How to Grow Burpee's Golden

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Burpee's Golden

Solanum lycopersicum 'Burpee's Golden'

vegetable

Burpee's Golden is a classic mid-sized heirloom tomato producing golden-yellow fruits with a sweet, mild flavor and low acidity. These determinate to semi-determinate plants are prolific producers, ideal for fresh eating, sauces, and salads. The distinctive golden color makes them visually striking in the garden and on the plate.

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Example Burpee's Golden timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Burpee's Golden
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Burpee's Golden
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Burpee's Golden dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours optimal for best flavor

💧

Water: Consistent moisture of 1-1.5 inches per week; water deeply at soil level to avoid fungal diseases. Water more frequently in hot weather and reduce in cool, wet periods.

📏

Spacing: 24-36 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: 0.25 inches 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 Balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) Calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-10; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a 10b

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves, 2-4 inches tall

Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, maintain 70-75°F temperature, thin to strongest seedlings

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks after transplanting

Vigorous branching plants developing leaves and stems, reaching 12-24 inches before flowering

Harden off seedlings before transplanting, support with stakes or cages early, pinch off lower leaves as plant grows, apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks

Flowering

2-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; plants continue growing and branching

Maintain consistent watering and warmth (65-75°F nights), apply low-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage fruiting, avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen, hand-pollinate flowers if needed by shaking gently

Fruit Development & Ripening

3-4 weeks

Small green fruits develop, gradually enlarging and turning golden-yellow; plants may reach 3-4 feet tall

Continue deep watering at soil level, mulch around base, prune suckers on determinate types for larger fruits, maintain consistent moisture to prevent cracking, reduce watering slightly as fruits ripen

Harvest

Ongoing, 6-10 weeks of production

Fully ripe golden-yellow fruits ready for picking; plants may continue producing smaller fruits

Pick fully ripe fruits for best sweetness; can pick at pink stage and ripen indoors if needed, continue harvesting to encourage more production, remove diseased leaves promptly

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Parsley Marigold Nasturtium Borage Garlic Onion

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Dill Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) Potato Walnut

Common Pests

Hand-pick in early morning, use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), encourage parasitic wasps, plant dill or parsley nearby
Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, reflective mulches, yellow sticky traps, increase air circulation
Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings
Remove lower leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, prune suckers, apply copper fungicide preventatively
Remove infected leaves and plants, avoid overhead watering, apply fungicide if needed, ensure good air flow, plant resistant varieties nearby
Increase humidity, spray water on foliage, neem oil, insecticidal soap, encourage predatory mites

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

The mild, sweet golden-yellow flesh is perfect for fresh salads, sandwiches, and platters. Low acidity makes it pleasant for those sensitive to acidic tomatoes. [source]

🍳

Sauces and preserves

Culinary

Makes beautifully colored golden tomato sauce, salsa, and preserves with a naturally sweet flavor profile. The tender skin sloughs easily when blanched for sauce-making. [source]

🍳

Ornamental and visual appeal

Culinary

The striking golden color makes these tomatoes decorative in the garden and on serving platters, adding visual interest to salads and dishes. Often grown as much for appearance as flavor. [source]

💊

Lycopene and antioxidants

Medicinal

While lower in lycopene than red varieties, golden tomatoes contain valuable carotenoids, vitamin C, and antioxidants supporting overall health. The moderate acid content is gentler on sensitive digestive systems. [source]

🦋

Pollinator and wildlife support

Wildlife

Yellow flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Overripe fallen fruits provide food for birds and beneficial insects, supporting garden ecology. [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 tomatoes when fully golden-yellow and slightly soft to the touch, typically 70-85 days after transplanting. Twist gently and pull from the vine; fruits will continue to ripen after harvest if picked at the breaker stage (first blush of color). For maximum sweetness, allow fruits to fully ripen on the vine. A single plant can produce 15-25 pounds of fruit over the season.

Fun Facts

🌱 Burpee's Golden was introduced by the W. Atlee Burpee Company, a legendary American seed company founded in 1876, making it a classic American heirloom with over a century of cultivation history.
🌱 The golden color comes from carotenoid pigments (lutein and beta-carotene), which are also found in carrots and sweet potatoes; fully ripe golden tomatoes are sweeter and less acidic than red varieties due to their composition.
🌱 This variety is heat-tolerant and produces well even in hot summers, making it an excellent choice for gardeners in warmer climates who struggle with sun-scalded red tomatoes.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Mulch Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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