My 7 Picks for the Best Super Steak Tomatoes of 2008

There is absolutely nothing better on this green earth than a giant beefsteak tomato plucked straight off the vine. The warm, juicy texture and succulent flavors are indescribably delicious. Visually stunning, these big boys come in shades ranging from the earthy reds to striped beauties of green and gold, or even velvety chocolate and midnight black. Dressed simply with good sea salt and a twist of cracked black pepper, they are sublime.

I despise the over-hyped, high-priced supermarket varieties of this garden gem, preferring to wait until spring to begin my journey towards the real deal, the home grown tomato. And for my efforts, nothing brings me greater rewards than a garden filled with the biggest and best of the beefsteak tomato varieties. For 2008, I have found among the tried and true standards, some truly awesome looking tomatoes.

My first pick this season is German Giant. With fruits weighing in at 1-2 pounds, this standard is sweet and brimming with juice. It is a heavy heavy bearer, guaranteeing a steady crop of these huge fruits.

Giant Belgium is a new one for me, but made my list because this tomato is incredibly sweet and the plants bear very heavily. Two pound fruits are normal for this variety, which makes them perfect for stuffing or using in sandwiches. Giant Belgium is known to produce a whopping 5 pound fruit. The vines are good and sturdy, plus it is not known to suffer catfacing or scald. Many older farmers make wine with this variety!

Italian Sweet was discovered in a farmers market by the folks at tomatogrowers.com. They saved the seeds and a bit of garden history and now this heirloom beefsteak is available for our gardens. It is a stocky plant which produces 3 pound tomatoes, that offer a sweet and succulent taste.

Georgia Streak is a big shouldered striped tomato, rich with gold and red marbling. The flavor is nicely balanced with a deep sweetness kissed by a touch of acidity. These look gorgeous on a plate garnished with a few sprigs of basil. Their average weight is between 1 and two pounds.

Goldie, A pure yellow tomato with a crisp clean nicely balanced flavor, These are delightful sliced or eaten out of hand. They weigh in at a big 1-2 pounds of pure sunny delight.

Hugh's, a great white variety of wonderful sweetness. These unusual tomatoes are heavy bearers producing 1-2 pounds of delicious tomato flavor.

Hawaiian Pineapple is a rare tomato. It has a taste reminiscent of pineapple, coupled with an intense sweetness. A heavy bearer, this variety produces 1-1 1/2 pound fruits.

If you love tomatoes and want more bang for your garden labors, give these magnificent varieties a try. I'm willing to bet, they'll become a staple in your garden for years to come.