One of the marvels of nature is the superficial resemblance of certain plants that are entirely unrelated. Apart from the fact that both pumpkins and tomatoes are vegetables, they have nothing in common.
Neither do they belong to the same genus nor do they have similar physical characteristics. However, some tomatoes surprisingly resemble pumpkins. They look like miniature pumpkins with the same shape and structure.
Let’s find out more about these exciting tomato varieties.
- 14 Different Tomato Varieties That Resemble Pumpkins
- 1. Tomkin Tomatoes
- 2. Beefsteak Tomatoes
- 3. Brandywine Tomatoes
- 4. Azoychka Tomatoes
- 5. Big Beef Tomatoes
- 6. Aunt Ruby's German Green Tomatoes
- 7. Black Krim Tomatoes
- 8. Big Rainbow Heirloom Tomatoes
- 9. Georgia Streak Tomatoes
- 10. German Johnson Tomatoes
- 11. Great White Tomatoes
- 12. Hillbilly Tomatoes
- 13. Monterosa Tomatoes
- 14. Pantano Romanesco Tomatoes
14 Different Tomato Varieties That Resemble Pumpkins
Tomatoes belong to the Solanum genus of the Solanaceae vegetable family, also known as the Nightshade family.
Meanwhile, pumpkins are Cucurbits. They belong to the gourd family.
Although unrelated, some tomatoes look like pumpkins. Let’s take a closer look at them.
1. Tomkin Tomatoes
Tomkin tomatoes get their name by combining the “tom” from tomato and “kin” from pumpkin.
These bright red tomatoes look like miniature pumpkins.
This British tomato variety was developed on a trial basis and was widely accepted for its delicious flavors and high quality.
These tomatoes are exclusively sold at ASDA.
Tomkin tomatoes are cherry tomatoes. They grow fast and are ready for harvest within fifty days of planting.
They’re widely grown in greenhouses in Lancaster, Britain.
This high-yielding variety produces fruit throughout the year.
They’re predominantly sweet and good for snacking. You can also use them in salads.
2. Beefsteak Tomatoes
Beefsteak tomatoes are large tomatoes that are used in sandwiches. They’re also called “slicer tomatoes.”
There are various types of beefsteak tomatoes, and some of them resemble pumpkins.
Most beefsteak tomatoes are red with pronounced ribbing on the surface of the skin.
Most beefsteak tomatoes are grown by home gardeners.
They’re not widely grown on a commercial basis because these tomatoes are rarely suitable for canning and other mechanical processes like small tomatoes.
Nevertheless, they’re delicious and full of moisture and flavor. A single beefsteak tomato can weigh up to a pound.
3. Brandywine Tomatoes
Brandywine tomatoes are hybrids of beefsteak tomato. They’re an heirloom cultivar that produces large pink tomatoes.
This variety has a pronounced ribbing on the surface, just like other beefsteak tomatoes.
It also has large leaves with smooth oval tips.
The foliage is significantly different from typical tomato foliage. Hence, it’s an identifying characteristic of this tomato.
Brandywine tomatoes take longer than most tomatoes to bear fruit and reach maturity.
On average, you can expect it to take at least 80 to 100 days to be ready for harvest.
The best thing about this tomato is that a single slice is big enough to fill a sandwich.
4. Azoychka Tomatoes
Azoychka tomatoes are a variant of beefsteak tomatoes that originated in Russia.
These tomatoes resemble pumpkins because of their bright and attractive green and yellow colors.
They’re yellow when fully ripe and don’t acquire the typical red color that we associate with tomatoes.
Azoychka tomatoes are a high-yielding variety.
The leaves are of regular size, and each plant produces at least forty to fifty tomatoes annually.
The flavor of this tomato is smooth and sweet, with citrusy notes.
5. Big Beef Tomatoes
As the name suggests, big beef tomatoes are a type of beefsteak tomato. They have a bright red peel that is thick.
These tomatoes are astonishingly large and resemble pumpkins closely in terms of shape and structure.
Big beef tomatoes are highly prized for their delicious earthy flavors.
The fruits grow vigorously and reach large sizes.
The tomato vines grow to great heights of more than 8 feet and need support to stay upright without flopping.
The tomatoes ripen late and take around ten weeks to reach full size.
Their bold flavors and rich spiciness make them the ideal choice for sandwiches, burgers, and other dishes where you want strong tomato flavors.
Recommended: How To Tell If Sun-Dried Tomatoes Have Gone Bad? | Can Tomato Sauce Be Put In Chili? | 10 Potato Dishes That Go Very Well With Ham
6. Aunt Ruby’s German Green Tomatoes
Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato is an heirloom variety, and the fruits are massive in size.
This green tomato is a beefsteak tomato variety. It’s green when fully ripe.
