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Growing Organic Hungarian Paste Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden

Begin seeds indoors about 7-9 weeks before your estimated final spring frost date. Use a well-draining potting or germinating mix, such as coco coir, to start the seeds. Plant two seeds per cell and cover the seeds. The soil should stay moist during germination. Water regularly or use a clear plastic tray cover to increase humidity and moisture. As soon as the first seedling emerges, ensure the tray receives at least 8 hours a day of light either in a sunny windowsill or with grow lights a few inches above the tray. If using, remove the greenhouse dome once the seedlings develop true leaves. When the seedlings are about 2 inches tall, choose the strongest one in each cell and cut back the other. Apply an organic liquid feed once they have two sets of true leaves. If necessary, transplant the seedlings into larger, 4-inch pots prior to garden transplantation to encourage better root development.

Before transplanting into your garden soil, the seedlings should be hardened off gradually to acclimate to sunnier, windier conditions. Transplant the seedlings into the garden once the danger of frost has passed. Bury an organic calcium supplement or finely crushed egg shells in the soil beneath the seedlings. Crushed eggshells are most effective if worked into the soil the year prior so they have time to break down. Bury the stems horizontally and pack the soil around the top of the plant to keep it upright. This will encourage more root development off of the buried stem. Remove the lower leaves that don’t get sunlight, as they will only take nutrients from the plant and not produce tomatoes. Top dress with a healthy compost when planting into the garden. Mixing some into the soil prior to planting can also be beneficial. Use a sturdy structure like a tomato cage to support the growing plant. Prune the bush periodically throughout the season to remove suckers and bottom leaves. Topdress with organic vegetable fertilizer one to two more times throughout the growing season. The ideal soil pH for growth is between 6.2 to 6.8. Water regularly to ensure proper nutrient uptake and avoidance of disease. Avoid soggy soil and splashing water onto the leaves.

Harvesting Organic Hungarian Paste Tomatoes

Tomatoes are ready to harvest when fully red with no green left on the fruit. Gently twist a single fruit off the stem or prune off a cluster. Hungarian Paste is an indeterminate variety and will have fruit ready to harvest throughout the season. The harvest can last 2-4 months, depending on the growing zone. Harvest the red tomatoes promptly to encourage more fruit to set on and ripen.

About Organic Hungarian Paste Tomato Garden Seeds

Hungarian Paste tomatoes are shaped similar to a classic Roma tomato but have a more robust texture and flavor that gardeners and cooks love. They heavily produce these delicious fruits right up until the frost. These fruits tend to store very well for a tomato. Keep them in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them.

Indeterminate variety tomatoes need more structural support than determinate tomatoes. Indeterminates will continue to grow and produce fruit all season long until the frost kills them. This allows for a longer harvest, but they require more support as they age and begin to act more like a vine than a bush. There are many solutions to finding the right support system, but popular choices include stacking tomato cages and the string and post method.

It is usually easy for tomato plants to get pollinated with wind and natural pollinators. However, if you want to be extra sure, they can be hand pollinated with a paintbrush or cotton swab.

Organic Hungarian Paste tomatoes are recommended for field and garden plot growing. They produce good yields of top-quality pear-shaped tomatoes that are excellent for making sauces. The fruits develop in clusters of 3-4 tomatoes.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Remember that it is normal to have some leaves die. As long as you don’t see damage on new or green leaves, leaf dieback is a natural part of the tomato’s life. Simply remove any dead or dying leaves to prevent rot and enhance the appearance of the plant."

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Guide to Tomatoes

Organic Hungarian Paste Tomato Seeds Per Package:

• Approximately 25 Seeds per packet

Non-GMO Organic Hungarian Paste Tomato seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.