The Characteristics of Tomatoes

Shapes

• The shapes of tomatoes are usually standard or what growers call a "globe," which is a round-shaped tomato. A tomato with a slightly flattened-round shape is called "oblate." Other types of shapes used to describe a variety of tomatoes include: beefsteak, cherry, pear, plum and grape. The Roma tomato is an example of a variety that is plum shaped. Beefsteaks refer to large slicing tomatoes.

Size and Weight

• Tomato sizes in the different varieties range from small to medium to large. The smallest is the size of a pea, called a currant. Cherry, grape and plum tomatoes are about an inch in diameter and are considered small and weigh about an ounce. Medium-sized tomatoes such as a variety called "Early Girl" are about 5 ounces. Larger tomatoes, also known as beefsteak, can weigh about 1 to 2 pounds.

Colors

• Not all tomatoes are red in color. Some are named after their physical color such as Cherokee purple, which is a brownish-purple tomato. Green Zebra is a green and yellow tomato. Pear tomatoes are available in yellow, orange, red and black. The Brandywine and the Mortgage Lifter are pink tomatoes. A few varieties are striped with red, yellow or green.

Heirloom or Hybrid

• Heirloom tomatoes are from seeds that are passed down from generations. The fruit is an odd-looking shape and color. Some of these tomato seeds are more than 40 years old. The heirlooms are described as tasty and remain genetically identical by using the same seeds. Hybrids were developed using forced pollination with two different varieties of tomatoes. The development was to create a tomato that was disease-resistant. The shape of hybrid tomatoes, more often sold in local supermarkets, is more perfectly round.