Tomato, Earl’s Red Beefsteak

A classic American, red tomato. Excellent, classic tomato flavor with a perfect balance of sweet and tart. Fruit are 3” diameter, fairly uniform and meaty but never mushy.

• Start tomato seeds inside at least 6 weeks before last frost (around 4/1).
• Ideal temperature for germination is 85° (use a heating mat).
• Days to germination: 5-14. Once leaves appear, grow plants at 72°.
• Plant seedlings outside late May into fertile garden soil (with lots of compost or decomposed manure) at a spacing of 18” apart.
• Stake tomato plants. Tomatoes are susceptible to several fungal diseases (including Early and Late Blight and Verticillium Wilt).
• To prevent blight, keep foliage dry by 1) Pruning tomato plants to allow for good air circulation 2) Water with drip irrigation/soaker hoses.
• Crop rotation is also key to preventing tomato diseases.
• Ideally, plant tomato plants in a spot that has not had any Solanaceae crops (tomato, peppers, eggplant, potatoes) growing there for 4 years.
• Frequent watering will help to minimize cracking of tomatoes.

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