How to Grow Crush
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Crush
Solanum lycopersicum 'Crush'
vegetableCrush is a determinate (bush-type) tomato variety bred specifically for disease resistance and crack tolerance. It produces medium-sized, flavorful red fruits that are ideal for fresh eating and sauce-making. The compact growth habit makes it excellent for containers and smaller garden spaces.
When should you plant Crush in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Crush timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Crush
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 Crush
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Crush dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; best performance in zones 5-9
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Get my Crush timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling (0-3 weeks)
2-3 weeksTwo cotyledons emerge, followed by first true leaves. Plant is small and delicate with thin stem.
Maintain soil moisture without waterlogging. Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily. Keep temperatures 70-75°F. Thin seedlings if overcrowded.
Vegetative Growth (3-6 weeks)
3-4 weeksPlant develops 4-6 true leaves and thickens stem. Robust foliage develops; plant ready for transplanting.
Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions (hardening off) over 7-10 days. Provide consistent moisture and balanced fertilizer. Begin staking or cage support.
Flowering & Early Fruiting (6-12 weeks)
4-6 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters. First flowers set fruit; small green tomatoes develop. Plant continues branching but in determinate pattern.
Provide support structure (cages or stakes). Reduce nitrogen fertilizer, increase phosphorus and potassium. Maintain even watering to prevent blossom-end rot. Remove lower leaves once flowering begins to improve air circulation.
Fruit Development & Maturation (12-18 weeks)
4-6 weeksTomatoes enlarge and begin color transition from green to pink to red. Plant reaches mature size and stops growing (determinate characteristic).
Mulch around base to regulate soil temperature and moisture. Prune sparingly to maintain foliage protection. Monitor for disease and pests. Reduce watering slightly as fruits mature.
Harvest & Decline (18+ weeks)
4-8 weeksRipe red tomatoes ready for harvest. Plant may show signs of fatigue; foliage may yellow.
Harvest when fully red and slightly soft. Continue harvesting to encourage more production. Remove diseased leaves promptly. Plant typically declines after 12-16 weeks of production.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps
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Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; improve air circulation
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Spray water to dislodge; use neem oil; increase humidity; introduce predatory mites
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Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; use copper fungicide if severe
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Remove infected plants; improve drainage; use chlorothalonil or copper-based fungicide; avoid overhead watering
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Maintain consistent watering; avoid nitrogen excess; add lime if soil pH is low
Uses
Fresh Eating & Salads
CulinaryCrush tomatoes have excellent flavor and crack-resistant skin, making them ideal for fresh slicing, chopped salads, and table consumption. Their medium size and balanced sweetness-acidity ratio provide superior taste. [source]
Sauce & Paste Production
CulinaryThe determinate growth habit means most fruits ripen simultaneously, perfect for sauce-making. High solids content and good acid balance make excellent marinara, salsa, and tomato paste. [source]
Canning & Preservation
CulinaryCrush's disease resistance and consistent fruit quality make it excellent for canning, freezing, and long-term storage. Low acidity requires proper canning procedures with added acid. [source]
Antioxidant-Rich Nutrition
MedicinalTomatoes, especially red varieties like Crush, contain lycopene and other polyphenols with potential cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits. Cooking increases lycopene bioavailability. [source]
Garden Production Efficiency
HouseholdAs a determinate, disease-resistant variety, Crush maximizes yield in limited space and requires less maintenance than indeterminate varieties, making it ideal for home gardeners with containers or small plots. [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 red and slightly soft to the touch. Crush tomatoes crack less than many varieties even with inconsistent watering, but are best harvested at peak ripeness for flavor. Twist gently and pull from vine, or cut with pruning shears. Tomatoes will continue ripening off the vine if picked at pink stage. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Best flavor when eaten at room temperature within 2-3 days of harvest.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The 'Crush' variety was specifically bred by Johnny's Selected Seeds to resist cracking and splitting—common frustrations with heirloom varieties—while maintaining excellent flavor quality.
- 🌱 As a determinate variety, all Crush tomatoes typically ripen within a 2-4 week window, making it perfect for simultaneous harvesting for canning or sauce-making, unlike indeterminate 'vining' types that produce fruit throughout the season.
- 🌱 Crush carries multiple disease resistance genes (VF, N resistance) that protect against verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and tobacco mosaic virus—making it a resilient choice in humid climates.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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