Fall gardening in Pennsylvania and New Jersey can be especially rewarding when it comes to tomatoes. I’ve found that certain varieties handle the cooler nights and shorter days better, keeping those harvests coming.
From juicy slicers to sweet cherry tomatoes, there are plenty of options that still flourish late in the season. Growing the right kinds means you can enjoy fresh, homegrown tomatoes well into autumn.
1. Amish Paste
Perfectly suited for Pennsylvania’s cooler autumn weather, these meaty tomatoes develop exceptional flavor as temperatures drop. Their thick flesh makes them ideal for sauces and canning projects.
New Jersey gardeners appreciate how these heirloom beauties continue producing until the first hard frost. Originally grown by Amish farmers, they’ve adapted wonderfully to the region’s fall conditions.
2. San Marzano
Beloved by Pennsylvania chefs, these Italian classics ripen beautifully during cooler fall days, developing their distinctive sweet-tart flavor profile. Their firm texture holds up well in autumn harvests when other varieties struggle.
New Jersey gardeners find these elongated beauties continue producing well into October. With fewer pest problems in fall, the fruits often develop cleaner skins than summer harvests.
3. Oregon Spring
Despite its name, this variety shines in Pennsylvania’s fall gardens with its ability to set fruit at lower temperatures than most tomatoes. The medium-sized fruits mature quickly, perfect for gardeners wanting fast results as days shorten.
New Jersey growers value how these tomatoes resist common autumn diseases. Their determinate growth habit means you’ll get a concentrated harvest – ideal for end-of-season canning sessions.
4. Stupice
Originally from Czechoslovakia, this cold-tolerant variety thrives when Pennsylvania nights turn crisp. The potato-leaf plants continue setting fruit even as temperatures fluctuate, making them reliable fall producers.
New Jersey gardeners praise their rich, old-world flavor that actually improves with cooler weather. These tennis ball-sized fruits mature quickly, perfect for impatient gardeners wanting tomatoes before frost threatens.
5. Glacier
Living up to its cool-climate name, Glacier produces sweet, tangy fruits even when Pennsylvania nights dip into the 40s. The compact plants make them perfect for containers that can be moved to protected areas when frost threatens.
New Jersey gardeners appreciate their early maturity – often just 55 days from transplanting. These apple-sized tomatoes offer concentrated flavor that stands up beautifully in fall salads and fresh salsas.
6. Siberian
Extremely cold-hardy, these Russian heirlooms continue ripening even when Pennsylvania temperatures drop dramatically. Their sweet-tart flavor intensifies as nights grow cooler, making fall harvests especially delicious.
New Jersey growers find these plum-sized fruits perfect for quick pasta sauces. The compact plants can be covered easily when frost threatens, extending your harvest well into November in protected spots.
7. Moskvich
Another Russian variety that laughs at Pennsylvania’s chilly fall nights. These medium-sized fruits develop exceptional sweetness when temperatures fluctuate between warm days and cool nights.
New Jersey gardeners value their crack-resistant skins, especially important during autumn’s unpredictable rainfall patterns. The semi-determinate plants continue producing steady harvests until frost, making them reliable fall performers.
8. Polbig
Developed for northern climates, Polbig performs beautifully in Pennsylvania’s shortening fall days. The golf ball-sized fruits ripen quickly, perfect for gardeners racing against frost. Their bright flavor stands up well in fresh applications.
New Jersey growers appreciate their disease resistance, especially important in autumn when fungal pressures increase. The determinate plants produce concentrated harvests, making them ideal for final canning batches.
9. Black Prince
These Russian heirlooms develop their richest flavor in Pennsylvania’s cool fall weather. Their deep mahogany color intensifies as temperatures drop, signaling the complex, smoky-sweet taste inside.
New Jersey gardeners love how these medium-sized fruits continue ripening well into October. The indeterminate vines benefit from good support, as they’ll continue setting fruit until killed by frost.
10. Crimson Sprinter
Developed specifically for cool weather, these bright red beauties maintain excellent production in Pennsylvania’s fall gardens. Their name reflects their ability to keep “sprinting” toward maturity even as days shorten and temperatures drop.
New Jersey growers appreciate their resistance to common autumn diseases. The medium-sized fruits offer excellent fresh-eating quality with a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.
11. Silvery Fir Tree
Featuring distinctive feathery foliage, these Russian tomatoes thrive in Pennsylvania’s cooling autumn temperatures. Their compact size makes them perfect for containers that can be moved to protected spots when frost threatens.
New Jersey gardeners value their early production cycle – often just 60 days from transplanting. The flattened, slightly ribbed fruits offer excellent flavor for fresh eating right up until hard frost arrives.
12. Santiam
Bred specifically for cool climates, Santiam thrives when Pennsylvania nights turn chilly. These medium-sized slicers continue setting fruit at lower temperatures than most varieties, extending your harvest season significantly.
New Jersey gardeners appreciate their excellent disease resistance during fall’s humid conditions. The determinate plants produce concentrated harvests, making them ideal for final sauce-making sessions before winter.
13. Legend
Developed to resist late blight, Legend performs beautifully in Pennsylvania’s damp fall conditions. Their large, meaty fruits maintain excellent quality even when autumn rains increase disease pressure on other varieties.
New Jersey gardeners appreciate their ability to set fruit at cooler temperatures. The determinate plants produce concentrated harvests of slicing tomatoes perfect for final BLTs and fresh salads before winter arrives.
14. Northern Delight
Specially bred for short seasons, these tomatoes excel in Pennsylvania’s diminishing fall daylight hours. The medium-sized fruits develop excellent sweet-acid balance even when temperatures fluctuate dramatically between day and night.
New Jersey growers find these determinate plants perfect for final plantings. Their concentrated harvest pattern means you’ll get plenty of ripe fruits before frost, ideal for last-minute canning projects.
15. Subarctic Plenty
Living up to their name, these cold-tolerant tomatoes continue setting fruit even when Pennsylvania nights turn downright chilly. Their small to medium fruits develop surprisingly good flavor despite the challenging conditions.
New Jersey gardeners value their extreme reliability in unpredictable fall weather. The determinate plants produce steady harvests until killed by hard frost, often extending your fresh tomato season by several crucial weeks.
16. Taxi
These bright yellow tomatoes bring cheerful color to Pennsylvania’s fall gardens. Their sunny appearance belies their ability to thrive in cooling temperatures, continuing to ripen even as other varieties slow down.
New Jersey growers appreciate their crack-resistant nature during autumn’s unpredictable rainfall. The determinate plants produce concentrated harvests of medium-sized fruits with mild, low-acid flavor perfect for fresh eating.