How to Choose the Right Tomato

Tomatoes from Garden, Cincinnati, Ohio

Are you wondering how to choose the right tomato for your garden?

With so many choices, you may be wondering how to choose the right tomato. Natorp’s grows 100 kinds of tomatoes on the nursery. Our experts share their tips for choosing the right one for you.

1. Let’s talk flavor of tomato

The flavor is based on the plant’s acid and sugar levels. Most tomatoes are the same or close to the same in acid levels. It is the sugar that changes the flavor. High levels of acid with a low level of sugar create an acidic flavor while high sugars and low acid give a sweeter flavor. If it is low and in both acid and sugar you get a bland flavor. Most people prefer high acids and high sugar that balances the taste.

Many other factors contribute to the levels and flavors, including ripeness on the vine and your individual taste buds. Did you know flavors vary within the tomatoes on the same vine?

2. Growing Conditions

The taste is greatly affected by your specific soil.  You need to provide your plant with nutrient-rich soil. To get maximum flavor, it will need plenty of potassium and sulfur. They also thrive in heat and sunlight, allowing them to maximize photosynthesis and make carbohydrates that create a flavorful tomato.

3. Your Personal Taste

The best tomato is the one that you prefer based on your preferences. At Natorp’s Nursery, where we grow 100 types of tomatoes for the Cincinnati garden. You want to find one with the perfect balance of acid and sugar. Take a look at our tomato collection!

Our tomato-growing experts created a guide to help you find the perfect one!  Take a look at our Tomato Guide!

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