The majority of yellow and orange tomatoes are low in acid, which is helpful for those on an acid-reduced diet. Many of them are also abundant producers, particularly heirloom varieties that can be grown organically.
Gardeners grow yellow and orange tomatoes for many reasons. They enjoy their vibrant and distinct coloration alongside the delicious flavor. Moreover, these unusual tomatoes beautifully complement any dish. As with other types of tomatoes, seedlings might not be available at local garden centers, so it is better to start them from seeds.
Yellow Tomato Varieties
Dr Wyche’s Yellow – A one-pound fruit with an exquisitely sweet taste known for its heavy yield. Reportedly introduced by a circus owner, this heirloom takes 80 days to mature.
Lemon Boy – This hybrid is bright yellow and very easy to grow commercially due to their disease resistance. They also offer ornamental value as well as great flavor making them quite popular.
YYellow Brandywine Tomato—This is an heirloom variety closely related to the pellucid pink form. They are exceptionally robust, productive, and noted for their wonderful flavor as well as creamy mouthfeel.
Yellow Pear – This is one of the few cold-resistant varieties of tomatoes. It is a small to medium-sized tomato with a delicate sweet taste; therefore, it is highly valued for table decoration.
Orange Tomato Varieties
Amana Orange
These tomatoes are yellowish-orange in color and attain a large size (almost 1 lb). They are quite tasty but more acidic than most yellows. The heirloom requires 75-80 days of ripening and originated from Amana, Iowa.
Dad’s Sunset
A long-ripening variety which takes roughly 90-100 days to fully mature. This heirloom has been grown in the Midwestern United States for quite some time, and only recently gained wider recognition. It won the Best Tasting Tomato award in the 2004 Heirloom Tomato Contest. Tomatoes average about ten ounces each.
Golden Jubilee
A very popular heirloom characterized by above-average yields per plant. The fruits were described as sweet and mild while light orange colors gave them an appealing visual. They have excellent storability which makes them very treasured among suppliers.
Golden Sunray
It takes about 80 days for the gold-colored tomatoes on this plant to fully ripen. Their uniform shape is accompanied by pleasant sweetness tempered with slight tartness, making them prized as salsa tomatoes.
Kentucky Beefsteak
This heirloom is one of the largest beefsteak varieties available, and like many of its relatives, it takes 80 days to ripen. The fruits are huge, weighing over two pounds each and boasting a sweet old-fashioned tomato taste with mild acidity. These tomatoes have become quite the staple in county fairs.
Orange King
These fast-growing heirlooms are relatively easy to spot and reach maturity in an impressive 55 days, thriving in various climates. Much appreciated by home growers, the determinates do not require stakes as support. They yield fruit that weighs close to three quarters of a pound each.
Patio Orange
Like some cherry tomatoes, this container cultivar tends to produce early and has high yields relative to its size. This cultivar also produces small salad tomatoes weighing between 2-4 ounces each.