How to Grow Amish Paste Tomato

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Amish Paste Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Amish Paste'

vegetable

Amish Paste is a determinate paste tomato variety prized for its meaty, low-seed flesh and exceptional flavor, making it ideal for sauces, pastes, and canning. This heirloom cultivar produces medium-sized, oval to pear-shaped fruits with deep red coloring and rich tomato taste. It is a reliable, disease-resistant choice favored by home gardeners and small farmers alike.

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Example Amish Paste Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Amish Paste Tomato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Amish Paste Tomato
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Amish Paste Tomato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours preferred for best flavor)

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Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week. Avoid wetting foliage to reduce disease. Maintain even soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot. Reduce watering as fruit matures.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days

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Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplants buried up to first true leaves

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Peat moss or coco coir Bone meal for phosphorus Balanced organic fertilizer (5-5-5)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-9; excellent production in zones 4-8

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

4-6 weeks

Tiny plants with 2-4 true leaves, delicate and pale green

Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain 65-75°F. Thin seedlings to prevent crowding.

Transplant Hardening & Planting

1 week transition

Stocky 6-8 inch tall seedlings with 6-8 true leaves ready for outdoor conditions

Gradually expose to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Bury stem up to first true leaves to develop stronger root systems. Space 24 inches apart.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops robust foliage and stems, producing multiple lateral branches with dark green leaves

Water consistently; prune lower branches once plant is 12+ inches tall. Support with cages or stakes. Side-dress with compost mid-season. Monitor for early blight.

Flowering & Fruit Set

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; small green fruit begins developing behind flowers

Maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom-end rot. Continue support. Avoid excessive nitrogen. Ensure pollination (wind and insects). Remove suckers on determinate varieties cautiously.

Fruiting & Maturation

3-4 weeks to harvest-ready

Fruits swell and gradually turn from green to red/deep crimson; plant concentrates energy on ripening

Reduce watering slightly as fruit colors up to concentrate sugars. Harvest when fully colored. Determinate varieties produce bulk crop at once. Maintain disease management.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Borage

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Dill Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Potato Walnut trees

Common Pests

Hand-pick immediately upon spotting. Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray. Encourage parasitic wasps. Inspect plants daily.
Remove infected lower leaves promptly. Improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash. Apply copper fungicide or sulfur. Crop rotation essential.
Remove affected foliage immediately. Apply copper- or sulfur-based fungicides. Ensure good drainage and air circulation. Avoid overhead watering.
Spray leaves with strong water stream. Apply neem oil or sulfur. Increase humidity. Use miticides only if severe infestation.
Use yellow sticky traps. Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage beneficial insects. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Maintain consistent, even watering. Mulch to stabilize moisture. Add calcium (crushed eggshells, lime). Avoid excessive nitrogen.

Uses

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Sauce & Paste Production

Culinary

Amish Paste's meaty flesh with few seeds makes it exceptionally well-suited for homemade tomato sauce, paste, and canned preserves. Its low water content reduces cooking time and produces a rich, concentrated product. [source]

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Fresh Cooking & Pizza

Culinary

The rich, complex flavor profile and firm texture make Amish Paste excellent for fresh dishes, sandwiches, salsas, and pizzas. Its density prevents sogginess in cooked dishes. [source]

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Food Preservation & Canning

Household

This variety is a canning classic, producing high-acid, thick-textured juice perfect for USDA-approved canning recipes. Its large harvest and uniform ripening make batch processing efficient. [source]

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Drying & Sun-Drying

Culinary

The low-moisture, meaty flesh dries evenly and produces flavorful sun-dried tomatoes for storage and later use in oils, marinades, and dishes. [source]

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Lycopene & Antioxidant Content

Medicinal

Like all red tomatoes, Amish Paste contains high levels of lycopene and other beneficial antioxidants, particularly when cooked, supporting cardiovascular health and disease prevention. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Pick fruits when fully colored deep red but still slightly soft to the touch—they are sweetest at full ripeness. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. For paste/canning, wait until fruits are fully mature. Determinate varieties produce most of their crop within 2-3 weeks; plan harvest timing accordingly. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight; never refrigerate until fully ripe, as cold damages flavor.

Fun Facts

🌱 Amish Paste originated among Amish farming communities in Pennsylvania and Ohio, where it has been saved and replanted for generations as a reliable heirloom variety.
🌱 Its determinate growth habit means it produces most of its fruit at once—ideal for canning day—rather than a long season of scattered harvests.
🌱 The variety is notably cold-hardy and disease-resistant compared to many modern hybrids, reflecting generations of adaptation to northern climates and organic farming practices.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Compost Cultivar Full Sun Heirloom Pollination Sucker True Leaves

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