How to Grow Furman's Red

Furman's Red

Solanum lycopersicum 'Furman's Red'

vegetable

Furman's Red is a heirloom tomato variety known for its deep red color, rich flavor, and reliable productivity. This indeterminate variety produces medium to large fruits with excellent taste, making it a favorite among home gardeners and heirloom tomato enthusiasts.

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Example Furman's Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Furman's Red
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Furman's Red
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Furman's Red dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (ideally 10-12 hours)

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Water: Consistent moisture, 1.5-2 inches per week; water deeply at soil level to keep foliage dry and prevent disease; avoid overhead watering

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Spacing: 24-36 inches between plants, 36-48 inches between rows inches

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Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Plant transplants deep, burying stem up to first true leaves (6-8 inches deep); seeds 0.25 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

compost aged manure perlite for drainage calcium (crushed eggshells or lime to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-10; best in zones 5-9 where it has adequate warm growing season

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny cotyledons emerge, followed by first true leaves. Plant is delicate with thin stem and minimal root system.

Keep soil moist but not waterlogged; provide 14-16 hours of bright light; maintain 70-75°F; fertilize lightly with diluted balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks

Vegetative/Young Transplant

3-4 weeks

Plant develops 4-8 true leaves, becomes bushier, and roots establish strongly. Stem thickens and first set of side shoots appear.

Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions; keep well-lit and warm; fertilize with balanced fertilizer; pot up to larger containers if needed

Growth/Establishment

3-4 weeks after transplant

Plant grows vigorously in garden; develops dense foliage and multiple branches. First flower clusters form at leaf axils.

Install sturdy stakes or cages early; remove lower suckers to improve air circulation; water consistently; apply mulch; fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced or slightly higher phosphorus formula

Flowering/Fruiting

4-6 weeks

Yellow flowers bloom in clusters; small green fruits develop. Plant is at peak growth with continuous flowering and fruit set.

Maintain consistent watering and feeding; prune suckers on indeterminate types; ensure adequate calcium to prevent blossom end rot; support heavy fruit clusters; pinch off lower leaves as plant grows to improve air flow

Harvest/Ripening

4-8+ weeks

Fruits mature from green to full red color; plants continue producing new flowers and fruits. Existing fruits reach full size and develop full flavor.

Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage continued production; reduce nitrogen fertilizer; maintain water consistency; watch for late blight in humid conditions; fruits picked at mature-green stage ripen indoors

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley carrot onion marigold nasturtium borage celery garlic

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel kohlrabi corn potatoes dill

Common Pests

Hand-pick daily; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; netting or row covers for young plants
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; yellow sticky traps; reflective mulch; ensure good air circulation
Increase humidity and air circulation; spray with water; neem oil; miticide if severe
Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide; crop rotation
Remove infected foliage; ensure excellent air circulation; avoid overhead watering; fungicide spray (chlorothalonil, mancozeb); resistant varieties
Maintain consistent soil moisture; add calcium; mulch to regulate moisture; avoid high nitrogen fertilizer

Uses

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Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

Furman's Red excels as a slicing tomato with excellent flavor balance, making it ideal for sandwiches, salads, and fresh eating. The rich taste and meaty texture are prized by culinary enthusiasts. [source]

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Sauce and cooking

Culinary

The full-bodied flavor and solid flesh of Furman's Red make it suitable for sauces, soups, and cooked dishes. It retains good flavor when processed. [source]

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Preservation and canning

Household

Home gardeners can preserve Furman's Red through canning, freezing, or drying. Its flavor concentrates during processing, making excellent preserves. [source]

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Nutritional and antioxidant benefits

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to cardiovascular health and cancer prevention. Cooked tomatoes provide even more bioavailable lycopene than raw. [source]

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Seed saving and heirloom preservation

Craft

As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, Furman's Red can be easily seed-saved by gardeners, allowing perpetuation of this historic variety and adaptation to local growing conditions. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fully red and fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure. Furman's Red fruits mature over time, so plan for successive harvesting over several weeks. Pick fruits at mature-green stage if frost threatens to ripen indoors at room temperature. Leave 1-2 inches of stem attached. For best flavor, avoid refrigerating until after ripening is complete.

Fun Facts

🌱 Furman's Red is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, meaning seeds are true-to-type and can be saved year after year, connecting modern gardeners to agricultural history.
🌱 Indeterminate varieties like Furman's Red continue growing and producing fruit throughout the season until frost, potentially yielding 50+ pounds per plant in ideal conditions.
🌱 Tomatoes are botanically berries—they develop from the flower's ovary and contain seeds enclosed in flesh, making them technically fruits despite culinary classification as vegetables.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Mulch pH Sucker True Leaves

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