How to Grow Amulet Tomato

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Amulet Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Amulet'

vegetable

Amulet is a determinate hybrid tomato variety bred for disease resistance and reliability in challenging growing conditions. It produces medium-sized, round red fruits with excellent flavor and keeps well after harvest. This variety is particularly valued for its resistance to late blight and other common tomato diseases.

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

Plant Amulet Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Amulet Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours minimum daily (8+ hours preferred)

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Water: Consistent moisture; 1-2 inches per week depending on rainfall and heat. Water deeply and evenly at soil level to prevent disease. Avoid overhead watering. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate temperature.

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Spacing: 24-36 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant

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Planting depth: 0.25 inches for seeds; plant transplants deeply (up to first true leaves) to encourage strong root systems

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost aged manure perlite for drainage calcium (gypsum or crushed eggshells to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

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Zones 3-9; can be grown almost anywhere as an annual

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling (0-3 weeks)

2-3 weeks

Seed germinates and develops first true leaves. Plant is small and delicate with thin stems.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily. Maintain temperature of 70-75°F. Thin crowded seedlings.

Vegetative Growth (3-6 weeks after planting)

3-4 weeks

Rapid foliage development with multiple sets of compound leaves. Plant grows bushy and establishes strong root system.

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions. Begin fertilizing with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Support tall seedlings with stakes. Plant outdoors after last frost danger passes.

Flowering (3-4 weeks after transplanting)

3-4 weeks

Plant develops flower clusters (inflorescences) along the main stem and branches. Yellow flowers appear in groups of 3-6.

Ensure consistent watering and avoid nitrogen overload, which promotes foliage at expense of flowers. Provide support structure or cages. Mulch around base. Begin weekly balanced or low-nitrogen fertilizer.

Fruiting (4-8 weeks after flowering)

6-8 weeks

Fruit sets and develops from pollinated flowers. Fruits grow to medium size (150-250g) and begin color change from green to red over 20-30 days.

Maintain consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Continue support structure. Prune lower leaves once first fruits set to improve air circulation and disease prevention. Feed with phosphorus-rich fertilizer (promotes fruiting).

Maturation & Harvest (8-10 weeks after flowering)

2-3 weeks (can extend with continued harvesting)

Fruits reach full mature red color, become slightly soft when gently squeezed, and develop full sugars and flavor.

Begin harvesting fruits at breaker stage (first blush of color) to encourage continued production. Continue watering but reduce slightly to concentrate sugars. Harvest regularly to promote further flowering.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil parsley carrot onion garlic marigold nasturtium borage radish

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel potatoes corn kohlrabi dill

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for smaller larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; plant dill and basil nearby
Remove infected lower leaves; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide; water only at soil level; ensure good air circulation
Spray forcefully with water to dislodge; use neem oil; increase humidity; release predatory mites
Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil; encourage natural predators; reflective mulches deter adults
Remove infected leaves immediately; avoid overhead irrigation; apply sulfur or copper fungicide; increase air circulation

Uses

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Fresh Slicing & Sandwiches

Culinary

Amulet's medium size and balanced sweet-acid flavor make it ideal for slicing fresh into salads, sandwiches, and summer dishes. The firm flesh holds up well and provides excellent taste straight from the garden. [source]

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Cooking & Sauce Making

Culinary

The firm, meaty texture and good sugar content make Amulet suitable for cooking down into sauces, soups, and stews. The lower water content relative to some varieties means sauces reduce efficiently. [source]

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Lycopene & Antioxidant Source

Medicinal

Ripe red tomatoes like Amulet are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant with potential cardiovascular and anti-cancer properties. Lycopene bioavailability increases when tomatoes are cooked with healthy fats. [source]

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Storage & Preservation

Household

Amulet's good shelf life and firm texture make it excellent for canning, freezing, and short-term storage. The variety holds quality well compared to softer slicing varieties. [source]

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Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting overall garden ecosystem health and ensuring good fruit set. [source]

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

Harvest Tips

Amulet fruits can be harvested at the breaker stage (first color change from green to red) and will continue ripening off the vine, or left on the plant for fully developed flavor. Pick fruits every 2-3 days during peak season to encourage continued production. Fruits store well and have good shelf life. In late season, harvest all remaining fruits before frost and ripen indoors.

Fun Facts

🌱 The name 'Amulet' reflects the variety's role as a protective charm against late blight and other tomato diseases, which have devastated crops throughout history.
🌱 Amulet is a determinate (bush) variety that concentrates ripening, making it ideal for canning operations and preserving, unlike indeterminate varieties that produce continuously until frost.
🌱 Tomatoes were domesticated in Mesoamerica over 5,000 years ago but weren't widely cultivated in Europe until the 16th century, when they were initially thought to be poisonous.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid Mulch pH True Leaves

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