How to Grow Gunsmoke Tomato
Gunsmoke Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Gunsmoke'
vegetableGunsmoke is a determinate beefsteak tomato variety known for its large, dark red fruits and robust disease resistance. Bred for both home and commercial growing, it produces meaty, flavorful tomatoes ideal for slicing and cooking. The plants are compact and bushy, making them suitable for containers and smaller gardens.
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Example Gunsmoke Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Gunsmoke 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 Gunsmoke Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Gunsmoke Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown as an annual in zones 3-4 and 10a
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Get my Gunsmoke Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
4-6 weeks indoorsSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, tender and delicate
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Maintain 70-75°F daytime temperature.
Vegetative
3-4 weeks after transplantBushy plant growth with expanding foliage; no flowers yet
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting. Space plants 24 inches apart. Prune suckers if desired, though determinate varieties require less pruning. Apply mulch once soil warms.
Flowering
2-3 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters on determinate plants; robust flowering throughout
Maintain consistent watering; fluctuations cause blossom end rot and cracking. Support plants with cages or stakes. Begin fertilizing with lower nitrogen formula (5-10-10).
Fruiting
3-4 weeksGreen fruit develops and enlarges; plants continue flowering as determinate type sets most fruit at once
Water deeply and consistently. Prune lower leaves as fruit develops to improve air circulation. Apply side-dress of compost or balanced fertilizer mid-season.
Harvest
2-3 weeks peak production for determinate typeFruits turn dark red and feel slightly soft when gently squeezed; full flavor develops
Harvest when fully colored but still firm. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. Continue harvesting throughout season. If frost threatens, pick remaining mature green fruit.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick daily, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), spinosad for severe infestations
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Spray strong water stream, use insecticidal soap, neem oil, or introduce ladybugs
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Increase humidity, spray water on leaves, use neem oil or miticide for severe cases
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Yellow sticky traps, vacuum adults, neem oil, insecticidal soap, reflective mulch
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Remove infected lower leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, chlorothalonil or copper fungicide
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Remove infected leaves immediately, avoid overhead watering, use copper or fixed sulfur fungicides, resistant variety selection
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Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, mulch soil, fungicide if severe
Uses
Slicing and cooking
CulinaryLarge beefsteak fruits are ideal for fresh slicing in salads and sandwiches, and their meaty texture makes them excellent for sauces, salsa, and canning. [source]
Paste and preserves
CulinaryThe high flesh-to-seed ratio and rich flavor make Gunsmoke ideal for making tomato paste, marinara sauce, and preserved products. [source]
Lycopene source
MedicinalRed tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and cancer prevention. Cooking increases lycopene bioavailability. [source]
Food preservation
HouseholdDeterminate varieties like Gunsmoke are bred for simultaneous ripening, making them ideal for batch harvesting and home canning projects. [source]
Juice and gazpacho
CulinaryThe abundance of large fruits during peak season makes Gunsmoke perfect for fresh tomato juice, soup, and cold gazpacho. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Gunsmoke is a determinate variety, meaning most fruit ripens within a concentrated 2-3 week window. Pick tomatoes when fully red but still slightly firm—they continue ripening off the vine. Harvest in early morning for best flavor. If frost threatens, pick mature green fruit and ripen indoors at 68-72°F on a windowsill. Gunsmoke is excellent for canning and sauces due to its meaty texture.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Gunsmoke is a determinate or 'bush' variety, meaning it grows to a fixed height (typically 3-4 feet) and sets most of its fruit within a short time window—perfect for gardeners wanting a dramatic harvest for canning and processing.
- 🌱 The variety was developed with disease resistance to many tomato pathogens, making it more resilient than heirloom varieties and suited to both wet and dry climates.
- 🌱 Tomatoes are botanically fruits (berries) but classified as vegetables in the U.S. Supreme Court case Tariff Act of 1883—a distinction that determined their tariff classification for trade purposes.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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