78 days. Solanum lycopersicum. Open Pollinated. Kewalo Tomato. The plant produces high yields of 6 to 8 oz red tomatoes. Perfect for sandwiches, salads, and slicing. This variety is suitable for tropical and sub-tropical regions, like Hawaii, where the disease is a serious problem. While it is well suited for the tropics, it is also well adapted to areas with high humidity and high temperatures. It is the only open-pollinated variety that has these disease-resistance characteristics for tropic regions. Perfect for container gardening, patios, or small gardens where space is very limited! An excellent choice for home gardens and market growers. This variety was developed by Dr. Jim Gilbert at the University of Hawaii, USA. Disease Resistant: N, BW, ToMV. Determinate.

Lot No: R

Germination: 85%

Test Date: 1223

Seeds Per Pound: 128,000

Plant Height: 48 to 60” tall

Planting Season: Spring

Sunlight Requirement: Full Sun

Planting Method: Indoor Sow

Tomato
Lycopersicon esculentum

Seed Depth

Soil Temp. for Germination

Days to Germination

Sunlight Requirements

Planting Time

1/4 to 1/2"

80 F to 85 F

7 to 14 days

Full Sun

Spring

USDA Hardiness Zone

Seed Spacing

Row Spacing

Space After Thinning

Days to Harvest

N/A

1"

48"

60 - 90 days

Tomato Seed Planting Information:

Tomato plants should be grown in a warm areas and receive plenty of sunlight, so choose a sunny spot in your garden. Relocate your tomato plants in different parts of your garden each year to avoid diseases. Optimum temperatures for growing tomatoes are between 80 and 85 degrees F. Plant your seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before setting outside. Use Miracle Gro Seed Starting Material for best germination results. We have tested other Seed Starting Mix and experienced poor germination rates. You may have to special order the Miracle Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix from your nursery, as it is hard to find it at many of the large home and garden centers. Do not add any soil, fertilizers, and other chemicals to seed starting material! Do not use jiffy peat pots, plugs, or potting soil, or cover the pots, as the soil may become too dry or too wet, which can lead to disease and fungus. Do not bottom water the seeds as this causes the seed starting material to become too wet and you will experience poor germination! We have experienced disease and low germination when using these types of products and covering the pots with plastic or covers. When seedlings are 4" tall, transplant them in larger pots. Plants should be at least 10" tall before transplanting outdoors. Place plants outdoors in shady area several days before transplanting outdoors. Shelter the transplants to prevent sunburn, wilting, and rain damage. Spring planting should occur when soil is warm, at least 3 weeks after last frost, and when temperatures remain above 70 degrees F. You can plant early if you use water towers. To prevent branches from breaking from the weight of tomatoes, use 5 to 6 ft tall cages. To tie plants to stakes, use soft strips of cloth. Check indeterminate plants regularly, and pinch off suckers and side branches where leaves join the stems. Plants can grow 1 to 6 ft tall.

Soil Requirements:

Requires fertile slightly acid soil in a well drained location in the garden. Apply mulch and grass clippings, or straw around base of plant. Work the soil thoroughly before planting. Add well-rotted manure and compost.

Water Requirements:

Keep soil consistently moist, but not waterlogged. Water well during dry and hot spells. Water in the morning only, on the side of the plants and not directly on the leaves.

Fertilizer Requirements:

Use RootBlast, Vegetable Alive, and Slow Release Fertilizer when transplanting outdoors. Apply Miracle Gro every two weeks.

Harvest Tips:

Harvest tomatoes when they are fully mature using a garden scissor so you don't damage the plant. Pick them as they mature to encourage new fruit to form. Remove any decayed tomatoes from the plant.

Tomato
Growing Calendar

Indoor Germination Temperature: 80 to 85 F
Minimum Outdoor Temperature: Above 70 F

Start Indoors Transplant Start Outdoors Start Indoors Fall Transplant Fall Start Outdoors Fall Multiple Crops

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Depth: ¼” to ½“

Days to Germination: 7 to 14 days

Plant Spacing: 48”

Row Spacing: 48”

Sunlight Requirement: Full sun

Days to Harvest after Planting Outdoors:
Early Season Tomato: 60 to 65 days
Mid-Season Tomato: 70 to 75 days
Late Season Tomato: 85 to 90 days

USDA Hardiness Zone: 2 to 11

BW - Bacterial Wilt

Scientific Name: Erwinia tracheiphila

Type: Bacterium

Bacterial Wilt is a disease that affects the growth of cantaloupes & melons, cucumbers, eggplants, gourds, pumpkins, squash, and tomatoes. Symptoms include wilting and drying of individual leaves. As the leaves wilt and shrivel, stems may dry out suddenly. Later, wilting spreads to entire branches and vines. Wilting will occur during the middle of the day during periods with high water stress. The vine may recover at night. Eventually, however, the entire vine will wither, collapse, and die. Bacterial wilt is spread from plant to plant through cucumber beetles that feed on cucumbers. The infected plants should be removed to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 3 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year. Use insecticides like Admire, Platinum, or Sevin in the spring, between April and June, before the cucumber beetles have a chance to lay eggs. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.

N – Root-Knot Nematode

Scientific Name: Meloidogyne spp.

Type: Parasites

Nematodes are soil dwelling parasites that feed on plant roots and affect cucumbers, okra, peppers, squash, and tomatoes. Symptoms include yellowing of the leaves, wilting, and stunting of the plant. The plant will have galled and decayed roots. Nematodes are most active when soil temperatures are 85 - 95 F and usually occur when the soil is moisture. Plan on using a 3 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year. Nematodes are most active in warm soils and they need water to thrive so take advantage of summer’s heat to wither them away. Withhold water from nematode infested areas of the garden and turn or till the soil every 7-10 days during the summer to expose nematodes to the drying effects of the sun. Proper tillage practices may be helpful in managing the disease. Certain types of marigolds work by excreting a substance that is damaging to nematodes as well as trapping them in their roots and preventing reproduction. Elbon rye is an effective nematode control that can be planted as a cool season cover crop that is turned under in early spring. The use of soil fumigants like Vapam has been helpful and a fungicide called Actinovate can also be helpful in managing the lowering of the nematode population. Using transparent plastic mulches for 4 to 6 weeks have been shown to kill nematodes. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.

ToMV – Tomato Mosaic Virus

Type: Virus - Tobamovirus

Tomato Mosaic Virus is a world-wide virus disease that affects the growth of peppers and tomatoes. Symptoms include dark green mottling or mosaic appearance on the leaves, yellowing of leaves, and stunting of the plant. The leaves tend to be fern-like and younger leaves may be twisted. The tomatoes will will be deformed and have yellow spots and the interior is brown. Infected plants usually wilt and die. It can cause significant yield loss and even total crops losses. It is a seed-borne virus and can be spread by farm equipment, workers, clothing, and contaminated tools. The disease can stay alive in dead plant material for long periods of time. The infected plants should be removed and destroyed to avoid further infestation. Plan on using a 2 year crop rotation and avoid planting in the same location, year after year, as the disease can survive in over winter on crop debris for 50 years. Keep your garden weed free. The best option is to use disease resistant varieties.