The peel looks clear and intensely green when it’s ready for harvest.
Aunt Ruby’s German Green tomato is immensely flavorful. It has a strong fragrance and a sweet but tangy taste.
Although a late bloomer, it’s a favorite with home gardeners because of the ample fruit the plants produce.
The plant requires a heavy-caging system to support the vines that can grow to over 8 feet in height.
7. Black Krim Tomatoes
Black Krim tomatoes are an exciting cultivar that is believed to have been first developed near the Black Sea.
The plant produces fruits with a flattened shape. It has a strong tart flavor.
These gourmet fruits also have an unusual crimson red color with a green base when they’re fully ripe.
They’re specialty produce and not available easily.
Black Krim tomatoes can grow between half a pound and a whole pound in size.
These tomatoes are very tart with smoky and salty flavors.
You can eat them raw in salads or sandwiches. They’re also good for preparing sauces.
8. Big Rainbow Heirloom Tomatoes
Big rainbow tomatoes are a beautiful heirloom tomato variety.
The tomatoes resemble pumpkins with their yellow skin with neon red streaks.
The rainbow-colored skin is yellow and orange in the middle, with green shoulders and marbling neon red over the surface.
The tomatoes are a type of beefsteak tomato and grow large.
They’re slightly ribbed, platelike fruits that grow to around two pounds in weight.
They’re usually ready to harvest in late summer. These tomatoes are sweet and low in acidity.
Hence, they taste good when added to salads and are suitable for snacking.
These tomatoes have firm flesh and are great for slicing.
Their unique color makes them a good choice for cheese and vegetable platters.
You can also add them to sandwiches or salads.
9. Georgia Streak Tomatoes
Georgia streak tomatoes are a beautiful variety of beefsteak tomatoes that look like pumpkins on the inside.
The rich golden-hued fruits have a delicate blush pink color on their skin. But the real surprise lies inside the tomatoes.
When you cut these tomatoes, they have beautiful red-streaked, firm flesh. It’s juicy, sweet, and full of hearty flavor.
Georgia steak tomatoes take up to 90 days to mature, and it’s a late-season tomato cultivar.
10. German Johnson Tomatoes
German Johnson tomatoes have pronounced large lobes and bright pinkish-red skin.
It’s an heirloom tomato variety that has given rise to various other highly-prized tomato cultivars, including the Mortgage lifter.
It’s excellent for slicing and is meaty with very few seeds.
The flesh is firm, and the tomatoes can grow to be more than one pound in weight.
This tomato is also good for canning and making sauces.
11. Great White Tomatoes
As the name suggests, the Great white tomato is a hybrid white tomato.
It’s heavy, large, and can easily grow to at least two pounds in weight.
This tomato has creamy white skin, and it’s deliciously fruity.
The flesh is creamy and very low in acid.
The plants are very hardy, and the thick and lush foliage protects them from sunburn.
12. Hillbilly Tomatoes
The Hillbilly tomato is an heirloom beefsteak tomato variety from West Virginia.
The skin of this tomato is heavily ribbed, making it look like a pumpkin.
You will see plenty of orange and red streaks on the surface.
The plant takes nearly three months to reach full maturity.
However, the fruits are enormous and flavorful. You will find the flesh to be sweet and fruity.
Tasty slices of Hillbilly tomatoes are a great addition to sandwiches and burgers.
They’re sweet, with delicate citrusy notes.
13. Monterosa Tomatoes
The Monterosa tomato is a delicate and beautiful tomato with interesting origins.
These tomatoes are a cross between a Girona pear tomato and Italian Costoluto tomato.
They were developed with the intent to bring back the original Mediterranean flavors into traditional recipes.
They also look like traditional heirloom tomatoes with their asymmetric ribbing and delicate colors.
Monterosa tomatoes have won awards for their unique flavors. The fruits are soft, juicy, and herbaceous.
The first fruits on the plant are usually very large, but the fruits that appear in succession will usually be smaller.
The fruits ripen in stages, making it possible to enjoy tomatoes of different colors and flavors throughout the season.
Related: Can You Put Dutch Ovens In The Oven? | How To Remove Rust From Stainless Steel Bowls? | Tomato Varieties That Can Grow Under Shade
14. Pantano Romanesco Tomatoes
These Roman heirloom tomatoes originated in the marshlands of Rome in Italy.
They’re a high-yielding tomato cultivar that produces large crops throughout the growing season.
Pantano Romanesco tomato is an indeterminate variety with regular-size leaves.
The tomatoes are shaped like tiny pumpkins.
They’re very meaty and produce rich, complex flavors. They’re very sweet with the right hint of acidity.
When ripe, Pantano Romanesco tomatoes serve multiple purposes.
They’re good for salads and vegetable platters. You can also use them in sauces, stews, and canning.
