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How to Grow Evesham Special

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Evesham Special

Solanum lycopersicum 'Evesham Special'

vegetable

Evesham Special is a classic British heirloom tomato variety developed in the early 1900s, known for its reliable yields and good flavor. It produces medium-sized fruits that are particularly suited to British growing conditions and short summers. This determinate variety is a favorite among heritage gardeners for its consistent performance and traditional taste.

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Example Evesham Special timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Evesham Special

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Evesham Special

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Evesham Special dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, minimum 6-8 hours daily, preferably 8+ hours
💧
Water: Consistent moisture is critical; water deeply 1-2 inches per week, more during hot weather. Water at soil level in early morning to minimize disease. Avoid overhead watering. Mulch to retain soil moisture and regulate temperature.
📏
Spacing: 24-36 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant
🌱
Planting depth: Start seeds 1/4 inch deep indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Transplant deeply up to first true leaves when 6-8 inches tall.

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Compost Aged manure Peat moss or coco coir Bone meal for phosphorus Kelp meal for micronutrients

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-9, particularly well-suited to cooler climates

5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with 2-3 true leaves, pale green cotyledons visible initially

Provide bright light (14-16 hours under grow lights), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, maintain 65-75°F. Thin weak seedlings. Bottom heat (70-75°F) accelerates germination.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks post-transplant

Rapid development of secondary branches and foliage, plant becomes bushy and substantial

Harden off seedlings outdoors 7-10 days before transplanting. Plant deeply in garden after last frost. Stake or cage early. Prune suckers on determinate types selectively. Apply mulch around base.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flower clusters appear in leaf axils; plant reaches full size with dense foliage

Maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom-end rot and fruit cracking. Provide balanced fertilizer (lower nitrogen). Avoid excessive nitrogen which reduces flowering. Temperature 65-80°F is ideal for fruit set.

4

Fruiting & Development

4-6 weeks per fruit

Fruits develop from flowers, progressing from green to light orange to full red color over 4-6 weeks per fruit

Continue consistent deep watering. Reduce nitrogen, increase potassium and phosphorus. Remove some foliage on shaded fruits to improve sun exposure. Limit watering slightly before harvest to concentrate flavors.

5

Harvest

4-6 weeks of harvest period

Fruits reach full red color and slight softness to gentle pressure; harvesting occurs in waves over 4-6 weeks

Pick when fully colored and slightly soft. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Pick just before hard frost to ripen indoors. Store at room temperature, not refrigerated, to preserve flavor.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Marigold Carrot Parsley Borage Nasturtium Thyme

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) Fennel Kohlrabi Potatoes Corn

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick large caterpillars, encourage parasitic wasps, use neem oil spray on young larvae, apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)

  • Mulch to prevent soil splash, remove lower infected leaves, improve air circulation, apply copper or sulfur fungicides, water only at soil level

  • Remove infected leaves promptly, avoid wetting foliage, apply copper fungicide, space plants well for air circulation

  • Use yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs, neem oil applications

  • Maintain consistent soil moisture, ensure calcium availability, apply lime or gypsum if needed, mulch to regulate moisture

Uses

🍳

Fresh Eating & Slicing

Culinary

Evesham Special produces medium-sized fruits ideal for fresh eating, slicing into salads, and sandwiches. The balanced sweet-acid flavor and firm flesh make it a premium choice for table use. [source]

🍳

Cooking & Sauce Making

Culinary

The reliable, meaty texture and good acid content make Evesham Special suitable for sauces, chutneys, and cooked tomato dishes. Its consistency when cooked is superior to many modern varieties. [source]

🏠

Home Preservation

Household

The firm, not-too-juicy flesh and good acid levels make Evesham Special excellent for canning, bottling, and preserving. It can be processed into jams, sauces, and whole preserved tomatoes. [source]

🎨

Heritage Seed Saving

Craft

As a reliable heirloom variety, Evesham Special is excellent for seed saving and succession planting. Gardeners have maintained this variety for over a century through home seed saving. [source]

🦋

Garden Biodiversity

Wildlife

Growing heirloom varieties like Evesham Special supports agricultural biodiversity and provides habitat and forage for pollinators and beneficial insects. The flowers attract bees crucial for fruit set. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when tomatoes are fully red and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Evesham Special is a determinate (bush) type, so fruits mature in concentrated waves. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Can harvest mature green tomatoes just before frost and ripen indoors at room temperature (68-72°F) away from direct sun. Best flavor develops when ripened fully on the vine.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Evesham Special was developed in Evesham, Worcestershire, England in the early 1900s and was specifically bred to succeed in the British climate with its cooler temperatures and shorter growing season.
  • 🌱 This variety is determinately vined (grows to a fixed height and produces most fruit in a concentrated period), making it ideal for cooler regions where a concentrated harvest before autumn frost is beneficial.
  • 🌱 Evesham Special was nearly lost to history but has been preserved and championed by heritage seed organizations and British gardeners, representing an important piece of vegetable breeding history.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Germination Heirloom Mulch pH Sucker Transplant True Leaves
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