DESCRIPTION
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The Yellow Plum Tomato (Solanum lycopersicon) has been said to make a great slicer tomato. In general, plum tomatoes are often used for making sauces, and the Yellow plum tomato is no different, producing bright sauces with excellent texture and flavor!
The Yellow Plum Tomato is best grown in hardiness zones 3-14. The soil must be between 75-90° F in order for the plant to germinate. If sowing outdoors, wait till nighttime temperature are at or above 60° F until you start. You may be able to get a second harvest the following year.
Indeterminate plants mean that they have a vine growing habit. This means you need a trellis of some kind, but no worries, trellises are easy to come by. Even a functioning or old chain-link fence works great as a trellis. Sometimes this tomato can grow up to 12 feet tall!
Sowing: Sow tomatoes indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Keep soil at 75° F. Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. Or sow outdoors well after the last frost date when nighttime temperatures have stayed 60° F and above for two weeks, which is also the indicator to begin the transplanting process as well.
Transplanting: If sown indoors, harden off your plants for a period of two weeks before transplanting. Without hardening off, your plants may die from "transplant shock." Make sure you plant in an area that hasn't grown peppers, eggplant, potatoes, or other tomatoes for the last two years. Plant deeply, covering the roots and stem up to the first set of leaves.
Soil Preference: Keep soil warm and moist! Water a lot just after transplanting and maintain a moist but not soggy consistency. Make sure your soil has good drainage and won't be likely to accumulate standing water at the base of the plant.
Other Tips: Mulches can help keeps weeds down and maintain even soil temperatures, which contribute to a healthy plentiful garden plant. Yellow Plum Tomatoes require a trellis system of some kind. Simple cages and box trellises work just great!
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ATTRIBUTES
Basic Info
Latin Name: |
Solanum lycopersicum (Previously Lycopersicon esculentum, however this name is no longer accepted as correct)
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Tomato Type: |
Salad - Medium round tomatoes golf ball to tennis ball sized. |
Yellow Plum Tomato Color: |
Yellow |
Yellow Plum Tomato Flavor: |
Mild, sweet |
Growing Info
Hardiness Zone: |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual: Not intended to overwinter |
Days to Maturity: |
70 (from transplant) |
Days to Germination: |
7-10 |
Seeding Depth: |
0.25 inch |
Plant Spacing: |
24-36 inches |
Row Spacing: |
36 inches |
Plant Height: |
36-96 inches |
Growth Habit: |
Indeterminate - Indeterminate tomatoes are vine-type plants that sprawl (requiring a cage or trellis to support them) and continue to grow throughout the season. Indeterminate tomato plants will continue to produce tomatoes for the rest of the season, so you can harvest continually. |
Soil Preference: |
Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting. Tomatoes like more phosphorus and potassium than other vegetables. |
Temperature Preference: |
Warmer (70-85 F) |
Light Preference: |
Full Sun |
Other
Direct Sow: |
No |
Start Indoors: |
Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. |
Plant Width: |
24 inches |
Plant Spread: |
24 inches |
Growth Speed: |
Mid - Ready to harvest 70 to 80 days from transplant. Tricky to get a tomato by the 4th of July with these varieties. They are good mid-summer producers for most USDA Zones. |
Germination Temperature: |
65-85 F |
Pests and Diseases: |
Common pests known to harm tomato plants, in general, include the tomato hornworm, cutworm, aphids, flea beetles, tomato fruit worms, and whiteflies. Also, watch for common diseases such as blossom end rot, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, late blight, bacterial canker/spot, and tobacco mosaic virus. Most of these can be prevented by maintaining a regular watering schedule and avoiding overwatering. Regularly check your plants for pest damage throughout the season. For treating pest and disease problems, we recommend using an organic neem-based product. |
Garden Size: |
Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed |
Tomato Use: |
Salads, fresh eating, small slicing, sauces |