Tomato Seeds for Planting

Tomatoes are one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow, whether you have a large backyard garden, raised beds, or just a few containers on a sunny patio. At Gardeners Basics, you'll find heirloom and open pollinated tomato seeds selected for exceptional flavor, reliable production, and a wide range of culinary uses. Whether you're growing sweet cherry tomatoes for snacking, large beefsteak tomatoes for sandwiches, colorful heirlooms for fresh salads, or meaty paste tomatoes for homemade sauces, you'll find the right varieties to fit your garden and your table.

Not sure where to start? Use the guide below to narrow your choices, then browse the collection to find the varieties that match your growing space, climate, and harvest goals.

Find the Right Tomato for Your Garden

If You Want...	Recommended Tomato Type
Sweet snacks and salads	Cherry Tomatoes
Large slices for sandwiches	Beefsteak Tomatoes
Sauces, salsa, and canning	Paste Tomatoes
Unique colors and exceptional flavor	Heirloom Tomatoes
Small space gardening	Compact or Container Varieties
A little of everything	Tomato Seed Collections

Choose the Best Tomato Variety

Cherry Tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes produce small, sweet fruit over a long season and are among the easiest tomatoes for beginners. Many varieties perform exceptionally well in containers and raised beds.

Slicing and Beefsteak Tomatoes

If your goal is thick slices for sandwiches, burgers, and fresh summer meals, large slicing tomatoes and beefsteak varieties are excellent choices. These plants often require sturdy cages or trellises because of their heavy fruit.

Paste Tomatoes

Paste tomatoes contain fewer seeds and less moisture, making them ideal for homemade sauces, salsa, tomato paste, and canning.

Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom varieties are prized for their rich flavor, beautiful colors, and unique shapes. Because many are open pollinated, gardeners can often save seeds for future seasons.

Quick Growing Facts

Sunlight: 6 to 8+ hours of full sun
Start Indoors: 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost
Soil: Rich, well drained soil
Difficulty: Beginner friendly
Growing Locations: Garden beds, raised beds, and containers
Harvest: Most varieties mature in about 60 to 90 days after transplanting

Some varieties are determinate, producing most of their harvest over a shorter period, while indeterminate tomatoes continue producing until frost. Product descriptions identify each variety so you can choose the growth habit that fits your garden.

Why Gardeners Love Growing Tomatoes

Few crops deliver as much value as tomatoes. Homegrown tomatoes are known for their outstanding flavor, impressive productivity, and incredible diversity. With dozens of colors, sizes, and flavors available, it's easy to grow varieties that are rarely found in grocery stores.

Tomatoes are also one of the most useful crops for preserving. Many gardeners grow extra plants specifically for fresh eating, freezing, dehydrating, salsa, pasta sauce, and home canning. Open pollinated heirloom varieties also make excellent choices for gardeners interested in saving seeds from year to year.

Learn More About Growing Tomatoes

Find planting and harvesting advice in these tomato growing guides.

Related Seed Collections

Frequently Asked Questions

What tomato variety is best for beginners?

Cherry tomatoes are generally the easiest to grow because they produce heavily, tolerate a range of conditions, and continue harvesting throughout much of the season.

What's the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes?

Determinate tomatoes grow to a set size and produce most of their fruit over a shorter period. Indeterminate tomatoes continue growing and producing until frost.