How to Grow Maori Sunrise
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Maori Sunrise
Solanum lycopersicum 'Maori Sunrise'
vegetableMaori Sunrise is a heirloom tomato variety originating from New Zealand, prized for its striking bicolor fruit featuring golden-orange and red coloring. The medium-sized, beefsteak-type tomatoes are notably flavorful with a complex sweet-tart profile and beautiful striped appearance. This indeterminate variety produces fruits continuously throughout the season on vigorous plants.
When should you plant Maori Sunrise in your zone?
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Example Maori Sunrise timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Maori Sunrise
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 Maori Sunrise
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Maori Sunrise dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9, can be grown in zone 3-4 with season extension
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Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, cotyledons still visible. Plants are delicate and light green.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, maintain 70-75°F. Avoid damping off by ensuring good air circulation. Bottom heat (70-75°F soil) speeds germination.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeks indoors before transplantingRapid stem and leaf development, vigorous growth with multiple branches. Plant reaches 2-3 feet tall before flowering begins.
Transplant into larger pots as roots fill container. Begin hardening off 7-10 days before planting outdoors. Stake or trellis early to support growth. Remove lower leaves once plant is established for better air circulation.
Flowering
6-8 weeks duration of flowering periodSmall yellow star-shaped flowers appear in clusters (racemes) along the plant. First flowers typically appear 4-6 weeks after transplanting.
Ensure consistent watering and calcium availability (add crushed eggshells or lime to prevent blossom end rot). Provide support structure. Prune suckers on indeterminate varieties to direct energy to main stems. Light pruning of foliage can improve flower exposure.
Fruiting
4-6 weeks from fruit set to harvest maturityGreen tomatoes develop at flower sites and gradually enlarge. Bicolor striping develops as fruits mature, transitioning from green with orange zones to full golden-red coloring.
Maintain consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Continue supporting heavy fruit with stakes or cages. Reduce nitrogen fertilizer, increase phosphorus and potassium. Remove some leaves to allow sunlight to reach fruit for better color development.
Harvest
Continuous from mid-summer to first frostTomatoes reach full size and distinctive bicolor pattern. Fruit should feel slightly soft when gently squeezed at the shoulders.
Pick tomatoes when mostly red with some golden-orange color for best flavor, or allow to fully mature on vine. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. Continue harvesting throughout the growing season. Pinch off new flower clusters 4-6 weeks before expected frost to direct energy to remaining fruit.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick visible caterpillars early morning or evening. Use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for larger infestations. Plant borage and basil to attract parasitic wasps.
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Increase humidity and air circulation. Spray with strong water jet to dislodge. Use neem oil or insecticidal soap if severe. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
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Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and control. Spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap. Introduce parasitic wasps (Encarsia formosa). Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation. Water at soil level only. Prune affected foliage. Apply copper fungicide or sulfur spray preventatively. Mulch to prevent spore splash.
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Ensure excellent air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Remove infected leaves immediately. Apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicide. Choose resistant varieties when possible.
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Remove affected lower leaves. Improve air circulation by pruning. Water at soil level. Apply copper fungicide weekly if conditions favor disease. Dispose of infected material.
Uses
Fresh slicing and salads
CulinaryMaori Sunrise's complex sweet-tart flavor and striking bicolor appearance make it exceptional for fresh eating and salads. The meaty texture is ideal for slicing and plating to showcase the beautiful striped coloring. [source]
Sauce and preservation
CulinaryThe balanced sugar and acid content makes these tomatoes excellent for cooking into sauces, salsas, and preserves. The distinctive color carries through into cooked preparations. [source]
Ornamental garden feature
HouseholdBeyond edible production, Maori Sunrise adds striking visual interest to vegetable gardens with its bicolor fruit and vigorous growth habit. The golden-red tomatoes hanging on the plant create beautiful garden photography. [source]
Lycopene antioxidant source
MedicinalLike all tomatoes, Maori Sunrise contains lycopene and other beneficial antioxidants, with research suggesting cooked tomato preparations may increase bioavailability of these compounds. [source]
Seed saving
CraftAs an heirloom open-pollinated variety, Maori Sunrise seeds can be saved, dried, and replanted year after year, preserving this New Zealand heirloom for future gardens. [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 when fruit is fully colored but still has slight give when gently squeezed at the shoulder—usually 6-8 weeks after flowering. Maori Sunrise reaches peak flavor at full maturity with vibrant golden-red coloring. Twist gently while supporting the stem, or cut with pruners. For continuous harvest, pick fruit throughout the season as it matures. Fruit can be picked at breaker stage (showing first blush of color) and ripened indoors if frost threatens. Store at room temperature, not refrigerated, to preserve flavor.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Maori Sunrise is an heirloom variety that originated in New Zealand and was named to celebrate Maori culture. Its striking bicolor pattern is the result of specific genetic traits that express both golden-orange (from the yellow pigment carotenoids) and red (from lycopene) simultaneously.
- 🌱 This variety produces indeterminate (vining) plants that can reach 6-8 feet tall in favorable conditions, continuing to set fruit until frost—a single plant can produce 100+ tomatoes throughout the season.
- 🌱 The unique flavor profile of Maori Sunrise—described as complex, sweet, and tart—develops best when fruits receive ample sunlight during ripening, with some growers reporting improved flavor when plants are allowed to experience slight water stress at the fruiting stage.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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