Goebbert’s Garden Center
Grow Juicy, Flavor-Packed Tomatoes
There’s nothing quite like a sun-ripened tomato you grew yourself. At Goebbert’s Garden Center, we’re proud to offer an extraordinary selection of tomato plants that deliver rich flavor, impressive yields, and that unbeatable I-grew-this-myself satisfaction. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or a first-time tomato tender, we’re here to help your garden grow.
And because tomatoes are practically part of our family tree, we’ve carefully selected the best-performing hybrids and classic heirlooms for Illinois gardeners. If it’s on our shelves, it’s been vetted by generations of Goebberts.
Our Goebbert-Approved Tomato Varieties
At Goebbert’s, we offer both hybrid and heirloom tomato plants—all carefully selected to thrive in Midwest conditions. Our hybrids are perfect for high yield, disease resistance, and consistent performance. And if you’re more of a flavor-chaser or history buff, our heirloom varieties bring back the bold, nostalgic tastes of gardens past.
Three of our hybrid superstars—Celebrity, Mountain Fresh, and Primo Red—are so good, we grow them in our own fields and sell them in our Farm Market each summer.
Why Plant Tomatoes This Spring?
Tomatoes are the crown jewel of the summer harvest—and the fun begins in spring. By choosing starter plants from Goebbert’s, you’ll skip the seed-stage stress and jump straight to growing beautiful, productive vines. From juicy slicers to adorable cherry clusters, there’s a tomato for every garden style and every recipe.
You’ll find all of our tomatoes (and a whole lot more) in our Garden Center. Come explore what’s ripe for the planting!
Featured Favorites: Most Popular Tomato Varieties
Celebrity
This is the tomato that does it all. With firm texture, mild sweetness, and picture-perfect shape, Celebrity is your everyday tomato hero. It’s high-yielding, reliable, and perfect for slicing. Grown in our field, sold in our market, and loved by gardeners everywhere.
Primo Red
Early, productive, and boldly flavored, Primo Red delivers bright red fruit with thin skin and a meaty interior. Excellent for slicing or saucing, this variety is a workhorse in the garden and a standout in the kitchen.
Mountain Fresh
Cold-resistant and moisture-tolerant with excellent yields, Mountain Fresh gives you large, medium-skin slicers that hold up beautifully in sandwiches and salads. If unpredictable spring weather makes you nervous, this is your tomato.
Cherry Tomatoes
Bursting with sugar-sweet flavor, our Cherry tomatoes are little bites of sunshine. They’re perfect for kids’ lunches, patio containers, or popping straight off the vine during your garden stroll.
Grape Tomatoes
Slightly firmer and more robust than their cherry cousins, Grape tomatoes are a top pick for snacking, salads, and roasting. They resist splitting and store well—if you don’t eat them all first.
🍅 Full Tomato Variety Chart
We grow a wide range of tomato types to suit every garden—and every appetite. Here’s a breakdown of all our hybrid and heirloom offerings, including maturity times and growing characteristics.
Hybrid Tomatoes
| Type | Maturity (Days) | Description |
| Beefsteak | 80–90 | Sweet & meaty w/deep red skin. Great for slicing |
| Better Boy | 72 | Large fruit with good flavor |
| Big Beef | 55–90 | Sweet meaty w/ thick skin. Good for canning |
| Big Boy | 78 | Sweet meaty w/thick skin. Good for canning |
| Black Cherry | 65 | Small sweet cherry tomato. Good in salads |
| Celebrity | 70–75 | High yield, med skin tomato. 7–8 oz slicers |
| Chef’s Choice | 75 | Large tasty fruit that is good for slicing |
| Early Girl | 54 | High yield with a meaty fruit |
| Grape | 60 | Small sweet fruit. Good for salads |
| Large Cherry | 75 | Small sweet fruit with a mild flavor |
| Mountain Fresh | 76 | High yield, thin-skinned slicers. Cold & wet tolerate |
| Patio (Husky Red) | 50–75 | Made to grow in containers. Med fruit with med skin |
| Patio Cherry | 65 | Made to grow in containers. Sweet mild flavor |
| Primo Red | 65–70 | High yield, thin-skinned slicer. Great for slicing |
| Roma | 76 | Elongated fruit. Great for paste and sauces |
| San Marzano | 70–80 | Elongated fruit. Great for paste and sauces |
| Sunray | 80 | Low acid meaty fruit with mild flavor |
| Sweet 100 | 68 | Very sweet. Great for salads and appetizers |
| Tomatillo | 75 | Tart flavor, great for salsa |
| Yellow | 70–80 | Sweet low acid tomato |
| Yellow Grape | 60 | Small fruit for salads |
| Yellow Plum | 75 | Small fruit for preserves and salads |
Heirloom Varieties
Looking for bold flavors and old-school charm? Our heirloom tomatoes are grown for gardeners who want uniqueness in every bite—and color.
| Heirloom Type | Maturity (Days) | Description |
| Rutgers | 77–82 | Mid-season red fruit. Great for cooking or slicing |
| Mortgage Lifter | 83 | Large globe-shaped, meaty fruit turns dark pink |
| Marglobe | 73–80 | Large red tomato good for canning |
| German Johnson | 78 | Large pink-skinned fruit w/ mild flavor |
| Cherokee Purple | 80 | Medium/large fruit w/ dark skin |
| Campbell 1327 | 75 | Bright red fruit good for cooking and soups |
| Brandywine | 90–100 | Very rich and spicy pink fruit |
| Black Krim | 80 | Bold, smoky flavor in a deep red tomato |
Choosing the Right Tomato for Your Garden
Not sure where to start? Consider:
Space – Patio varieties are ideal for containers and small gardens.
Timing – Look for early or mid-season types if you want a fast harvest.
Purpose – Want slicers, sauce-makers, or snacks? We’ve got options.
Our team is happy to help you choose varieties suited to your conditions—and we can even help you design the perfect garden with our Custom Planting Services.
5 Tips for Growing Tomatoes
Need more help? Visit and chat with our experts (get directions) or contact us today.
1. SUN
Give them 6–8 hours of sun each day
2. STAKE
Cage or stake early—they grow fast!
3. WATER
Water deeply and consistently.
(But not too much!)
4. FERTILIZE
Use quality soil with compost or organic fertilizer.
5. ROTATE
Rotate your crops yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases.
What to Do With All These Tomatoes?
Tomato overload? We say: bring it on. Check out our article on Best Tomato Recipes for ideas like:
- Roasted cherry tomato bruschetta
- Caprese salads with basil from your herb bed
- Heirloom BLTs that taste like summer on a plate
Join the Garden Club and Grow With Us
Stop by Goebbert’s this spring to browse our full selection of tomatoes and garden goodies. Each year, we open mid-April, and our team is here every day to help you get your hands dirty (in the best way).
Be sure to join our Loyal Gardening Club to earn rewards with every purchase and gain access to workshops, consultations, and exclusive offers.
Contact us or just stop in—we’d love to help you pick the perfect plants.