Surprisingly, tomatoes of different colors are all the vogue these days. More popular than ever, these tomatoes’ flavors are every bit as good as those red ones. More than that, the different color tomatoes can make an average casserole or salad a thing of beauty. Here are just a few of what you can consider growing in your own backyard.

A Russian heirloom, the Black Krim is an indeterminate plant with a unique, 12-ounce dark reddish-brown fruit. It’s not just the skin that’s this color: The fruit is also this dark. You can tell if the weather has been hotter than usual because it’s reflected in the fruit with even a deeper reddish-brown hue. You can begin to enjoy the fruit of the Black Krim 80 days after transplant.

You may think from first glance of the shape of its leaves it’s a . . . potato? Despite that it’s really a tomato called the Brandywine. Of Amish origin, this indeterminate heirloom produces one- to two-pound fruits that are a pretty pink inside with a nice red flesh on the outside.

Many gardeners believe the Brandywine may be the most flavorful of all tomato varieties bar none. From transplant to table in 80 days, the Brandywine’s “cousins” are the Yellow Brandywine and the Red Brandywine. Why limit yourself to only one variety when you can have three?

Ever hear of a Cherokee Purple tomato? This is an heirloom plant of the indeterminate variety. It produces fruit from 10 to 12 ounces.

What would ever give you the idea you were growing a purple tomato when you grow one of these? This tomato is actually white. It has a mild flavor, very few seeds and a creamy texture. Why not combine this with that Russian Krim we mentioned earlier and make a stunning black and white tomato salad?

If ever there was a tomato destined to be used in the dish fried green tomatoes, this is the one: the Green Zebra. The fruits may only be three ounces, but they are delightfully tangy and deliciously sweet. Both the skin and the flesh of this fruit are green — even when fully ripe. By the way, it’s an indeterminate heirloom.

This plant, the Husky Gold, only grows to about four feet, but it has a lot going for it. An indeterminate hybrid dwarf, it produces deep golden-colored fruit, about eight ounces in size. From transplant to table? Seventy days.

It’s lemon yellow. No, it really is bright lemon yellow. And for that reason it’s called Lemon Boy (pretty creative name, huh?). This hybrid indeterminate is disease resistant, takes 72 days to go from transplant to maturity and produces fruit that weigh about seven ounces. What more could you want in a bright yellow tomato?

The truth be told, we’ve really only scratched the surface of all the varieties of tomatoes from which you can choose to plant this year.

So just how do you choose which one(s) to plant? Ask friends who are already gardening what varieties they’re using. They’ll love a chance to talk about their plants. Chances are, if you’re visiting their home, they’ll even take you on a tour of their garden.

If you don’t have any close friends growing tomatoes, then don’t hesitate to ask at your local nursery. The folks here are dedicated to gardening and plants of all types. Their business is gardening. If they can steer you in the right direction, it not only helps you, but them as well. Don’t be afraid to tap their brain power and knowledge about everything tomato.

Now that you’re at least aware and considering the varieties of tomatoes available to you, let’s get you excited about the actual act of gardening.

The next chapter talks about how to actually produce a garden full of healthy tomatoes.

Not all tomatoes are created equal. That’s the first lesson of tomato planting. http://www.squidoo.com/tomatosgrowing