DESCRIPTION
Tomato Seeds - Momotaro - Hybrid
Mature pink fruits have green shoulders, weigh about 1/2 lb each and are tolerant to cracking. It has a long shelf life and is a good choice for shipping. Excellent choice for fresh market and home gardening. Resistant to verticillium, fusarium 1, nematodes, Tm-1 and stemphylium. Cultivation: Start seeds inside 6 weeks before last frost date (or 8 weeks before expected transplanting date). Keep soil warm until emergence (75-80°F minimum). Seeds will not germinate in cool soil and planting out too early may affect plant vigor. Harden off plants carefully before transplanting. Prepare fertile, well-drained soil. Transplant in late spring/summer (soil temperatures at least above 60°F) in a warm and sunny location. Plant so that soil level is just below the lowest leaves. Train to a vertical support. Too much nitrogen will produce lush foliage and few fruits. Momotaro varieties do not like daytime temperatures above 86F and poor fruit setting will result. Temperatures above 95F most pollen die and flowers will abort. (Points for successful production) Making healthy seedlings is very important and stressed seedlings do not produce good yields. Transplanting of very young seedlings causes excessive vegetative growth. Prepare fresh or cooked. Use in stir-fries, soup or salad.
ATTRIBUTES
Basic Info
Latin Name: |
Solanum lycopersicum (Previously Lycopersicon esculentum, however this name is no longer accepted as correct)
|
Tomato Type: |
Slicing - Larger, round tomatoes, the size of your fist or larger. |
Momotaro Hybrid Tomato Color: |
Red |
Momotaro Hybrid Tomato Flavor: |
Sweet |
Growing Info
Hardiness Zone: |
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual: Not intended to overwinter |
Days to Maturity: |
60 (from transplant) |
Days to Germination: |
7-10 |
Seeding Depth: |
0.25 inch |
Plant Spacing: |
18-20 inches |
Row Spacing: |
36 inches |
Plant Height: |
48-60 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 7-9 weeks before your last spring frost date. |
Plant Width: |
24 inches |
Plant Spread: |
24 inches |
Growth Speed: |
Early - Ready for harvest from about 60 to 69 days (or less, depending on variety) from transplant to harvest. Including time for indoor seed starts, this can range to about 130 days (or less depending on the variety) from sowing the seed to harvest. To have a tomato by the 4th of July, you would have to start seeds indoors from mid to late February and transplant by mid-April at the latest. |
Germination Temperature: |
65-85 F |
Pests and Diseases: |
Resistant to Bacterial Wilt, Fusarium Wilt, Fusarium Wilt 1, Fusarium Wilt 2, Gray Leaf Spot, Root Knot Nematode, Tomato Mosaic Virus, and Verticillium Wilt. 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, slicing |
Climate Tolerance: |
Heat |