How to choose the best variety of tomato for pickling and canning

The best varieties of tomatoes for canning and pickling should be chosen correctly. Experienced gardeners note that not every species is suitable for successful pickles. The amount of sugars, the fleshiness of the fruit, and its size play a big role in the quality of the resulting dish. Depending on the type of preservation, small-fruited or large tomatoes.

Criteria for selecting tomatoes for pickling

Pickling tomato varieties are selected based on a number of criteria. At the same time, the yield and parameters of the bush itself no longer play a significant role. Greater importance is given to the parameters of the fruits themselves.

1. Fruit sizes.For pickling and canning, tomato bushes must produce fruits that are the same in size and shape. The more accurately they match, the easier it is to form jars during the preparation of preserves. If the pickling is whole fruit, then the tomatoes should not be large. Preference is given to fruits weighing about 100 grams. Cherries deserve special attention.
2. Maturation period. For pickling, the harvest must ripen together, in large batches. This makes it possible to simultaneously prepare a large volume of preserves.
3. Resistance to pathogenic flora. Tomatoes must be resistant to rot and mold. This will allow you to preserve the finished dish for a long time.
4. Features of the fruit. The best fruits for preservation are those with thin skins. It makes it easier for the marinade to penetrate into the fruit itself. The pulp is preferably fleshy with a small amount of water. The seed box is small.
5. Sahara. For preservation, preference is given to tomatoes with a high carbohydrate content. The more sugars, the more successful the pickling is.

In addition to these criteria, the choice of variety is influenced by the characteristics of the dish itself. If this is a vegetable mixture, then varieties of yellow or orange tomatoes will look more advantageous. Some dishes use only green or brown tomatoes. Cherries and other small tomatoes can be preserved as whole fruits.

Tomatoes with a short ripening period

Pickling tomatoes of the early ripening period are used for lightly salted dishes or canned food. Such tomatoes are characterized by rapid ripening of the crop. The first fruits are harvested 3 months after germination of seedlings. Ultra-early and early tomatoes are suitable for open ground. They have proven themselves well in the north and western regions of the country, where there is an unstable climate.

1. Gull. An ultra-early variety with beautiful rounded fruits. Its use in conservation allows you to achieve the classic look of pickling. Tomatoes grow round and medium in size. The pulp is dense, the peel is rich red when ripe. High taste qualities make tomatoes universal in use.
2. Fun. Suitable for those gardeners who like oblong-shaped fruits. The first fruits ripen 3 months after germination of seedlings. The bushes are medium in size. In closed greenhouses the height exceeds 1 meter, in open ground it is about 70 centimeters. The fun is characterized by a high degree of fruit set and abundant fruiting. Ripening tomatoes are tasty and aromatic. The dense peel allows you to store the crop without loss of taste for about 2-3 weeks.
3. Children's sweetness. Tomatoes got their name for their pleasant sweet taste and dense fruit pulp. They showed excellent results in various pickles and preserves. With a bountiful harvest, they are suitable for making juices. The height of medium-branched bushes is no more than 1 meter. They require moderate grooming.

Medium and late ripening varieties

When selecting tomato varieties for pickling, much attention is paid to hybrids of the middle and late ripening period. These tomatoes are better suited for long-term storage.

1. De Barao Red. The classic tomato variety for canning is De Barao Red. It gained popularity among gardeners due to its high yield and ease of care. It is optimal for cultivation in a greenhouse. It is distinguished by the large height of its lashes, reaching 2 meters. At maturity, tomatoes reach a weight of 120 grams. They have an oblong shape. Thick peel and fleshy pulp make them optimal for pickling.
2. Adam's apple.Small, round fruits with smooth skin are great for canning. The main advantage of Adam's Apple is the uniform ripening of tomatoes on complex bunches. The variety belongs to the fruitful category. With proper agricultural technology, it allows you to collect up to 5 kilograms of fruit from one plant.
3. Adeline. The mid-season variety is well suited for indoor soil. In warm regions, cultivation on unprotected ridges is allowed. The fruits grow oblong and small in size. When ripe they have a rich red color. The taste is bright, tomato. The pulp is dense, sugary. The main advantage is a high degree of fruit set even under unfavorable conditions and resistance to diseases.
4. Watercolor. A variety that is recommended for planting on unprotected ridges. It is easy to care for and small in size. The maximum plant height is 50 centimeters. Fruits well in any season. The fruits grow small, juicy, sweet. When ripe, they are actively used in canned food and for making juices. The seeds have good germination and disease resistance.
5. Scarlet Mustang. The original variety is scarlet in color. Feels better in a greenhouse or greenhouse. The fruits grow quite large and resemble peppers in shape. Due to the high yield, tying to a support or installing trellises is required. They gained popularity for preservation due to their unusual shape and bright color.
6. Amulet. Greenhouse variety. In the southern regions, it feels good in open beds. The ripening period is 120 days. It is characterized as carpal, pickling. Ripe fruits resemble plums with bright red skin. The average weight of tomatoes reaches 100 grams.During conservation, tomatoes are not prone to cracking.
7. Pickling delicacy. This variety showed good yield characteristics in the northern regions. The small size of the bush allows it to be grown in open ground. The pickling delicacy does not require pinching. The disadvantages of the variety include a small yield and a tendency to late blight. The fruits grow small in size and have an elongated shape. The thick skin protects the fruit from cracking during preservation.

Unusual tomatoes

Tomato varieties for pickling are not always the classic red color. Yellow, orange, and green tomatoes look original when preserved. Cherry tomatoes deserve special attention. They are actively used for canning whole fruits or preparing vegetable salads. Which variety to choose depends on the characteristics of the marinade used and the purpose of the preservation.

1. Wonder of the World. When choosing a tomato variety for greenhouses, you should pay attention to the Miracle of the World. It got its name for its unusual shape and bright color of the peel. From the outside, the fruits resemble lemons. They have a characteristic elongated heart-shaped shape and a bright yellow color. The high density of the pulp and small size make them suitable for preservation. The advantages include high yield and disease resistance.
2. De Barao Golden. The variety is a subspecies of a large group of tomatoes. Its distinctive feature is its golden yellow color. The small size of the fruits has made De Barao one of the most popular varieties for pickling and canning. Tomatoes grow up to 90 grams in size. The variety is characterized by high and consistent yield. About 12 kilograms of fruit are removed from the bush.Another advantage of the variety is the wide variety of subspecies. Of the originals, in addition to Golden, gardeners recommend growing De Barao Black.
3. Golden fingers. The fruits are early ripening, have an oblong shape and a bright yellow-orange color. Small size and high yield allow the variety to be used in various preservations. The main advantage of Goldenfingers is their thick skin and flesh. Thanks to them, tomatoes retain their shape during canning and pickling.
4. Banana legs. The best variety of yellow tomatoes for pickling is Banana Legs. It is distinguished by its rich yellow peel color and unusually sweet taste with citrus notes. Growing tomatoes is not difficult. The bush is small in size and does not require pinching or additional care. The harvest ripens together, the fruits are set in large clusters.

Beginning gardeners often ask: “Advise how to choose tomato varieties for breeding for pickling.” Experts clearly agree that no matter what varieties are used, it is important that there are at least 3-4 of them. In this case, you should combine tomatoes from the early and late fruiting periods. It is also recommended to plant 1-2 bushes of yellow or orange color. By following these tips, the harvest will delight you for a long time, and the pickling will turn out bright and tasty.