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Growing Bradley Slicer Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden

Seven to nine weeks before the last spring frost, begin your tomato seeds indoors in seed starting trays. Use a well-draining potting or germinating mix to start the seeds; we recommend using Minute Soil Coco Coir. Plant two or three seeds per cell about a quarter inch deep and cover the seeds. Water them in gently to avoid washing the seeds away. Water regularly to keep the soil moist. As soon as one of the seedlings emerges (in 7-10 days), move the tray to a bright window or provide grow lights positioned a few inches above the tray. The seedlings should receive at least 8 hours of direct sunlight combined with 8-10 hours of darkness.

When the seedlings are 1-2 inches tall, thin the seedlings to just a single strong seedling per cell. Fertilize once they have two sets of true leaves. Transplant the seedlings into larger, 4 or 6-inch pots once their root systems have developed beyond the starting cell’s capacity, but at least a few weeks before they can be transplanted outdoors. Before planting them into your garden soil, the seedlings should be hardened off gradually to acclimate to the sunnier, windier conditions.

Transplant the seedlings into the garden once temperatures are consistently above 70 F. Protect the plants from cool weather; they are not cold-tolerant. Garden quilts, cloches, cold frames, or other protections can be used if cool weather is expected below 50 F. All tomato varieties need warmer conditions, full sun, and rich soil in order to thrive and develop fruit. Bradley tomatoes prefer loamy, well-drained soil and neutral to slightly acidic pH with added compost. Burying a calcium supplement in the soil beneath the seedlings at the time of transplantation discourages blossom end rot. Bury most of the stems to encourage more root development. Leave at least one good set of leaves at the top. Remove the lower leaves that can’t reach the sunlight or might be buried and any suckers growing in between fruit-bearing branches. Burying tomatoes deeply allows roots to develop from the stems. This is an ability tomatoes are able to do, but not many other plants. Fertilize with compost, worm castings, or another fertilizer when planting into the garden.

Prune the bush periodically throughout the season to remove suckers and bottom leaves. Tomatoes are highly sensitive to insufficient light and will not fruit if the light is too weak or short. Fertilize once more about mid-season. Be sure to water Bradley’s in the morning and focus the water at the base of the plant instead of an overhead spray. Water regularly to ensure proper nutrient uptake and avoidance of disease. Avoid soggy soil and splashing water onto the leaves.

Harvesting Bradley Slicer Tomatoes

Bradley is semi-determinate and will produce fruit continuously throughout the season. Pick the tomatoes as soon as they ripen to avoid overloading the plant and to encourage more fruit. They are best harvested off the vine when fully red and shiny but firm. Gently twist the tomato off the calyx or snip it loose if it won’t come on its own. If the plant is still producing and the fall frost is approaching, harvest all the tomatoes regardless of color, pull up the plant, and finish ripening the tomatoes off the vine indoors.

About Bradley Slicer Tomato Garden Seeds

Bred in 1961 by the University of Arkansas, Bradley is very rare and hard to find these days. It has an amazing, abundant production of rounded fruit that is red-skinned, juicy, resists cracking, and holds well on the plant. Excellent slicer.

Bradley is a short, bushy, semi-determinate tomato plant. Semi-determinate means that the bush grows to a set size like a determinate, but the fruit will continue to set on continuously like an indeterminate variety.

The flavor has been described as "very soft and sweet". Bradley will set fruit in the hot, humid south and has excellent disease resistance. It is an improved selection of the Gulf State market with the disease resistance of Fusarium.

Plant near asparagus, peppers, onions, cucumbers, basil, and marigold flowers for mutual benefits. Tomato fruits are best stored at 50-60 F if possible and will keep longer if they are not touching each other.

Tips From Our Gardeners

"Semi-determinate tomato plants are truly the best of both worlds. You get the compact size of the determinate with the high fruit yield of the indeterminate. Perfect for the apartment canner!"

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Other Resources

• Guide to Tomatoes

Bradley Slicer Tomato Seeds Per Package:

• 125 mg Packet - Approximately 33 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 7,500 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 30,000 Seeds

Non-GMO Bradley Slicer Tomato seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.