How to Grow Kermesina Red

Wikimedia Commons

Kermesina Red

Solanum lycopersicum 'Kermesina Red'

vegetable

Kermesina Red is a classic heirloom tomato variety prized for its deep crimson-red color and rich, complex flavor. This indeterminate vine-type plant produces medium-sized fruits throughout the growing season, making it a favorite among tomato enthusiasts and gardeners seeking traditional taste over commercial uniformity.

When should you plant Kermesina Red in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Kermesina Red timeline →

Example Kermesina Red timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Kermesina Red
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Kermesina Red
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

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

💧

Water: Consistent deep watering 1-2 inches per week; maintain even soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Water at soil level in early morning; avoid wetting foliage.

📏

Spacing: 24 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: Plant seedlings deep—up to the first true leaves; bury stem to encourage root development

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot) Balanced organic fertilizer (5-5-5 or similar) Perlite or coarse sand if soil is heavy clay

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 5-9; grows anywhere with 70-80+ warm days and protection from frost

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

Get my Kermesina Red timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny plants with cotyledons (seed leaves) emerge and develop their first true leaves within 7-10 days.

Maintain soil moisture without waterlogging. Provide bright light (grow lights 2-3 inches above seedlings for 14-16 hours daily). Keep temperatures 65-75°F.

Transplant/Vegetative

3-4 weeks

Seedlings develop 4-6 true leaves and grow rapidly. Repot into larger containers as needed before planting outdoors.

Gradually harden off seedlings 7-10 days before transplanting outdoors. Handle by leaves, not stems. Transplant when 6-8 inches tall with 4-6 true leaves.

Flowering

4-6 weeks

Plants establish in garden, produce dense foliage, and flower clusters (inflorescences) appear. First flowers typically appear 25-35 days after transplanting.

Provide sturdy stakes or cages for support as indeterminate vines grow tall. Begin consistent watering regimen. Remove lower leaves once flowering begins to improve air circulation.

Fruiting

3-4 weeks per fruit cluster

Small green fruits develop from flowers. Fruits grow and gradually change color from green to light orange to deep crimson-red over 20-30 days per fruit.

Continue regular watering and feeding with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Prune suckers (shoots between main stem and branches) on indeterminate types to direct energy to fruit. Thin competing branches if needed.

Harvest

8-12 weeks of continuous harvest

Fruits reach full deep crimson-red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Peak flavor develops when fully ripe on the vine.

Harvest when fully colored and just soft; flavor is best at full maturity. Continue harvesting throughout season as new flowers set fruit. In fall, pick mature green fruits before frost and ripen indoors.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Marigold Nasturtium Borage Garlic Onion

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Corn Potatoes

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray if infestation is severe
Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; release yellow sticky traps; encourage beneficial insects
Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; spray chlorothalonil or sulfur-based fungicide if severe
Remove affected leaves; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide; practice crop rotation
Spray water forcefully to dislodge; apply neem oil or insecticidal soap; maintain humidity
Plant resistant varieties (though Kermesina Red is not resistant); practice crop rotation; remove infected plants; sterilize tools

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

Kermesina Red is celebrated for its rich, complex flavor with balanced sweetness and acidity, making it ideal for fresh slicing on salads, sandwiches, and charcuterie boards. The deep crimson color and meaty texture distinguish it from commercial varieties. [source]

🍳

Sauce and preserves

Culinary

With high soluble solids content, these tomatoes excel in homemade pasta sauces, marinara, and tomato paste. The concentrated flavor develops beautifully when cooked down. [source]

🏠

Seed saving

Household

As a stable heirloom variety, Kermesina Red is excellent for saving seeds for next season, maintaining genetic purity and creating a self-sustaining garden supply. [source]

💊

Lycopene-rich nutrition

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with cardiovascular and prostate health. Lycopene concentration increases with cooking. [source]

🦋

Pollinator support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden ecosystem health and fruit set when plants are integrated into diverse plantings. [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 Kermesina Red tomatoes when they develop a deep crimson-red color and feel slightly soft when gently squeezed. Fruits are best picked when fully ripe on the vine for maximum flavor and complexity. Twist gently or cut at the stem using pruners. Harvest throughout the season as new fruits ripen; typical indeterminate varieties produce continuously until frost. In cooler climates, pick mature green fruits before first frost and ripen indoors at room temperature away from direct sunlight—they will develop full color and flavor over 1-2 weeks.

Fun Facts

🌱 Kermesina Red is a Russian heirloom variety whose name derives from 'kermesina,' meaning deep crimson in Russian—a fitting description for its intensely colored fruits.
🌱 Indeterminate tomato varieties like Kermesina Red can grow 6-10 feet tall or more in long growing seasons, and may produce fruit continuously until frost; some gardeners in warm climates grow them as perennials.
🌱 The deep red color of fully ripe Kermesina Red tomatoes indicates peak lycopene content, which is actually enhanced by cooking and is better absorbed by the body when consumed with fat (like olive oil).

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Sucker Transplant True Leaves

Shop Kermesina Red plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Kermesina Red planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Kermesina Red seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Kermesina Red timeline →