Looking for few unique and unusual tomato plants to grow in your garden, raised beds or containers this year? Ones that can not only add big color and interest – but also incredible flavor too?
When it comes to growing vegetables, tomatoes are certainly at the top of the list for most gardeners. Whether growing classic slicing, cherry, or salsa and sauce making paste varieties, tomatoes provide endless possibilities for both the gardener and the taste buds.
But when growing tomatoes, you don’t have to settle for the same old boring typical “red” types you see in supermarkets. Over the last decade or two, there has been nothing short of an explosion in tomato varieties. Many old heirloom tomato types have been brought back to life by growers – and many more continue to be developed by tomato growing enthusiasts.
One thing is for sure, the entire resurgence has been incredible for backyard gardeners. No longer do tomato loving growers have to limit themselves to planting and harvesting traditional red tomatoes with less than spectacular flavor. To prove that point, today’s article features 4 of the most unique and flavorful tomatoes around, and they are just waiting for you to try them out this year!
4 Unusual Tomato Plants To Grow In Your Garden This Year
#1 Black Truffle Tomato
True to its name, the Black Truffle heirloom tomato gets its name from its unique pear shape that closely resembles a truffle. And when it comes to flavor, it’s every bit as special as truffles!
Originally from Russia, the tomato features a deep mahogany-brown color with hints of purple, red, and green on top. It makes for quite the beautiful fruit when hanging from the vine – or on a plate. But even better, the flesh of this tomato is dense and meaty with very few seeds, making it an excellent choice for slicing, cooking, and preserving.
As for flavor, the Black Truffle tomato is known for its deep, rich, smoky taste. It also has the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, making it ideal for fresh salads, sandwiches, and sauces. And that meaty interior holds up well in roasted dishes too!
Black Truffle is easy and straightforward to grow from seed. Even better, as an heirloom variety, you can save seeds from year to year to grow for free. Affiliate Seed Link: Black Truffle Seeds
The plant thrives in full sun, well-draining soil, and needs to a stake or cage to help hold its heavy fruit load. As for production – you will get plenty of fresh tomatoes all season long. As an indeterminate plant, it’s highly productive, continuing to push out fruit right up until the first frost.
#2. Berkeley Tie Dye Tomato
Talk about color, the Berkeley Tie Dye tomato has an incredibly vibrant, multicolored skin. The tomato ripens with a gorgeous mix of green, red, orange, and yellow streaks, giving it its tie-dye namesake.
But as beautiful as the tomato is outside when growing in the garden, when sliced open, its beefy interior has a marbled coloring of pink, red and green that is simply stunning.The beefsteak tomato grows to a nice mid-size fruit, perfect for topping sandwiches, hamburgers – or simply eating fresh.
Another heirloom tomato, the seeds of Berkeley can also be saved from a harvest to grow again. The tomato thrives in full sun and fertile soil, and will usually go from seed to harvest in about 80 days. As an intermediate, it will produce until frost takes it out late in the season Affiliate Link: Pink Berkeley Tye Dye Heirloom Tomato Premium Seeds
#3. The Sart Roliose Tomato
In terms of sheer beauty in the garden – it is hard to beat the Sart Roliose tomato. Originally bred in Belgium, this variety has been gaining in popularity among heirloom gardeners all over the world.
When ripe, the medium sized tomato boasts an alluring blend of yellow, pink, gold and orange coloring. The marbling on the tomato is simply beautiful. But it gets even better when you slice it open to find a red marbled flesh filled with gold and yellow streaks.
With all of those accolades, it’s hard to believe the taste is even better. The variety has very few seeds, and much like the Black Truffle, it has a great balance of sweetness and acidity. The flesh is juicy and tender and wondrous for fresh eating or in salads.
As with most tomatoes, it thrives in full sun. It also needs well-draining soil and consistent watering to stay healthy and robust. This variety is highly productive as an intermediate. It will typically begin to produce and ripen fruit around the 80 day mark, so starting from seed indoors early is a must. See: How To Start Tomato Plants Indoors From Seed – 3 Secrets To Grow Great Transplants!
The seeds are quite rare to find. The good news is as an heirloom, once you grow it, you can save the seeds from year to year. Baker Creek Seed Link: Sart Roloise Seeds
#4. Queen Of The Night Tomatoes – One Of The Most Unusual Tomato Plants You Will Ever Grow!
Last but not least, there is the Queen Of The Night tomato variety! This tomato (pictured at the top of the article), hails from the Rhine region of Germany and is it ever a showpiece! The plant produces large amounts of round, three-to-four ounce fruits in a with black, crimson and orange coloring. Seed Link: Queen Of The Night Tomato Seeds
When you cut into the fruit, you will find a stunning reddish-orange color. And the taste? It’s best described as both sweet, and loaded with deep rich tomato taste! The plant has a bit smaller growth pattern, topping out around 5 feet in height.
It too is an indeterminate and will produce all season long. And as an heirloom – its seeds can be saved from year to year quite successfully. Seed Link: Queen of The Night Tomato Premium Seeds
Here is to adding a little flair, flavor and uniqueness to your garden this year by growing a few unusual tomatoes!
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