How to Grow Magellan Tomato

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Magellan Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Magellan'

vegetable

Magellan is a determinate paste tomato variety known for its disease resistance and reliable production of medium-sized, oblong fruits ideal for sauce and canning. It was bred to withstand challenging growing conditions and is particularly valued for its resistance to late blight and fusarium wilt. This cultivar produces vigorous plants with good foliage cover.

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Example Magellan Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Magellan Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Magellan Tomato
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum, ideally 8+ hours

💧

Water: Consistent, deep watering 1-1.5 inches per week; maintain even soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Water at the base in morning to reduce disease pressure.

📏

Spacing: 24 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 75-85 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: Plant transplants deep, burying stem up to first true leaves; seeds 0.25 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) Calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum to prevent blossom end rot) Mulch (2-3 inches) to retain moisture and regulate temperature

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 4-9, with reliable production even in cooler climates

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Tiny plants with cotyledons (seed leaves) and first true leaves emerging; fragile but actively growing

Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Maintain warm temperatures (70-80°F). Thin to strongest seedling per cell if multiple sprouted.

Transplant/Vegetative

2-3 weeks before field planting

Young plants 4-6 inches tall with several sets of true leaves, ready for field planting after hardening off

Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions over 7-10 days. Plant deeply to encourage strong root development. Install stakes or cages early. Keep soil consistently moist as plants establish.

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Vigorous plant growth with dense foliage, reaching 3-4 feet tall; no flowers yet or just forming

Provide consistent moisture and deep watering. Begin side-dressing with fertilizer at 3-4 weeks post-transplant. Maintain stakes/cages. Monitor for early blight on lower leaves and remove infected foliage. Keep mulch 2-3 inches from stem.

Flowering & Fruit Set

3-4 weeks

Yellow flower clusters form and develop into young green fruit; plant reaches full size with continued foliage

Maintain even watering—critical to prevent blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer, shift to phosphorus/potassium if available. Continue disease monitoring and leaf removal of lower infected foliage. Do not prune excessively—Magellan's foliage protects fruit.

Fruiting & Harvest

4-6 weeks or until frost

Fruits mature from green to red/deep red color; multiple trusses produce ripe fruits over 2-3 weeks

Harvest when fruits reach full red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. For paste tomatoes, allow full ripeness for best flavor and processing. Continue consistent watering. As temperatures cool in fall, harvest remaining fruit before frost and ripen indoors.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Parsley Marigold Nasturtium Borage Chives Garlic

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Corn Dill Potato (shared diseases)

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for larvae; encourage parasitic wasps
Spray insecticidal soap or neem oil on leaf undersides; yellow sticky traps; reflective mulch
Increase humidity; spray with water; use insecticidal soap or neem oil; avoid excessive nitrogen
and
Magellan has resistance; practice crop rotation (3-year minimum); remove infected plants; sterilize tools
Magellan has good resistance; remove infected foliage; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide if needed
Remove lower leaves as they show spotting; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper or sulfur fungicide

Uses

🍳

Sauce & Canning

Culinary

Magellan's oblong paste tomato shape and high solids content make it ideal for homemade tomato sauce, paste, and canning. The meaty flesh yields excellent, thick sauce with minimal cooking time. [source]

🍳

Cooking & Fresh Use

Culinary

While bred as a paste tomato, Magellan fruits are flavorful and can be used in fresh cooking, roasting, and stewing when picked at peak ripeness. [source]

💊

Antioxidants & Nutrition

Medicinal

Rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced cancer risk and heart health. Cooking increases lycopene bioavailability, making processed Magellan tomatoes particularly beneficial. [source]

🏠

Food Preservation

Household

Bred for reliability and disease resistance, Magellan is an excellent choice for gardeners wanting to preserve tomatoes through canning, freezing, or dehydration for year-round use. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Garden

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Growing Magellan supports beneficial insect populations in the garden. [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 fruits when fully red and slightly soft to pressure; paste tomatoes reach peak flavor when fully ripe. For processing, harvest all ripe fruit at one time if possible. In cooler climates, harvest green mature fruit before frost and ripen at room temperature (68-70°F). Magellan's determinate nature means most fruit ripens in a concentrated window, making it ideal for canning operations.

Fun Facts

🌱 Magellan was bred specifically for disease resistance to late blight, the same pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine, making it a resilient choice for challenging climates.
🌱 As a determinate variety, Magellan produces most of its fruit in a concentrated 2-3 week window, which is why it's favored by farmers and home gardeners planning large-scale canning projects.
🌱 Burying tomato transplants deep (up to the first true leaves) encourages adventitious root formation along the buried stem, creating a stronger, more drought-resilient root system.

Gardening Terms

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

Cultivar Full Sun Hardening Off Mulch pH Transplant True Leaves

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