How to Grow Glow Tomato
Glow Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Glow'
vegetableGlow is a determinate cherry tomato variety known for its vibrant orange-red color and sweet flavor. It produces abundant clusters of medium-sized cherry tomatoes on compact, bushy plants ideal for containers and small gardens. The variety is prized for both its productivity and disease resistance.
When should you plant Glow Tomato in your zone?
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Example Glow Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Glow Tomato
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 Glow Tomato
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Glow Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; grow as annual in cooler zones
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Seedling
2-3 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves emerging, typically 2-3 inches tall
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light (14-16 hours) under grow lights. Maintain 70-75°F temperature.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks after transplantingPlants developing robust stems and compound leaves; no flowers yet. Reaches 6-12 inches tall.
Harden off seedlings before transplanting. Space 18 inches apart. Install stakes or cages early. Pinch side shoots if desired for compact growth.
Flowering
2-3 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters at leaf axils and stem tips; plant is 12-24 inches tall
Maintain consistent watering. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Provide good air circulation. Avoid high nitrogen which delays fruiting.
Fruiting & Development
4-6 weeksSmall green fruits form in clusters; gradually enlarge and change to orange-red over 20-30 days
Reduce nitrogen, increase potassium and phosphorus. Water consistently to prevent cracking. Remove lower leaves for air circulation once fruit sets.
Harvest
6-10 weeks or until frostFruits fully ripen to deep orange-red color; plant continues producing through frost or until plant exhaustion
Pick ripe fruit regularly to encourage continued production. Harvest every 2-3 days at peak season. Can pick slightly underripe fruit and ripen indoors.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick daily; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray; encourage parasitic wasps
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Yellow sticky traps; neem oil spray; insecticidal soap; reflective mulch
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Strong water spray; neem oil; increase humidity; predatory mites
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Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide if severe
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Remove affected leaves promptly; stake for air circulation; drip irrigation only; copper fungicide
Uses
Fresh eating and snacking
CulinaryGlow cherry tomatoes are sweet and flavorful, perfect for eating fresh from the plant, adding to salads, or halving for colorful appetizer platters. Their smaller size makes them ideal for lunchboxes and snacking. [source]
Roasting and cooking
CulinaryThese tomatoes hold their shape well when roasted or blistered in a skillet, developing concentrated sweetness. They're excellent for pasta sauces, salsas, and slow-roasted preparations. [source]
Container gardening
HouseholdGlow's determinate, compact growth makes it ideal for pots, hanging baskets, and small spaces. It's excellent for patios, balconies, and deck gardens with minimal space requirements. [source]
Preserving and canning
CulinaryThe abundant yield makes Glow ideal for preserving—sun-drying, freezing whole, or making tomato jam. The meaty flesh and low seed content suit home preservation projects. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeBright yellow flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting beneficial insect populations while ensuring excellent fruit set. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick fruit when fully colored orange-red; Glow tomatoes will not ripen further after harvest. Pick every 2-3 days during peak production. For end-of-season harvest, pick mature green fruit and ripen on windowsill indoors (2-3 weeks). Vine will produce continuously until frost.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Glow tomatoes get their vibrant orange-red color from high lycopene and beta-carotene content, making them more nutritious than many red tomato varieties.
- 🌱 A single Glow plant can produce 100+ cherry tomatoes in a season under optimal conditions, making it one of the most prolific home garden varieties.
- 🌱 The determinate (bush) growth habit makes Glow self-supporting at heights under 3 feet, unlike indeterminate varieties that need constant pruning and support.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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