, fruit sets through every pair of leaves. Large, flat-round tomatoes weigh up to 600 grams. Up to 3-4 tomatoes can be produced on a single cluster. The bush itself is tall and large, and it is recommended to plant it 60-70 cm apart. The tomatoes are fleshy, considered a dessert variety, sweet, and the fruit is pinkish-red.
Raspberry Watermelon
This variety is mid-season in terms of ripening time. Its advantage is its high yield, as it is not a hybrid. The plant's fruits are juicy, tasty, and sweet, with a distinct tomato flavor. The tomatoes are round, medium-sized, and weigh up to 200 grams. Their color is a rich crimson. The plant itself is large and tall, reaching 1.5 meters in height.
Watercolor
A variety capable of producing its first harvest within 100-110 days of planting in open ground. The fruits of this variety are oval-shaped and small (80-110 g). They are considered a versatile tomato, but are often used for canning. Their main advantages are high yield and transportability. Thanks to the latter, "Akvarel" is popular in commercial cultivation; the fruits keep ripe for a long time.
Alsou
This variety can be considered versatile. It grows, develops, and bears fruit equally well in greenhouses and open ground, with plants reaching 80-120 cm in height. The fruits are very large, weighing from 600 grams to 1 kg. The yield per bush per season is 3-5 kg. It is intended for desserts; due to its large size, it is not used for canning, but can be used for tomato juice.
Australian
This variety is characterized by high yields. It is considered a mid-season variety in terms of ripening time. The plants are very large, reaching 1.2-1.5 meters in height. The Australian is prized for its fruits, which are beautiful, uniform, and large. Each tomato weighs 0.5-0.7 kg. The color is orange-red, the tomato itself is fleshy, and the seeds are small and barely noticeable. Due to its large size, it is used for seasonal salads, fruit drinks, and tomato paste; it cannot be preserved whole.
Butterfly
This variety is considered an early-ripening one. This new tomato looks very beautiful during flowering, with branched inflorescences. A single bush produces up to 30-50 fruits weighing 25-30 grams. Under the weight of their weight, they can collapse to the ground, so they need to be tied up. This bush requires careful care and maintenance, but can be considered a tomato for both greenhouses and open ground. It grows and develops equally well in various conditions.
Golden age
An interesting, large-fruited, medium-sized variety, suitable for growing in greenhouses and open ground. A tall plant, its stem reaches 1.5 meters in height. The fruits are a beautiful, rich lemon-yellow hue. They turn orange when overripe. It is recommended to pick them from the bush at the semi-ripe stage, when the surface turns white. This helps extend their shelf life.
Casanova
This variety has unusually shaped fruits—elongated and oblong. It can be grown in greenhouses and garden beds. The bush is very large, reaching 2 m in height. Three to five fruits form on a single cluster. They are a distinct red color, reach 20 cm in length, and weigh between 120 and 200 grams per fruit. It is recommended for long-term storage and is suitable for canning and desserts.
Eagle's Heart
The variety's description and characteristics confirm its early maturity. In central Russia, the fruits ripen in early July. They are heart-shaped and raspberry-pink in color. The flesh is rich and juicy. A single fruit can weigh up to 500 grams. It is considered large, reaching 1.2 m in height and with numerous branches. It does not require side shoot removal during cultivation and is recommended for open ground.
Varieties for greenhouses
For those living in central and southern Russia, growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is best done off-season. If a gardener lives in the Urals, an artificial structure is essential for growing tomatoes in season and starting seedlings. Not all varieties grow equally well in greenhouses, so it's best to choose varieties that prefer artificial conditions:
- Buddy;
- Bulb;
- Diamond;
- Snow White;
- Water lily;
- The Snow Queen;
- Fatalist;
- Scarlet Caravel;
- Pink Angel;
- Eagle's Beak;
- Ranja;
- Alexander the Great.
When choosing a greenhouse variety, consider the size of the plant and its fruiting characteristics. It's best to choose a productive variety capable of producing as many fruits as possible during its lifespan. This is because greenhouse space should be conserved. It's best to create several beds, planting varieties with different ripening times.
