Virginia summers are great for tomatoes- not too hot, nor too cold that they tend to wither or rot. However, there are some tomato varieties that are more suited for Virginia’s climate than others. Let’s look at the best tomatoes to grow in Virginia.
Best Tomatoes to Grow in Virginia
Here are 7 of the best tomatoes to grow in Virginia.
Brandywine Tomatoes
Brandywine tomatoes are widely considered the easiest to grow out of the heirloom varieties. It doesn’t hurt that they taste amazing as well, especially if you grow Brandywine tomatoes in their ideal environment.
As a bonus, you can grow the Brandywine variety in pots and move them around as needed. They’re suited for hotter climates and are excellent starters for those who are new to tomato plants. ‘Brandywine’ heirloom cultivar is rated hardy to zones 3 to 9.
Beefsteak Tomatoes
With a name like Beefsteak Tomatoes, you’d expect nothing but a big and juicy fruit every time. And you’d be right- the plant produces bigger fruits the more the weather stays hot.
Beefsteak tomatoes are quite hardy and can thrive in a variety of poor conditions, including a sub-par medium. You can also grow them practically anywhere- in window boxes, containers, and raised garden beds.
As a precaution, you will need to look out for possible diseases by identifying buckeye rot, fungus, and blight the moment the signs appear. You’ll be happy to know that ‘Beefsteak’ is hardy in USDA zones 2 through 11.
Sun Gold Tomatoes
Tomatoes that are suited for Virginia are the ones that thrive in hot weather, and the Sun Gold is no exception. You won’t have to worry about high temperature frying your plants as chances are that Sun Gold Tomatoes can tolerate or even prefer it.
Sun Golds make for great tomato dishes, including pasta sauce, with steaks, or in a salad. One thing to keep in mind though is to care for these tomato plants throughout the growing season and not just before the first big harvest. You can grow Sungold tomatoes in zones 3 to 11.
Early Girl Tomatoes
Early girl tomatoes have that cold-hardy characteristic that makes them well-adapted to Virginia’s winter seasons. These tomato varieties tend to grow upwards and are ideal for those who want to maximize every inch of space they have.
Be wary of overwatering your early girl plants as they’re susceptible to fungi and diseases such as root rot. Furthermore, you’ll want to lay out some kind of protection against squirrels and rabbits.
Early Girl matures in about 50 days and can grow in zones 3 to 11. In retrospect, the state of Virginia is rated in the USDA growing zones 5 to 8.
Grape Tomatoes
A versatile tomato species that can grow in both Southern and Northern Virginia regions, Grape Tomatoes can withstand dry weather and heat without breaking a sweat.
Plant Grape Tomatoes right and you can experience continuous harvest from June through November. However, one of the stringent requirements in growing them is constant watering, or else grape tomatoes will produce less fruit and at lower quality.
As far as diseases are concerned you won’t have to worry about grape tomatoes. They can repel insects that are normally attracted to tomato plants. Grape tomatoes do well in zones 8 to 11.
Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry Tomatoes have grown in popularity lately because it’s an easy-going plant that produces a lot of fruit. Unlike other tomato species, the cherry tomato plant doesn’t need a lot of watering and can do just fine with less.
This tomato variety can withstand drought, but not a hard frost. With this in mind, you shouldn’t start Cherry Tomatoes until after the last risk of frost has passed. If you’re expecting a hot summer ahead, then you should with no doubt plant cherry tomatoes. They’re hardy in zones 2 through 11.
Cherokee Purple
Cherokee Purple is the perfect tomato plant that can grow in Virginia. It boasts the same hardiness zones (5 to 8) and a unique fruit appearance. The indeterminate cultivar will need around 80 to 90 days to mature but the wait is well worth it.
When growing this tomato variety, make sure that you have rich and constantly moist soil and plenty of mulch on top. Feed the Cherokee Purple with a lot of nutrients and the plant will keep on giving until winter.
Related Article: When to Plant Tomatoes in Virginia?