How to Grow Golden Eclipse Tomato

Wikimedia Commons

Golden Eclipse Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Golden Eclipse'

vegetable

Golden Eclipse is a determinate heirloom tomato variety prized for its striking bicolor appearance—golden-yellow skin with red striping and a red interior. This medium-sized tomato produces prolific yields of flavorful fruit with a complex sweet-tangy taste. It's a favorite among gardeners for both visual appeal and exceptional culinary qualities.

When should you plant Golden Eclipse Tomato in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Golden Eclipse Tomato timeline →

Example Golden Eclipse Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Golden Eclipse Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Golden Eclipse Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum (8+ hours ideal for best flavor)

💧

Water: Consistent moisture is critical—water deeply 1-2 inches per week, more frequently during hot spells. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base to avoid fungal diseases. Mulch to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.

📏

Spacing: 24-36 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplants planted deep with soil covering lower stem to encourage additional root development

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost aged manure bone meal calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9, can be grown in zones 3-10 with proper care

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

Get my Golden Eclipse Tomato timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves, tender and vulnerable. Cotyledons (seed leaves) present initially, followed by first true leaves with characteristic tomato leaf shape.

Provide bright, indirect light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain 65-75°F. Thin seedlings to prevent crowding and strengthen remaining plants.

Transplant Ready

2-3 weeks

Young plants 6-8 inches tall with 4-6 true leaves and developing root system. Ready for hardening off before outdoor planting.

Harden off gradually over 7-10 days by exposing to outdoor conditions for increasing durations. Reduce watering slightly to toughen plants. Transplant after last frost date when soil reaches 60°F.

Vegetative/Growth

3-4 weeks

Rapid stem and leaf development. Plant reaches 3-4 feet tall (determinate type stays relatively compact). Vigorous foliage production with no flowers yet.

Install sturdy stakes or cages early. Pinch off lower leaves once flowering begins to improve air circulation. Maintain consistent watering. Side-dress with compost every 3-4 weeks. Monitor for pests.

Flowering & Fruit Set

2-3 weeks

Yellow flower clusters (inflorescences) appear along stems. Small green fruits develop at flower sites. This is the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth.

Continue consistent watering—inconsistent moisture causes blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Maintain proper spacing for air circulation. Prune suckers on indeterminate varieties if applicable (Golden Eclipse is determinate so minimal pruning needed). Ensure adequate calcium and avoid excessive nitrogen.

Fruiting & Harvest

4-6 weeks

Fruits mature from green to golden-yellow with distinctive red striping. Distinctive bicolor pattern becomes prominent at mature stage. Fruits reach 2-3 inches diameter.

Continue consistent deep watering through harvest season. Support heavy fruit clusters with additional ties if needed. Pick fruits at full color for best flavor—can be picked at breaker stage (first blush of color) if needed. Leave vine intact to ripen remaining fruit.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Garlic Marigold Borage Nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Walnut trees Other tomato varieties (for isolation if seed saving) Potatoes (shared pests and diseases)

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars in early morning. Encourage parasitic wasps. Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray if population becomes severe. Plant borage to attract beneficial insects.
Use reflective mulch to confuse adults. Spray insecticidal soap on leaf undersides. Install yellow sticky traps. Encourage natural predators like ladybugs.
Increase humidity and watering frequency. Spray with strong water jet to dislodge mites. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap. Remove heavily infested leaves.
Remove lower leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation. Mulch to prevent soil splash. Water at base only. Apply copper fungicide if severe. Prune to increase airflow.
Remove infected leaves promptly. Improve air circulation through pruning. Apply copper or sulfur fungicide. Avoid overhead watering. Sterilize pruning tools between cuts.
Maintain consistent soil moisture with mulch. Add crushed eggshells or gypsum to soil. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Ensure proper drainage.

Uses

🍳

Fresh slicing and salads

Culinary

Golden Eclipse's balanced sweet-tangy flavor and visually striking bicolor appearance make it excellent for fresh eating, slicing onto plates, and garden salads. The meaty flesh holds up well to slicing without excessive juice loss. [source]

🍳

Sauce and cooking

Culinary

Despite being a slicing tomato, Golden Eclipse produces flavorful sauce with complex taste notes. The bicolor flesh adds visual interest to tomato-based dishes, salsas, and cooked preparations. [source]

🏠

Ornamental garden display

Household

The striking golden-yellow with red striping makes Golden Eclipse a beautiful garden specimen that serves both productive and aesthetic purposes. The vibrant fruits are conversation starters at farmers markets and in home gardens. [source]

💊

Nutritional antioxidants

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and other carotenoids, particularly in the red-pigmented varieties. Golden Eclipse provides these beneficial compounds along with vitamins C and K. [source]

🎨

Seed saving

Craft

As an heirloom open-pollinated variety, Golden Eclipse is ideal for seed saving. Seeds from mature fruits can be fermented, dried, and stored for next season, ensuring continued access to this unique variety. [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 fruits reach full golden-yellow color with red striping, typically 70-80 days after transplanting. Fruits can be picked at the breaker stage (first color appearance) and ripened indoors if needed. Gently twist or cut fruits to avoid damaging vines. Golden Eclipse is determinate so most fruit matures within a 2-3 week window. Morning harvest when fruits are firm ensures best quality. Continue harvesting until first frost.

Fun Facts

🌱 Golden Eclipse's distinctive bicolor pattern—golden exterior with red interior—makes it instantly recognizable and visually stunning on the plate, combining aesthetic appeal with complex flavor profile.
🌱 This is a determinate variety, meaning it grows to a fixed size and produces most of its fruit within a concentrated 2-3 week period, making it ideal for canning and preserving operations.
🌱 Golden Eclipse is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, allowing home gardeners to save seeds from their best-producing plants and maintain the variety year after year with true-to-type offspring.

Gardening Terms

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

Compost Full Sun Hardening Off Heirloom Last Frost Date Mulch Sucker Transplant True Leaves

Shop Golden Eclipse Tomato plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Golden Eclipse Tomato planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Golden Eclipse Tomato seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Golden Eclipse Tomato timeline →