Every year, gardeners face the dilemma of choosing from an overwhelming number of tomato varieties. One surefire winner? The Tomato of the Year, as crowned by the judges at the country’s most popular tomato festival, Tomatomania.
The 2026 pick, ‘Sart Roloise’, is a Belgium-bred beefsteak that pairs gorgeous coloring with complex sweetness. Tomatomania’s producer and tomato maniac himself, Scott Daigre, explains what makes this a prize winner worth growing in your garden this year. He also shares his best tips on growing and enjoying this tomato.
Scott Daigre is a garden designer and producer of Tomatomania, held in various Southern California locations from late February to April. He’s also the author of the book Tomatomania!
All About the ‘Sart Roloise’ Tomato
The first thing that makes Sart Roloise stand out among thousands of tomato varieties: “It glows!” declares Daigre. “Watching this one ripen is just a joy. The deep yellow color, the sheer number of fruits, and then that blue splash that makes it so dramatic all contribute to a heightened experience for a gardener.” Fruits generally reach 10 to 12 ounces, but can get as large as 18 ounces.
What’s more, the flavor is equally striking. “It’s everything you want in full, round tomato taste, with a wonderful hint of sweetness that makes it special,” says Daigre.
How to Grow ‘Sart Roloise’ Tomatoes
If you’d like to get a jump on the growing season, you can start ‘Sart Roloise’ seeds indoors six to eight weeks before your area’s average last frost date. (Rareseeds.com is a great source for seeds.) Transfer plants outside to a spot with full sun when soil is warm. Once planted, ‘Sart Roloise’ thrives with lots of sun and heat, and regular water, just like other tomatoes. Fruit is typically ready to harvest 75 to 90 days after transplanting.
As a medium to large indeterminate plant, ‘Sart Roloise’ needs a good support system, notes Daigre. “From our trials we know ‘Sart Roloise’ to reach 5 to 6 feet tall when staked, and it’s highly productive. The fruit can be wonderfully large. Employ some sturdy stakes or a big cage,” he says.
How to Eat the ‘Sart Roloise’ Tomato
“While its color and taste profile will make it a chef’s muse, I like the simple approach,” says Daigre. “But then … a yellow-tomato salsa, a golden Bloody Mary? Yes, thank you. Plus, it can grow into a large beefsteak if it’s happy, and a thick slab will transform a burger! Eat it in every way and whenever possible.”
More Award-Winning Tomatoes to Grow
These other celebrated tomato varieties also deserve a spot in your garden:
‘Persuasion’: One of Tomatomania’s Tomatoes of the Year in 2025, this indeterminate variety has mid-sized rosy-hued fruits with streaks of purple and yellow. Fruit is deliciously sweet, with little tang.
‘Rebel Starfighter Prime’: A galaxy of colors makes this tomato especially gorgeous, and the big, tangy flavor is out of this world. This indeterminate variety tied for Tomatomania’s top prize in 2025.
‘Midnight Roma’: Another 2025 Tomatomania winner, this recently introduced hybrid from Row 7 Seeds is a far cry from the standard grocery-store Roma. The semi-determinate, purple-skinned variety is high in antioxidants and cooks down quickly and deliciously for sauce.
‘Tomato BadaBing!’: A recipient of the coveted All-America Selections (AAS) award in 2026, this large cherry tomato is prized for its ability to resist disease—and produce delicious, juicy fruits. It’s an indeterminate plant, but typically tops out at only 40″ tall.
‘Tomato Tonatico’: This variety won the AAS award in 2025, wowing experts and home gardeners with its big yields of uniform, crack-free cherry fruit.
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