Homegrown tomatoes are one of the crops that deliver a far superior flavour to anything shop-bought. This is because you can choose special varieties that have an incredible taste, but don’t lend themselves to mass commercial production. To help you decide which to grow, here are ten of our best-selling tomatoes from the last year…
In the meantime, see our full range of tomato seeds and tomato plants.
What makes a tomato taste great?
When you consider what makes a tomato taste so good, it’s easy to think it’s all about sweetness. But it’s far more than that. It actually depends on the balance of sweetness and acidity, along with a complex cocktail of volatile aromas that all come together to create something really special.
In our most recent blind taste tests with Exeter University, we included premium supermarket varieties alongside homegrown fruits. While there’s no doubt that supermarket tomatoes have vastly improved, the premium shop-bought variety only managed 34th place in the trial.
Unsurprisingly, Tomato ‘Gardener’s Delight’ was one of the hands-down winners – its bite-sized fruits and rich, sweet flavour easily impressed the independent taste testers. But if you’re looking for more inspiration and want to know which tomatoes are repeatedly ordered by thousands of Suttons customers, read on!
Ten tried-and-tested tomatoes to grow at home
These visually stunning tomatoes are bursting with flavour and health benefits
Image: Tomato ‘Vivacious’ (Indeterminate) F1 from Suttons
Here are our top-selling tomatoes over the past 12 months:
- Tomato ‘Crimson Cherry’ (Indeterminate) F1: This blight-resistant cherry tomato has an exceptionally high sugar level (Brix 9) resulting in an irresistible, honey-like sweetness balanced by a satisfying, classic tomato tang. No wonder it’s a customer favourite!
- Tomato ‘Moneymaker’ (Indeterminate): Just missing out on the coveted top spot is this medium-sized, heavy-cropping variety that lends itself to greenhouse or outside growing. Deliciously sweet and easy-to-grow, the fruits are specifically resistant to greenback.
- Tomato ‘Sweet Aperitif’ (Indeterminate): Offering an exceptional and perfectly balanced flavour profile, these bright red fruits combine very high sugar levels with just the right amount of acidity. Sweet tasting with a refreshing, sharp tang.
- Tomato ‘Vivacious’ (Indeterminate) F1: Containing up to 40% of your recommended daily amount of Vitamin A, these stunning, orange-coloured, oval-shaped fruits have a meaty yet juicy texture with a delightful blend of sweetness and acidity. One of the healthiest tomatoes you can grow!
- Tomato ‘Tumbling Tom Red’ (Determinate): With an attractive cascading habit perfect for hanging baskets and containers, these cherry-sized fruits boast a taste widely considered to be “simply the best”.
- Tomato ‘Toddler’ (Indeterminate) F1: This exceptionally sweet cocktail variety features a Brix level of 10, perfectly balanced by a pleasing acid tang. Juicy and delicious, the fruits are also crack-resistant.
- Tomato ‘Sungold’ (Indeterminate) F1: Widely considered the gold standard for flavour, this vigorous plant produces vibrant orange cherry fruits with an exceptionally luscious, sweet taste. Suitable for greenhouse and outdoor growing.
- Tomato ‘Black Moon’ (Indeterminate) F1: Voted “best-tasting tomato” in numerous trials, this two-bite variety has a complex and unique blend of sweet, fruity, and savory flavours. The bi-coloured fruits – rich-red and purple-black – make this a striking addition to any salad bowl.
- Tomato ‘Burlesque’ (Indeterminate) F1: The first beefsteak to make the top ten, this massive variety is known for its scrumptious, meaty, and juicy flesh. Delivering a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavour, it’s perfect for sandwiches, burgers and homemade pizzas.
- Tomato ‘Tiny Temptations Mixed’ (Semi-determinate, trailing type): A Fleuroselect Gold Medal winner, this brightly-coloured cherry tomato delivers a ‘big flavour’ in a small package. What’s more, it provides a constant supply of super-sweet tomatoes that can be left on the vine without dropping or bursting.
If you’re looking for growing tips, read our article on how to grow tomatoes from seed before browsing our full selection of tomato seeds to see which varieties take your fancy.
Lead image: Tomato ‘Black Moon’ F1 seeds from Suttons
Last Updated on March 4, 2026 by Suttons Horticultural Team
I started growing tomatoes years ago, my first efforts were with Moneymaker, Shirley and Brandywine, the latter being the best tasting tomato I’d had, not a heavy cropper and took a bit of looking after.
Over the years I’ve tried various varieties with and without good results. For the last four years I’ve had grown “Beefmaster”, a big beast that has a taste that is unmatched; “Country Taste” a good cropper not as large as Beefmaster but has an excellent sweet taste with a slight tang and looks good.
This year I also had Ferline, Sparta, Moneymaker, Shirley, Tumbling Tom, Tumbler, Bitesize, Flamingo and Tigrella.
Next year I will only grow Beefmaster and Country Taste, they’re our favourites. Everyone’s tastes differ so preferences will differ too. Growing tomatoes is very rewarding.
I love to eat tomatoes and enjoy to grow tomatoes in my garden. The information given here is really good.