• Cherry tomatoes are the ideal size for salads.Tomato image by Andrew Breeden from Fotolia.com
  
  Tomatoes are fruits but are usually prepared and served as vegetables. High in vitamins and antioxidants, some tomato varieties are as small as a marble while others grow to be the size of a softball, weighing more than a pound. Many people grow their own tomatoes, not only to save money but because tomatoes are easy to grow and taste best when eaten right off the vine. The Australian tomato industry falls into two categories; tomatoes grown for processing and tomatoes grown for fresh market.
  
  

Heirloom

• A favorite of gardeners and growers, heirlooms are easy to grow, resist pests and disease moderately well and have been a reliable tomato in Australia for many years. Unusually shaped, heirlooms grow in a variety of colors and have a strong flavor. Some different types include Jubilee, Green Zebra, Lillian's Yellow and Tom's Yellow Wonder.
  
  

Grosse Lisse

• One of Australia's most popular tomatoes, the Grosse Lisse is a reliable tomato that grows well in very hot conditions. Though once susceptible to disease, newer varieties of Grosse Lisse are much hardier. If growing them yourself, pick the tomatoes while they still have some pink on them and then allow them to finish ripening indoors or in the sun. Keep tomatoes at room temperature until they are ripe. If you refrigerate them too soon, they will lose some of their flavor.
  
  

Roma Red or Yellow

• Also referred to as plum tomatoes, these versatile tomatoes are perfect in salads, or in sandwiches. Relatively small, the egg-shaped Roma has a firmer skin than many other tomato varieties and is usually less acidic. Easy to grow, Roma tomatoes are a popular type to use for home canning.
  
  

Cherry or Grape

• Very popular in Australia, cherry and grape tomatoes are juicy, full of flavor and perfect for adding to salads or simply serving as a side dish or snack on their own. Grape tomatoes are usually smaller than cherry tomatoes and may be slightly sweeter. Varieties include Naomi, Millionaire, Honeygrape and Mandolin.
  
  

Beefsteak

• Among the largest of cultivated tomatoes, beefsteak varieties often weigh more than one pound. Tomatoes can be both heirloom and beefsteak variety. Beefsteak tomatoes are used in sandwiches because one slice easily covers the entire surface. Types include Brandywine, Cherokee Purple and Pink Beefsteak.