How to Grow Intrepid Tomato
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Intrepid Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Intrepid'
vegetableIntrepid is a hybrid determinate tomato variety bred for disease resistance and reliability in challenging growing conditions. It produces medium-sized, globe-shaped red fruits with excellent flavor and crack resistance. This variety is particularly valued by gardeners in humid regions due to its resistance to late blight and early blight.
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Example Intrepid Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Intrepid 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 Intrepid Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Intrepid Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-10; particularly recommended for zones 4-8 where disease pressure is high
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Seedling
3-4 weeks before transplant-readyTiny seedlings with cotyledons (seed leaves) emerge; first true leaves appear within 1-2 weeks
Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily indoors. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain temperature of 65-75°F.
Transplant/Vegetative
1-2 weeks of hardeningPlant develops sturdy stem and multiple sets of true leaves; grows to 6-12 inches before planting out
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Transplant deeply after last frost date.
Establishment
3-4 weeksPlant grows vigorously, producing more foliage and establishing root system in garden
Water deeply and consistently. Support with stakes or cages early. Remove lower leaves once plant is 12 inches tall to improve air circulation and reduce disease.
Flowering & Fruiting
4-6 weeks until first ripe fruitYellow flowers appear in clusters; small green fruits develop at flower sites; fruits swell and begin color change
Maintain consistent watering to prevent fruit cracking and blossom end rot. Continue pruning lower leaves. Apply mulch to regulate moisture and temperature.
Harvest
4-8 weeks of peak productionFruits mature to full red color; plant produces successive flushes of ripe tomatoes throughout season
Pick fruits when fully colored for best flavor. Determinate varieties produce main crop over 2-3 week window. Continue watering and fertilizing for extended harvest.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick from plant; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) if infestation is severe
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; improve air circulation
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Increase humidity; spray with water; use miticide if severe; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer
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Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; avoid overhead watering
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Remove lower infected leaves; apply copper fungicide; improve air flow; stake plants for better ventilation
Uses
Fresh eating and slicing
CulinaryIntrepid tomatoes have excellent flavor and firm flesh ideal for fresh consumption in salads, sandwiches, and as table fruit. Their crack-resistant skin and balanced acid-sugar profile make them superior for eating raw. [source]
Canning and sauce
CulinaryThe meaty texture and good flavor of Intrepid make them suitable for canning, tomato sauce, and paste. Their determinate maturation allows for bulk processing in a concentrated period. [source]
Lycopene and antioxidants
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that supports heart health and may reduce cancer risk. Red tomatoes like Intrepid contain higher lycopene levels, especially when fully ripe. [source]
Garden pest management
HouseholdGrowing tomato plants alongside other vegetables helps repel certain pests and attracts beneficial insects. The plant's pest-management role extends the utility of the garden ecosystem. [source]
Disease-resistant breeding success
HouseholdIntrepid exemplifies modern breeding for disease resistance, offering gardeners a reliable option that reduces fungicide dependency. Its late blight resistance is particularly valuable in humid climates. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Intrepid produces determinate growth (bush type), concentrating fruit ripening over 2-3 weeks. Pick fruits when they turn fully red for sweetest flavor. Twist or cut from vine gently. Can pick mature green fruits if frost threatens; they will ripen indoors. Intrepid's disease resistance allows you to harvest later in the season without typical late-season blight problems.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Intrepid was specifically bred to resist late blight (Phytophthora infestans), the same pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine of 1845-1852, making it a resilient choice for organic and disease-prone gardens.
- 🌱 Determinate tomatoes like Intrepid are 'bush' types that stop growing at a set height and concentrate their fruit production over a shorter window, making them ideal for canning operations and succession planting.
- 🌱 Burying tomato transplants deeper than they were growing encourages root formation along the buried stem, creating a stronger root system that can support heavier fruit production and drought tolerance.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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