Varieties for specific regions
Not all varieties are equally suitable for growing in different climate zones. Certain varieties thrive in warm temperate climates but fail to produce fruit in northern regions. Therefore, when developing new varieties, breeders consider not only the taste, shape, and weight of tomatoes, but also their ability to adapt to growing in a particular region.
For the Moscow region
The Moscow region has a temperate climate with warm summers. The warmer months see the most precipitation, so severe droughts are unlikely. Early, mid-season, and late-season varieties can be grown in this region—there are no specific guidelines. Gardeners often plant several varieties within these groups to achieve a staggered harvest.
The following varieties are recommended for growing in open ground in the Moscow region:
- Pink Elephant;
- Bull's heart;
- Champion;
- Watercolor;
- Casanova;
- Nectar;
- Andromeda;
- Sweet bunch.
The varieties listed are high-yielding and drought-tolerant. With proper care, they produce fruit for a long time. It's best to choose several of the listed varieties and try them out. This will help you identify the best variety, which can then be planted year after year.
For the middle zone
Tomatoes are a popular vegetable crop among gardeners, grown in various regions. Residents of central Russia are particularly fortunate, as they have a wide range of varieties. Early, late, and mid-season varieties are suitable for growing in this region, so gardeners carefully select the optimal variety, considering taste, color, and intended use.
The list of high-yielding varieties recommended for the middle zone includes:
- Micron;
- Danko;
- Newbie;
- Red Arrow;
- City dweller;
- Altai orange;
- A barrel of honey;
- Pink honey;
- Ivan Kupala.
For the Urals and Siberia
Selecting tomatoes that can produce a good harvest in harsh climates is difficult. Most often, the choice is limited to greenhouse varieties, but there are certain varieties that, when grown from seedlings, can thrive and produce fruit in open ground in Siberia and the Urals. Frost resistance is the primary requirement.
The following species are suitable for cultivation in open ground conditions in Siberia and the Urals:
- Iceberg;
- Alenka;
- Alaska;
- Duckling;
- Black giant;
- Snezhana;
- Ural hero;
- Siberian apple;
- Bullfinch;
- Rocket;
- Sadin.
Despite the climate in the Urals and Siberia, tomatoes of various varieties, from small cherry tomatoes to giant ones, can grow. A gardener's main task is to provide proper care, and a bountiful harvest will be guaranteed. There are certain regional challenges. Tomato seedlings should be grown indoors or in a greenhouse until stable warming sets in and the risk of recurrent frosts has passed. Equipment is required for this, so growing tomatoes in cold regions is expensive.
Reviews of varieties
Choosing a variety can be challenging, even for experienced gardeners. No one knows how it will perform in a particular plot or greenhouse. Testing isn't always reliable, so gardeners often sample a small batch of seeds or seedlings in the first year. This solution is considered optimal, allowing them to get acquainted with new varieties without sacrificing yield throughout the season.
Sergey Stepanovich, Moscow region
My soil isn't the best, and I'm working on it, but not all at once. That's why I'm choosing the most undemanding varieties for planting, ones that can grow outdoors. Of the varieties presented, relevant for 2020, I've chosen "Akvarel"; I'll give it a try. But I never give up on old, time-tested varieties, and I can't part with "Lyana" and "Sashenka."
Larisa Ivanovna, Krasnodar
I've been looking for a highlight for my collection for a while, and I think I've found it – Casanova. I'll buy some seeds and plant them next year. I really liked the photos, and I hope this variety really is as productive as described. I also want to pick some early pink tomatoes for salads, but I haven't found any yet – they're all too large for me; I want something medium-sized.
Timofey Sergeevich, Tver
I've been growing tomatoes for a long time; it's my passion. I try to choose varieties that thrive in both greenhouses and open ground. I start seedlings indoors and then transplant them into a greenhouse and into the garden. I try to avoid hybrids; I really enjoy working with my own seeds, but this time, for the sake of experimentation, I'll choose a variety recommended for greenhouses—the Sprinter hybrid.
Selecting a variety that thrives in specific climate conditions isn't easy. Don't rush into the latest innovations; it's best to get to know them gradually, planting a few plants to test them out. If the process isn't successful, the gardener has nothing to lose, as they'll still be able to harvest their time-tested tomato varieties.
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