How to Grow Kentish Hero

Kentish Hero

Solanum lycopersicum 'Kentish Hero'

vegetable

Kentish Hero is a heritage indeterminate tomato variety originating from Kent, England, known for its robust growth and reliable production of flavorful medium-sized fruits. This classic British heirloom produces deep red, slightly ridged tomatoes with excellent taste and vigor, thriving in cooler climates. It's particularly valued by gardeners in the UK and northern regions for its disease resistance and dependable cropping.

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Example Kentish Hero timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Kentish Hero
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Kentish Hero
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Kentish Hero dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

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

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Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply and regularly (1-1.5 inches per week), keeping soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Water at the base to reduce disease pressure.

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Start seeds 0.25 inches deep indoors; transplant with stem buried up to first true leaves when 6-8 inches tall

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

compost well-rotted manure aged peat moss perlite for drainage

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-8; excellent choice for cooler climates and UK growing conditions

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves developing; pale green color

Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily under grow lights. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Maintain temperatures 65-75°F. Begin gentle air circulation with a fan once true leaves appear.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks after transplanting

Rapid stem and leaf growth; plant becomes bushy with multiple branches forming

Harden off gradually before transplanting. Space 24 inches apart in full sun. Install sturdy stakes or cages early. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer (lower nitrogen). Remove lower leaves as plant grows.

Flowering

3-4 weeks, occurring throughout season

Yellow flowers appear in clusters along branches; plant reaches full height (5-6 feet for this indeterminate variety)

Continue consistent watering and staking. Switch to lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus fertilizer to encourage fruiting. Gently shake flowering clusters at midday to aid pollination. Prune suckers carefully to maintain 1-2 main stems.

Fruiting & Ripening

4-6 weeks per flush

Golf ball to tennis ball-sized fruits develop from flowers; gradually transition from light green to deep red

Maintain steady watering; irregular watering causes blossom end rot and cracking. Provide consistent fertilizer every 2 weeks. Support heavy fruit clusters with additional ties. Remove some leaves to allow sun penetration without exposing fruit to sunscald.

Full Production & Harvest

6-10 weeks until first frost

Mature, deep red fruits ready for picking; continuous flowering and ripening on indeterminate variety until frost

Harvest regularly to encourage more production. Pick fruits at full color for best flavor. In late season, pinch off new flower clusters 6-8 weeks before first frost. Stake and support heavily laden branches.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley carrot onion marigold nasturtium borage chives

Avoid planting near:

fennel brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) corn walnut trees

Common Pests

Hand-pick caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray if infestation is severe
Increase humidity by misting; spray with water or neem oil; introduce predatory mites
Spray with strong water stream; use insecticidal soap; plant alyssum and other beneficial insect plants
Yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage natural predators
and (Fusarium and Verticillium species)
Choose resistant varieties when possible; practice crop rotation; remove infected plants; sterilize tools
Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide

Uses

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Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

Kentish Hero tomatoes are excellent eaten fresh in salads, on sandwiches, or sliced simply with salt and olive oil. Their balanced sweet-acid flavor profile and meaty texture make them ideal for immediate consumption and showcase the true heirloom tomato experience. [source]

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Sauce and cooking

Culinary

These tomatoes are perfect for making traditional tomato sauce, soup, and cooked dishes. The robust flavor concentrates beautifully when simmered, producing rich, full-bodied sauces ideal for pasta, pizza, and Mediterranean cuisine. [source]

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Preserving and canning

Culinary

With good acidity levels, Kentish Hero tomatoes are suitable for home canning and preserving. They can be processed into jams, passata, ketchup, and bottled whole for winter storage. [source]

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Antioxidant-rich food

Medicinal

Fresh ripe tomatoes contain lycopene and other antioxidants beneficial for health. Heirloom varieties like Kentish Hero often have higher concentrations of these beneficial compounds than modern hybrids. [source]

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Pollinator support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting biodiversity and overall garden ecosystem health throughout the growing season. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Pick tomatoes when fully red and slightly soft to the touch, typically 3-4 days after reaching full color. Early morning harvest provides best flavor. For indeterminate varieties like Kentish Hero, harvest regularly throughout the season to encourage continuous production. Twist gently or use pruners to avoid damaging the plant. To ripen green tomatoes in late season, pick them when they show a slight blush and store in a warm, well-lit location (68-72°F) away from direct sun.

Fun Facts

🌱 Kentish Hero is a heritage variety that has been grown in Kent, England for over a century, making it a living piece of British agricultural history and a favorite among UK heritage gardeners.
🌱 As an indeterminate variety, Kentish Hero will continue growing, flowering, and producing fruit until killed by frost, potentially yielding hundreds of tomatoes from a single plant over a season.
🌱 The variety was nearly lost to modern commercial breeding but has been preserved and promoted by seed-saving organizations and heritage gardeners, particularly in the UK, as part of the slow food and heirloom vegetable movement.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom pH Pollination Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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