How to Grow Kenora Sunset
Wikimedia Commons
Kenora Sunset
Solanum lycopersicum 'Kenora Sunset'
vegetableKenora Sunset is a determinately growing paste tomato variety developed in Canada, known for its deep orange-red color and excellent flavor. It produces medium-sized fruits ideal for sauces, pastes, and fresh cooking. This cold-tolerant variety was bred for northern climates and short growing seasons.
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Example Kenora Sunset timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Kenora Sunset
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 Kenora Sunset
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Kenora Sunset dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-8; exceptionally cold-tolerant for northern gardeners
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Seedling
2-3 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, delicate and light green
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; maintain 65-75°F temperature; thin seedlings to prevent crowding
Vegetative
3-4 weeks after transplantingBushy, compact growth with multiple stems and dark green foliage; plant reaches 2-3 feet tall (determinate habit)
Transplant into larger containers as needed; harden off before outdoor planting; stake or cage early; reduce nitrogen to encourage flowering; maintain consistent watering
Flowering
2-3 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters; plant reaches full determinately compact size with dense foliage
Maintain consistent watering and nutrient levels; apply mulch around base; reduce excess nitrogen; support developing clusters with stakes; ensure adequate calcium availability
Fruiting
4-5 weeksMarble-sized green fruits appear and enlarge; medium-sized paste tomatoes form, turning orange-red as they mature
Continue consistent watering; prune excess foliage only if shading fruit; apply calcium amendment if not already done; monitor for pests; support heavy fruit clusters
Harvest
2-4 weeks of peak harvestFruits are firm, fully colored orange-red, and slightly yield to gentle pressure; heavy production on compact determinate plant
Harvest ripe fruit daily for best flavor; use for sauce, paste, or fresh eating; remove plant after final harvest; save seeds if desired
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars; monitor plants daily; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for smaller infestations; allow parasitic wasps
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Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; introduce ladybugs; neem oil as last resort
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Yellow sticky traps; insecticidal soap; reflective mulches; neem oil; maintain good air circulation
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Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide if severe
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Remove infected plant parts immediately; copper fungicide; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; plant resistant varieties
Uses
Tomato sauce and paste
CulinaryKenora Sunset is a paste variety specifically bred for processing, with high solids content and low water content. Excellent for making homemade tomato sauce, paste, and canned products. [source]
Fresh eating and salads
CulinaryDespite being a paste variety, Kenora Sunset has excellent flavor and can be enjoyed fresh in salads, on sandwiches, or sliced with salt and pepper. [source]
Cold climate gardening
HouseholdBred in Canada for northern zones, this variety requires fewer heat days than standard tomatoes, making it ideal for gardeners in zones 3-5 or short-season regions. [source]
Canning and preservation
CulinaryHigh pectin and acidity make Kenora Sunset ideal for home canning, salsa, and long-term food storage without additional pectin. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects, supporting garden biodiversity while improving fruit set through pollination. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick fruits when fully colored orange-red and slightly soft to touch; Kenora Sunset ripens reliably on the vine; harvest regularly to encourage continued production; determinate varieties produce most fruit simultaneously, ideal for sauce-making; tomatoes can be picked at breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripened indoors if needed
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Kenora Sunset was developed at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's research center and is named after Kenora, Ontario, reflecting its cold-hardy heritage
- 🌱 As a determinate variety, all fruits mature within a narrow window, making it perfect for single-harvest processing rather than continuous fresh eating
- 🌱 Tomato plants can be propagated from cuttings as easily as from seeds—cut a healthy stem below a leaf node, place in water until roots develop, then plant
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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