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Tomato

Gold Nugget, Sweetie, Cuore di Bue, Stupice

Solanaceae

Spacing1 per sq ft
Days to Harvest65d
Expected Yield10-15 lb per plant (indeterminates)

Tomato

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Variety History

Stupice (55 days) and Gold Nugget (56 days) are the earliest, recommended by WSU King County for Puget Sound. Sweetie (65 days) is a prolific cherry. Cuore di Bue (70 days) is an Italian sauce/paste heirloom.

Regional Context

Soil below 60 degree F stalls tomatoes permanently in the PNW. Mid-to-late May is usually safe for transplanting on Bainbridge. Cloches or walls-of-water buy two weeks. Start indoors now -- 6-8 weeks before transplant.

Growing Technique

Bury up to 6 inches of stem when transplanting -- strip lower leaves and plant deep, or trench-plant sideways. This roots plants along buried stem in warmer surface soil. Mulch heavily with straw. Water deeply at base 1-2x per week -- never overhead (wet foliage = blight). Prune suckers on indeterminate types weekly. Pinch top in mid-August so remaining fruit ripens. Harvest all fruit (even green) when night temps consistently drop below 50 degree F.

Watch For

  • Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) is the tomato killer in the PNW. Symptoms: brown spots on leaves, black stems, gray-brown fruit lesions. Spreads fast in wet weather. Prevention: airflow, mulch to prevent soil splash, water at base only, remove bottom leaves. If infected: pull and burn, do not compost.