How to Grow Colrain Red
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Colrain Red
Solanum lycopersicum 'Colrain Red'
vegetableColrain Red is a determinate paste tomato variety bred at the University of Massachusetts for disease resistance and organic production. It produces medium-sized, oblong fruits ideal for sauce-making and canning. The plants are compact and relatively early-maturing compared to other paste varieties.
When should you plant Colrain Red in your zone?
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Example Colrain Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Colrain Red
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 Colrain Red
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Colrain Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 4-8; cold-hardy and ideal for northern climates with shorter seasons
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Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves; fragile with thin stems
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily indoors), maintain soil moisture, thin to strongest seedlings, avoid overwatering to prevent damping-off disease
Vegetative
4-5 weeksBushy determinate plants 18-24 inches tall with vigorous foliage development; multiple stems visible
Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting; pinch early side shoots if desired; maintain consistent watering and fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer; stake or cage plants early
Flowering
3-4 weeksClusters of small yellow flowers appear in the leaf axils; plants reach full height; determinate growth habit means flowering occurs throughout plant
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer and shift to higher phosphorus/potassium ratio to encourage fruiting; maintain consistent water to prevent flower drop; ensure adequate pollination through air circulation or gentle shaking
Fruiting
3-4 weeksSmall green oblong fruits develop and gradually ripen to deep red; paste tomatoes are meaty with fewer seeds than slicing varieties
Maintain steady watering as inconsistency causes cracking and blossom-end rot; provide mulch to regulate soil moisture; prune excessive foliage only if fruit shading causes splitting; support branches with heavy fruit
Harvest
2-3 weeks until frostFully ripe fruits are deep red, firm, and easily detach from vine; paste tomatoes are concentrated and ideal for processing
Harvest regularly to encourage continued production; pick at breaker stage (first blush of color) if frost threatens; allow final fruit to ripen on vine before first frost or harvest green and ripen indoors
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, neem oil
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Remove infected leaves immediately, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide, mulch to prevent soil splash
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Remove lower infected leaves, improve spacing for airflow, apply sulfur or copper-based fungicides weekly, use resistant varieties
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Strong water spray, reflective mulch, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings
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Increase humidity and water spray on foliage, neem oil, sulfur dust, predatory mites
Uses
Sauce & Canning
CulinaryColrain Red is a paste tomato with meaty flesh, few seeds, and concentrated flavor ideal for making tomato sauce, paste, and canning. The determinate harvest makes processing efficient. [source]
Fresh Cooking
CulinaryWhile primarily a paste variety, the fruits can be used fresh in salads, sandwiches, and cooked dishes. The dense flesh makes them less watery than slicing tomatoes. [source]
Lycopene Rich
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced risk of certain diseases. Cooked tomatoes release more bioavailable lycopene than raw. [source]
Cold-Hardy Variety
HouseholdBred for northern climates and disease resistance, Colrain Red thrives where other tomatoes struggle, making it valuable for short-season gardening. Its resistance reduces fungicide applications. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators throughout the flowering season. A healthy tomato patch supports beneficial insects. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Colrain Red produces determinately, meaning most fruit ripens within a concentrated window (2-3 weeks). Harvest when fully red and slightly soft to the touch; they detach easily when ripe. For sauce production, harvest at full maturity for maximum flavor concentration. Can harvest at breaker stage in late season and ripen indoors if frost is imminent. Peak harvest typically occurs 70-80 days after transplanting.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Colrain Red was developed at UMass Amherst specifically for northern, cold-climate growing regions and disease resistance in organic production systems.
- 🌱 Paste tomatoes like Colrain Red are naturally lower in water content and higher in solids than slicing tomatoes, making them ideal for sauces without hours of reduction cooking.
- 🌱 The determinate growth habit means all fruit ripens within a concentrated 2-3 week window, making this variety perfect for harvest festivals, canning operations, and farmers who want bulk processing rather than continuous picking.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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