Watch the following video for some advice from a local tomato farmer in Ottawa on selecting the perfect variety of tomatoes to grow upside down.

The woman’s advice is to choose a variety which yields small fruit, and also tends to grow shorter to the ground. Do you agree with her advice? Do you think there are other varieties of tomatoes which would grow well in an upside down environment? Read the information below and answer the questions at the bottom of this page using the comments section below.

Here are some of the most common varieties of tomatoes.

Globe Tomatoes

These are your standard variant of tomatoes and are often referred to as Beefsteak tomatoes or Slicing tomatoes. They are easily identifiable because they are large, round, and red. They can also weigh up to two pounds.

Cherry Tomatoes

These tomatoes belong to the Cluster variant. Cherry tomatoes tend to be just about the same size as a cherry, but they are much sweeter and juicier than the larger varieties, such as Globe tomatoes.

Heirloom Tomatoes

This variety is gaining in popularity with gourmet chefs. This is because Heirloom tomatoes come in a large variety of shapes and colors. Their biggest downfall is that they tend to remain ripe for a very short period of time.

Roma Tomatoes

Also known as plum tomatoes, they are the least juicy of all tomatoes. Because they are thick and contain fewer seeds than other tomato variants, Roma tomatoes are a favorite for pasta sauces.

Pear Tomatoes

Another member of the Cluster tomato variant, Pear tomatoes get their name from their shape, which resembles a pear. They are only the size of a Cherry tomato, but without the high juice levels.

Retrieved from: http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/fats/5-types-of-tomatoes.html

Further Exploration

The following links provide pictures of different tomato  varieties from around the world, as well as some facts about some of the varieties. Read through some of the descriptions, locate your own resources, and post your findings and conclusions in the comments of this page.

http://www.ethno-botanik.org/Tomaten/Pictures-tomato-varieties-en.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tomato_cultivars

http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/tomato.cfm

Discussion Questions

• Are there any particular varieties of tomatoes you think would be best suited for growing upside down? Why?
• Which varieties do you think would not grow well in an upside down environment? Why not?
• Do you agree with your classmates’ choices? Let them know your reasons why.