How to Grow Grosse Lisse Tomato

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Grosse Lisse Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Grosse Lisse'

vegetable

Grosse Lisse is a classic French heirloom tomato variety known for its large, smooth, deep red fruits and rich, complex flavor. This indeterminate vine produces abundantly throughout the season and is prized for both fresh eating and cooking. Its name literally means 'smooth large one' in French, reflecting its defining characteristics.

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Example Grosse Lisse Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Grosse Lisse Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Grosse Lisse Tomato
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 8+ hours daily (minimum 6 hours, but 8-10 is ideal for best flavor)

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Water: Consistent deep watering; 1-2 inches per week depending on rainfall and heat. Water at soil level to avoid foliar diseases. Inconsistent watering can cause cracking and blossom-end rot.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Transplant with buried stem up to first true leaves; seeds 0.25 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Bone meal for phosphorus Kelp meal or other trace minerals Perlite or coarse sand for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in zones 3-4 with protection and early starts

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves; delicate and tender

Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light. Thin to strongest seedlings.

Transplant Establishment

1-2 weeks

Young plants 4-6 inches tall with several true leaves, hardened off and ready for outdoor planting

Harden off gradually over 7-10 days. Plant deep, burying stem to first true leaves to encourage strong root development. Protect from wind.

Vegetative/Growth

4-6 weeks

Vigorous vine growth with increasingly tall stems and numerous leaves; no flowers yet

Install sturdy stakes or cages early. Remove bottom leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation. Pinch suckers (shoots between main stem and branches) to direct energy to main stem. Feed with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.

Flowering & Fruit Set

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; fruit begins forming at flower sites. Plant reaches full height (6-8 feet)

Maintain consistent watering and support vine as it grows heavily with fruit. Switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer (tomato-specific formula with higher phosphorus/potassium). Prune carefully—remove only excessive foliage shading fruit.

Fruiting & Harvest

6-10 weeks (continuous through season)

Large fruits (200-400g/7-14oz each) develop, transitioning from green to pink to deep red over several weeks

Ensure steady watering to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot. Monitor for diseases in humid conditions. Continue supporting heavy fruit load. Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrots Onions Marigolds Nasturtiums Borage Garlic

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale) Fennel Potatoes Corn Walnut trees

Common Pests

Hand-pick larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis); grow dill, parsley, and basil to attract parasitic wasps
Yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil; remove affected leaves; encourage predatory insects like ladybugs
Choose resistant varieties (Grosse Lisse is moderately susceptible); practice crop rotation; sterilize tools; remove infected plants immediately; improve drainage
Remove lower leaves as vine grows; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide preventatively; avoid overhead watering
Spray with water to dislodge; use insecticidal soap; plant companion flowers to attract hoverflies and ladybugs
Increase humidity; spray with water; apply neem oil; ensure adequate irrigation to reduce plant stress

Uses

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Slicing & Fresh Eating

Culinary

The smooth skin, large size, and meaty texture make Grosse Lisse ideal for fresh slicing into salads, sandwiches, and caprese dishes. Its complex, balanced sweet-acidic flavor is considered excellent for eating fresh. [source]

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Sauce & Preserving

Culinary

The high fruit yield and meaty interior make this variety excellent for cooking down into tomato sauce, paste, and canned products. Classic French tomato sauce recipes traditionally feature this variety. [source]

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Cooking & Soups

Culinary

The rich flavor and lower seed-to-flesh ratio compared to many modern hybrids make it superior for cooked applications like soups, stews, and braises where tomato depth is desired. [source]

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Lycopene Content

Medicinal

Tomatoes including Grosse Lisse contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that may support heart health and is better absorbed when tomatoes are cooked with healthy fats. [source]

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Seed Saving

Household

As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, Grosse Lisse allows gardeners to save seeds from the healthiest plants for next season, maintaining or improving traits over time. [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 are fully red and slightly soft to the touch, typically 20-30 days after flowering. Grosse Lisse tomatoes develop complex flavor best when left on the vine to ripen fully, but can be picked at the 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) and ripened indoors if needed. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Vine production continues until frost; pick all remaining fruit before temperatures drop below 50°F.

Fun Facts

🌱 Grosse Lisse is a French heirloom dating back at least to the 19th century and remains a favorite in French market gardens and home kitchens today.
🌱 The smooth, crack-resistant skin of Grosse Lisse was specifically bred for French markets where appearance and durability in transport were valued, making it more practical for long-distance shipping than many other heirlooms.
🌱 An indeterminate variety, Grosse Lisse continues flowering and producing fruit until frost, potentially yielding 15-30+ pounds of tomatoes per plant over a full season with proper support and care.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom pH Sucker True Leaves

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