How to Grow December Red
Wikimedia Commons
December Red
Solanum lycopersicum 'December Red'
vegetableDecember Red is a determinate heirloom tomato variety known for its deep red color and excellent storage capability, making it ideal for late-season harvests. It produces medium-sized, flavorful fruits that can be harvested green and ripened indoors, extending your harvest well into winter. This cold-tolerant variety was developed to thrive in cooler climates and provide tomatoes when most other varieties have ceased production.
When should you plant December Red in your zone?
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Example December Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant December 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 December Red
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact December Red dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 4-9; particularly valuable in cooler zones for late-season production
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Seedling
3-4 weeksYoung plants with 2-4 true leaves, 2-4 inches tall
Provide bright light (14-16 hours), maintain soil moisture but not waterlogged, keep at 65-75°F. Thin to strongest seedling per cell
Vegetative
4-6 weeks after transplantBushy plant with multiple stems and dense foliage, 12-24 inches tall, no flowers yet
Harden off before transplanting outdoors. Plant deeply to encourage root development. Support with stakes or cages. Pinch off lower leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation
Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant produces small yellow flowers in clusters, continuing to grow determinately to full size
Ensure consistent watering and fertility. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks or use slow-release fertilizer at planting. Remove suckers on indeterminate plants (though December Red is determinate)
Fruiting
4-6 weeksSmall green fruits develop and enlarge to mature size (2-3 inch diameter), plant reaches full height of 3-4 feet
Maintain consistent moisture to prevent cracking. Fertilize with higher potassium formula to support fruit development. Remove any diseased leaves. Monitor for pests and diseases
Harvest/Ripening
Until frost or 3-4 weeks post-peak ripeningFruits turn deep red color; can harvest fully ripe or pick green fruit 1-2 weeks before first frost
December Red is exceptional for harvesting green fruit near season's end—pull entire plant before hard freeze and hang upside down, or pick individual fruits and ripen indoors at 68-72°F in dark location
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick regularly, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) if infestation severe
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Remove lower infected leaves, use yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap on leaf undersides
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Increase humidity, spray with water to dislodge, use miticide if severe, encourage predatory mites
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Remove lower leaves as preventative, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, use copper fungicide if needed
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Ensure excellent air circulation, avoid overhead watering, remove infected leaves immediately, apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicide
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryDecember Red offers excellent flavor suitable for fresh eating, slicing, sauces, and cooking. The deep red color indicates high lycopene content and the firm texture makes it ideal for fresh salsas and storage throughout winter months. [source]
Extended season harvest
CulinaryUnlike most tomato varieties that finish by mid-fall, December Red's cold tolerance and ability to ripen indoors allows harvesting fresh tomatoes well into December and beyond, providing homegrown tomatoes during months when they're otherwise unavailable. [source]
Winter storage and ripening
HouseholdGreen December Red tomatoes can be harvested before frost and ripened indoors, allowing you to store unripe fruit in a cool location and enjoy fresh tomatoes for weeks after the growing season ends. This is particularly valuable in northern climates. [source]
Sauce and preservation
CulinaryThe firm, meaty texture and high solids content make December Red excellent for canning, freezing, and making tomato sauces, pastes, and powders. The concentrated flavor develops well in cooked applications. [source]
Garden biodiversity
WildlifeTomato flowers attract pollinators including bees and beneficial insects, and the plant provides food and shelter for various garden creatures, supporting a healthy ecosystem. [source]
Harvest Tips
December Red is primarily harvested in late fall. Pick fruits when fully red for maximum flavor, or harvest green 1-2 weeks before the first hard frost. Green tomatoes will continue to ripen indoors at room temperature (68-72°F) in a dark location for 2-4 weeks. For extended winter storage, pick entire plant before frost, hang upside down in cool (50-70°F), dark location—fruits will gradually ripen over weeks. Handle carefully to avoid bruising which accelerates ripening and spoilage
Fun Facts
- 🌱 December Red was specifically bred by heirloom tomato enthusiasts to produce ripe fruit in late fall and allow harvesting of green fruit that ripens indoors—a practical solution for gardeners in cold climates who want fresh tomatoes through the winter holidays
- 🌱 The variety's cold tolerance allows it to continue setting and ripening fruit even as temperatures drop in fall, when most other tomato varieties have already succumbed to frost stress
- 🌱 Green tomatoes contain solanine (a naturally occurring alkaloid), but this breaks down during the ripening process, making the fruit safe and increasingly sweeter as it ripens indoors
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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