Tomatoes are the cynosure of dining plate of every household in India. They are known for their tremendous health benefits and tomato cultivation is one of the most profitable agri businesses in India.
Tomato, an important horticultural crop, is not a native to India. It is rather a Mexican or a Peruvian native. But, today around 1000 varieties are found in India and we are the second largest producer of tomato globally after China. In this blog, we are going to see the top 10 types of tomatoes that are cultivated in India.
Tomato is a commercially important crop in India. It is cultivated throughout the year in India. but the peak tomato season in India is the end and beginning of every year. The top 10 tomato varieties majorly include hybrid tomatoes which are high in yield. These are Vaishali, Rupali, Pusa Ruby, Arka tomato variety, and more.
Vaishali tomatoes are popular for their round shape, bright red colour, and excellent taste. This determinate hybrid variety has a good shelf life. It is resistant to hot and humid weather and diseases like Verticillium and Fusarium wilts. Vaishali tomatoes are ideal for salads, cooking, and processing due to their balanced flavour.
Rupali tomatoes are highly productive and known for their uniform size and beautiful red colour. They are resistant to many common tomato diseases like Verticillium and Fusarium wilts, making them a reliable choice for farmers. Rupali tomatoes have a tangy-sweet flavour, making them suitable for salads, sandwiches and cooking.
Rashmi tomatoes are a determinate kind that is of a hybrid variety. They grow firm, smooth and round fruits that are a deep red colour and have a strong, rich flavour. These tomatoes are great for processing and making purees, sauces and soups. They can resist diseases like Verticillium and Fusarium wilts.
Rajni tomatoes are excellent for salads, slicing and adding colour to dishes due to their bright red colour and well-balanced flavour. This determinate and early growing type is known for its high yield potential. Rajni tomatoes also have a good shelf life, making them suitable for transportation and storage.
This is among the famous tomato varieties names brought to you by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI). This early growing plant has a fruit with a yellow stem end. The ripening is even across all the fruits. This tomato is good for planting in both the spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons.
On average, it gives a yield of 32.5 tons per hectare. You can use these tomatoes for eating as they are ideal for table and processing purposes. This is why many farmers consider Pusa Ruby the best tomato variety in India.
Sioux is one of the most popular tomato names known for their medium-large size and vibrant red colour. They are round-shaped with a yellow stem end. Due to its meaty texture, they are perfect for sandwiches and burgers. Sioux tomatoes can be grown in hilly conditions and are not ideal for long-distance transportation.
Marglobe tomatoes are like all-rounders – you can grow them out in the open or in greenhouses. They give you smooth, large, round tomatoes that taste really good and are juicy. This makes them great for eating fresh, turning into canned goods or making juice. These tomatoes are indeterminate type and are perfect for hilly areas.
Roma tomatoes, also known as Italian plum tomatoes, are widely cultivated for their firm flesh and low seed content. They have an elliptical shape and are known for their deep red colour. This determinate type has a thick and yellow stem end. Roma tomatoes are commonly used for making sauces, pastes, and canning.
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, introduced Punjab Chuhra tomatoes. They are one of the most common tomato names in North India. They have an elliptical shape and a bright red colour. This determinate type has a yellow stem end. Punjab Chuhra tomatoes are flavorful and suitable for salads, canning and processing.
Arka tomatoes are hybrid varieties that are disease-resistant, high-yielding, and adaptable to various climatic conditions. They have a good shelf life, which is key for transportation and storage.
The key variants include Vikas, Saurabh, Meghali, Ahuti, Ashish, etc. They can be used in salads, cooking, processing and juicing.
So, these top 10 best tomato varieties grown in India give farmers and consumers a lot of different choices. Each kind of tomato has its own special features, taste, ability to resist diseases and how well it suits the market. When farmers pick the right kind of tomato based on what they need, they can grow more and meet what people want, making their tomato farming a success.