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How to Grow Double Dazzler Tomato

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Double Dazzler Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Double Dazzler'

vegetable

Double Dazzler is a determinate hybrid tomato variety known for its striking bicolor fruits featuring red and yellow striping. It produces medium-sized tomatoes (4-6 oz) with excellent flavor and disease resistance. This compact plant is perfect for containers and small gardens while offering prolific yields.

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Example Double Dazzler Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Double Dazzler Tomato

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Double Dazzler Tomato

    Around Jun 21

    ≈ 65 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Double Dazzler Tomato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum; 8+ hours preferred for best flavor and productivity
💧
Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week depending on rainfall and temperature. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at soil level to avoid foliage diseases. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
📏
Spacing: 24 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 65-75 days from transplant to first ripe fruit
🌱
Planting depth: Bury transplant deeply up to first true leaves; tomatoes can root along buried stem

Soil

Type: Rich, well-draining loamy soil with good organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Compost aged manure balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar) calcium source (crushed eggshells or lime) to prevent blossom end rot

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-10 as an annual; can be grown anywhere with a frost-free season of 60+ days

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

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plant with 2-3 true leaves; very tender and fragile

Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light (14-16 hours) under grow lights. Maintain temperature of 70-75°F. Start seeds 6-8 weeks before last frost.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Plant develops bushy foliage and establishes root system; 12-18 inches tall at transplant time

Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting outdoors. Plant deeply after last frost date. Water consistently and apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Support with cage or stake if needed.

3

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Small yellow flowers appear in clusters; plant typically reaches mature height of 3-4 feet for determinate type

Ensure consistent watering to support flower set. Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation. Apply mulch around base. Switch to slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer to encourage fruiting (e.g., 5-10-10).

4

Fruiting

4-6 weeks

Tennis ball-sized fruits develop with characteristic red-orange and yellow striping; fruit weight 4-6 oz each

Continue consistent watering to prevent cracking. Fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced or slightly potassium-higher formula. Prune suckers sparingly on determinate types. Watch for pest and disease issues.

5

Ripening & Harvest

2-4 weeks main harvest

Fruits fully ripen to deep red with golden-yellow stripes; determinate type produces most crop within 2-3 week window

Harvest when fully colored but still slightly soft to touch. Remove ripe fruit regularly to encourage continued production. Can pick at light-red stage and ripen indoors. Plants naturally decline after main crop on determinate varieties.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Marigold Nasturtium Parsley Borage Garlic Onion

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Dill Potatoes Kohlrabi

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; encourage parasitic wasps; inspect undersides of leaves regularly

  • Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; encourage natural predators; spray undersides of leaves thoroughly

  • Increase humidity and mist plants; spray with neem oil or miticide; remove heavily affected leaves; use water spray to dislodge

  • Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper or sulfur fungicide; avoid overhead watering

  • Remove infected foliage promptly; apply copper fungicide; ensure good air flow; clean tools between plants; avoid working in wet foliage

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

The striking bicolor appearance and balanced sweet-tart flavor make Double Dazzler ideal for fresh eating, slicing into salads, or using as a colorful garnish. The medium size is perfect for individual servings. [source]

🍳

Canning and preservation

Culinary

The determinate growth habit produces a concentrated crop suitable for canning, sauce-making, and other preservation projects. The firm texture holds well through processing. [source]

🏠

Container gardening

Household

Its compact, determinate growth makes Double Dazzler excellent for growing in containers on patios, balconies, or small spaces. A single plant in a 5-gallon container yields substantial harvests. [source]

🍳

Visual appeal in cooking

Culinary

The unique red-and-yellow striping provides natural visual contrast in dishes, making it popular for entertaining and food presentation. The colors remain vibrant when cooked. [source]

🦋

Attracts beneficial insects

Wildlife

The tomato flowers attract pollinators like bees, which support the fruiting process. The plant can also serve as habitat for beneficial predatory insects that control pests. [source]

Harvest Tips

Pick fruits when fully colored with slight give to gentle pressure; Double Dazzler reaches ripe stage at full red-and-yellow coloring. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Fruits can be picked at light-red stage indoors to ripen further. Since this is a determinate type, most fruit ripens within a concentrated 2-3 week window; plan for preservation if needed. Morning harvest yields firmer fruits.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Double Dazzler's striking red-and-yellow striped pattern is caused by the 'Lutescent' gene, which prevents chlorophyll development in certain fruit regions, allowing yellow pigments to show through the red base color.
  • 🌱 The hybrid variety was developed to combine disease resistance (particularly to early blight and Septoria leaf spot) with ornamental appearance and reliable flavor—a relatively rare combination in striped tomatoes.
  • 🌱 As a determinate type, Double Dazzler produces most of its entire crop within 2-3 weeks, making it ideal for canning or preserving operations where large volumes at once are advantageous.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid Last Frost Date Mulch pH Sucker Transplant True Leaves
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