How to Grow Arcadia Tomato
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Arcadia Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Arcadia'
vegetableArcadia is a determinate paste tomato variety bred for disease resistance and high yield. It produces medium-sized, roma-type fruits ideal for sauce, paste, and canning. The plant is compact and disease-resistant, making it popular for both home and commercial growers.
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Example Arcadia Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Arcadia Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Arcadia Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Arcadia Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; best in zones 5-9 with full summer sun
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings with first cotyledon and true leaves emerging. Plant is 2-4 inches tall.
Maintain warm temperatures (70-75°F), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, provide bright light or grow lights 2-3 inches above plants. Avoid damping off with good air circulation.
Vegetative/Growth
3-4 weeksPlant becomes bushy with multiple sets of compound leaves. Height reaches 12-24 inches before flowering. Arcadia is determinate, so growth is more compact than indeterminate varieties.
Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting. Plant deeply in garden soil to encourage strong roots. Water consistently. Begin light fertilizing once established. Support with stakes or cages early.
Flowering
2-3 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters (trusses) along the stem. Flowers are small and self-fertile. Plant may reach maximum height of 3-4 feet.
Maintain consistent watering to prevent flower drop. Apply balanced or slightly lower-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage fruiting. Ensure adequate sunlight and air circulation. Remove lower leaves once flowering begins to improve air flow.
Fruiting
3-4 weeksSmall green fruits develop where flowers were. Fruits grow to medium roma size (2-3 inches long, 1-2 inches wide), turning pink then red as they mature. Multiple trusses ripen over 2-3 week period.
Continue consistent watering; fluctuations cause cracking and blossom-end rot. Provide calcium sources (gypsum, lime). Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to redirect energy to fruit. Prune excessive foliage carefully to prevent sunscald while maintaining some leaf coverage.
Harvest
3-4 weeks peak harvestFruits reach full red color and slight give when gently squeezed. As determinate, plants produce major crop within 2-3 week window, then decline.
Pick fruits at 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) to allow continued ripening on vine. Hand-pick carefully to avoid damaging plant and remaining fruit. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. End-of-season green tomatoes can be ripened indoors.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick larvae, encourage parasitic wasps, apply Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for severe infestations
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, increase air circulation
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Spray water mist to dislodge, apply neem oil, use sulfur dust, maintain humidity
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Plant resistant varieties like Arcadia, practice crop rotation, avoid overhead watering, remove infected plants
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Remove lower leaves, improve air circulation, apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil, water at soil level only
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Remove affected leaves, apply fungicide, increase spacing for air flow, avoid wetting foliage
Uses
Sauce & Paste Making
CulinaryArcadia's high solids content and meaty texture make it ideal for tomato sauce, paste, and canning. The concentrated flavor and low seed content are perfect for processed tomato products. [source]
Fresh Cooking
CulinaryWhile bred for processing, Arcadia tomatoes can be used fresh in cooked dishes, soups, and stews. Their firm texture holds up well to cooking. [source]
Canning & Preservation
CulinaryThe determinate ripening pattern and uniform fruit size make Arcadia excellent for home canning. The low water content reduces cooking time for sauces. [source]
Lycopene & Antioxidants
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with cardiovascular and prostate health. Cooking tomatoes increases bioavailability of lycopene. [source]
Kitchen Staple
HouseholdAs a reliable producer of uniform, disease-resistant fruits, Arcadia serves as a dependable homegrown source for year-round culinary needs when preserved. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Arcadia produces a concentrated set of fruits typical of determinate varieties. Harvest when fruits are fully red and slightly soft. Pick regularly to encourage continued production on later clusters. Can harvest at breaker stage and ripen indoors. All fruits typically mature within 2-3 weeks. Ideal for canning and sauce production due to high solids content.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Arcadia was bred for disease resistance, particularly to Fusarium wilt and Verticillium wilt, making it one of the most reliable paste tomatoes for disease-prone regions.
- 🌱 As a determinate variety, Arcadia produces most of its crop within a narrow 2-3 week window, making it perfect for canning projects where you need large amounts of ripe fruit simultaneously.
- 🌱 The name 'Arcadia' invokes the ancient Greek region associated with pastoral simplicity and harmony—fitting for a tomato bred to thrive with minimal fuss in home gardens.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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