Here are a few 2022 All-America Selections (AAS) winning tomato varieties to consider growing this season. For seed suppliers and garden centers that carry these and other AAS-recommended varieties, visit all-americaselections.org/buy-winners.
Purple zebra. If you want a tomato that looks just as good as it tastes, search no more. According to All-America Selections, purple zebra is a national winner with fruit that is “firm in texture, complex in flavor and has a taste more sweet than acidic.” This variety has high resistance to tomato mosaic virus, verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt and late blight. Start seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last frost for best results. In the garden, space transplants no less than 2 feet apart or, if using containers, select 5-gallon pots with drainage. This variety produces 150–200 green-striped, purple tomatoes and requires staking. Most gardeners can begin harvesting tomatoes 80-85 days after transplant.
Sunset torch. This AAS regional winner has been shown to thrive in the Southeast growing region. Sunset torch produces small, striped tomatoes that pack a big punch in the taste department. This plant is a prolific early-season producer capable of providing 250-300 tomatoes per plant. AAS trials note that this variety showed high resistance to tomato mosaic virus, verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt. Sunset torch grows 5-6 feet tall, making stakes or trellising a must. For best results, space plants 24-36 inches apart, and separate rows by a minimum of 36 inches. You’ll enjoy ripe fruit 75 days after transplanting.
Celano. Another national winner, celano,is an early-producing, high-yielding grape-type tomato for your patio or garden. According to AAS trial notes, celano developed fruit much earlier and produced much longer than comparable varieties. Deep-red, oblong tomatoes typically weigh a little over half an ounce and taste sweet. As for disease resistance, this variety has superior tolerance to late blight. Transplants should be spaced at least 2 feet apart in the garden and will benefit from staking.
