How to Grow Avalon Red

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Avalon Red

Solanum lycopersicum 'Avalon Red'

vegetable

Avalon Red is a disease-resistant heirloom tomato variety known for its deep red color, excellent flavor, and reliable performance in challenging growing conditions. Developed by Cornell University, it combines traditional taste with modern disease resistance to early blight and late blight. This indeterminate variety produces medium-sized, flavorful fruits throughout the season.

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Example Avalon Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Avalon Red
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Avalon Red
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

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

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Water: Consistent moisture, approximately 1-2 inches per week. Water deeply at the base to keep foliage dry and reduce disease pressure. Avoid overhead watering. More frequent watering needed during hot spells and fruit development.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant to first ripe fruit

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Planting depth: Plant transplants deeply, burying stem up to first true leaves (6-8 inches deep). Direct seed 0.25 inches deep.

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure (2-3 inches worked in) Balanced fertilizer (5-10-10 or similar) Bone meal for phosphorus Calcium source (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 4-10, particularly valuable in regions with humid summers (zones 5-8)

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with cotyledons, developing first true leaves. Stems are thin and delicate.

Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights), maintain 70-75°F, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Thin to strongest seedling if direct seeded.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks indoors, or until transplant size

Rapid stem and leaf development with 4-6 true leaves. Plant becomes bushy and robust. No flowers yet.

Gradually harden off transplants over 7-10 days before planting. Ensure adequate light to prevent leggy growth. Begin fertilizing weekly with diluted balanced fertilizer once true leaves appear.

Flowering & Early Fruit Set

4-5 weeks

Yellow flower clusters appear in leaf axils. Small green fruits develop after flowers are pollinated. Plant continues vertical growth.

Install support system (cages, stakes, or strings) early. Begin weekly fertilization with lower nitrogen formula (5-10-10). Ensure consistent watering and full sun. Prune suckers on indeterminate varieties to direct energy to main stems and fruit.

Fruit Development & Ripening

3-4 weeks per fruit set

Fruits enlarge, change from green to pink to deep red. Multiple trusses produce fruit simultaneously. Plant reaches full height.

Maintain consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Continue pruning suckers. Provide adequate ventilation around foliage. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage ripening rather than more leaf growth.

Harvest & Extended Production

6-8+ weeks until frost

Fruits reach full red color and develop characteristic flavor. Indeterminate varieties continue producing new flowers and fruit throughout season.

Harvest when fully red at stem end. Continue watering and light fertilizing to support ongoing production. Remove lower diseased leaves as needed. Late season, remove flower clusters 4-6 weeks before first frost to redirect energy to ripening existing fruit.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Marigold Borage Carrot Onion Garlic Cucumber Bean

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Potato (fungal disease risk) Walnut trees

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for early infestations; encourage parasitic wasps
Avalon Red has good resistance, but preventive measures include removing lower leaves, improving air circulation, avoiding overhead watering, applying sulfur or copper fungicides, mulching to prevent soil splash
Avalon Red shows strong resistance; still maintain good air circulation, avoid overhead watering, remove infected foliage promptly, apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicides if needed
Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps; encourage beneficial insects
Increase humidity and air circulation; spray with water; use miticide or neem oil if severe
Maintain consistent soil moisture; ensure adequate calcium; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen; apply gypsum or crushed eggshells

Uses

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Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

Avalon Red offers excellent flavor for fresh consumption with balanced sweetness and acidity. The reliable, consistent quality makes it ideal for slicing into salads and enjoying ripe. [source]

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Sauces and preserves

Culinary

The dense flesh and rich flavor profile make Avalon Red suitable for tomato sauces, salsas, and homemade preserves. Its disease resistance means cleaner, pesticide-minimal harvest. [source]

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Nutritional benefits and antioxidants

Medicinal

Rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and cancer prevention. Deep red color indicates high antioxidant content. [source]

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Disease resistance breeding

Household

Avalon Red was bred specifically for disease resistance to early and late blight, making it valuable for organic growers and humid climates. Its genetics represent important advances in disease-resistant crop development. [source]

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Seed saving

Craft

As a hybrid or open-pollinated variety depending on source, Avalon Red can be grown for seed saving. The deep red color and reliable fruiting make it rewarding for home seed production and selection. [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 they are fully red throughout. For best flavor, allow tomatoes to develop full color on the vine. In late season, harvest at the 'breaker stage' (just beginning to blush) and ripen indoors if frost threatens. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Avalon Red develops excellent flavor with full ripeness and benefits from warm temperatures during ripening.

Fun Facts

🌱 Avalon Red was developed by Cornell University's breeding program specifically to combine heirloom flavor with modern disease resistance, addressing the major challenge of growing traditional tomatoes in humid, disease-prone regions.
🌱 The name 'Avalon' references the legendary Isle of Avalon from Arthurian legend, evoking the idea of finding the 'perfect' tomato variety.
🌱 Indeterminate varieties like Avalon Red can continue producing fruit until frost kills the plant, potentially yielding 50+ pounds of fruit per plant in favorable conditions.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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