As a gardener, late summer is a special season for me: All of my springtime planning and planting activities come to fruition and I can actually see, feel—and most importantly taste—the bounty of my labor.

At the end of the summer, I wish that I had planted even more tomatoes. Each spring I struggle over which are the best to plant. Quite a quandary: How to choose the best varieties, those with the most promise and most likely to produce good vegetables?