Description

(72 Days) A flavour that rivals the famous Brandywine! Deep pink, almost purple, ribbed fruits can weigh over 1 lb and are resistant to cold and cracking. Excellent for cooking, salsas, sandwiches and salads. Indeterminate plants. Staking type. (Indeterminate – Produce all season)

Planting Instructions

Start seed indoors 6 – 8 weeks before transplanting out to the garden. Cover seeds with 1/2 cm (1/4 in) of soil. Firm soil over seed. Keep moist but not waterlogged. To germinate maintain a soil temperature of 24 C (75 F). Seed should germinate in 6 – 10 days. Once seeds have sprouted, 14 – 16 hours of light per day is essential. Once plants have reached 12 cm (5 in) transplant to 6 cm (3 in) peat pots. Place the root ball at the bottom of the pot, filling pot with soil will ensure better root development along the stem. Plants will develop better with a growing temperature of 17 C (62 F) until transplanting out. Fertilize weekly with 10-52-17 and liquid seaweed for strong root development. Do not transplant out till night temperatures are warm.

Quick Tips for growing larger tomatoes

    • Plant your tomato plants deeper than they come in the pot, all the way up to the top few leaves. When planted this way, tomatoes are able to develop roots all along their stems. And more roots will make for a stronger plant.
    • Pinch and remove suckers that develop in the crotch joint of two branches. They won’t bear fruit and will take energy away from the rest of the plant.
    • However, go easy on pruning the rest of the plant. You can thin out a few leaves to allow the sun to reach the ripening fruit, but it’s the leaves that are photosynthesizing and creating the sugars that give flavor to your tomatoes. Fewer leaves will mean less sweet tomatoes.
    • Water deeply and regularly while the fruits are developing. Irregular watering – missing a week and trying to make up for it – leads to blossom end rot and cracking. The rule of thumb is to ensure your plants get at least 1 inch of water per week, but during hot, dry spells, they may need more. If your plants start to look wilted for most of the day, give them a drink.
    • Once the fruit begins to ripen, you can ease up on watering. Lessening the water will coax the plant into concentrating its sugars, for better flavor. Use your judgment. Don’t withhold water so much that the plants continually wilt and become stressed or they will drop their blossoms and possibly their fruit.