Tomato Varieties for 2026: Best Tomato Seeds for Taste and Colour
Selecting the Best Tomatoes to Grow
As we look toward summer, tomato enthusiasts and gardeners alike are excited about the new and improved tomato varieties that promise to transform outdoor growing. With innovations in flavour, colour, and resilience, new cultivars are bred for gardeners looking for high-quality, flavoursome fruits that thrive in outdoor conditions.
Best Tasting Tomatoes
Flavour continues to be the most sought after trait for tomato varieties. Growers are seeking that sweet, tangy balance that makes tomatoes so versatile, whether in salads, sauces, or eaten fresh off the vine.
For the 2026 UK season, the best tomatoes for flavour and vibrant colour include the intensely sweet orange Sungold or red Sunset, the rich purple-black Black Moon or Indigo Apple, and the Artisan Tigers range of stripey plum tomatoes. Top choices for reliable, blight-resistant harvests include Cocktail or Rose Crush, while Veranda Red remains ideal for patio pots.
Top Varieties for 2026
Best Overall Flavour: Sungold F1 (orange cherry) remains the popular choice for sweetness, with Sunset a new contender.
Most Vibrant Colours: Black Moon (deep purple/black) and Artisan Pink Bumblebee (pink and gold stripes) add striking, unique looks to salads.
Top Yellow/Orange Varieties: Artisan Blush Tiger (baby plum with tropical flavour) and Buffalosun (large, orange-red) provide succulent options.
Best New/Improved Varieties: crack-resistant Elisir F1 produces intense red cherry fruit and Delicious for huge scarlet beefsteak fruits.
Best Heritage/traditional: Ailsa Craig (traditional red, tangy flavour) or Burlesque (previous best buy beefsteak)
Best Choices for UK Conditions
Blight Resistant: Rose Crush (beefsteak) and Cocktail Crush (salad) are essential for reliable, healthy, and large-yielding crops, even in wet summers.
Outdoor Growers: Outdoor Girl is reliable for cooler UK climates, while Black Moon (deep purple /black) is versatile in and out of the greenhouse.
Patio/Hanging Basket: Tumbling Tom (Red/Yellow) or Cherry Falls provide high yields in small spaces.
Trending for 2026
Colourful Anthocyanin Types: Indigo varieties Apple (ripens black/purple medium size), Blue Beauty (beefsteak) and Blue Berries (cherry size) offer high antioxidants and dramatic, deep-toned colours.
Dwarf Varieties: Veranda Red is a great choice for smaller spaces and containers, British bred and blight resistant.
Meaty & Sweet: Super Mama is recommended for large, plum-shaped fruits that are ideal for sauces and slicing.
With an emphasis on enhanced flavours, striking colours, and improved resilience, these tomatoes promise to be a favourite for both seasoned gardeners and newcomers alike. Whether you're looking for sweetness, boldness, or a striking splash of colour in your garden, 2026 is set to deliver the best tomatoes yet.