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How to Grow Mr. Goldstrike Tomato

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Mr. Goldstrike Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Mr. Goldstrike'

vegetable

Mr. Goldstrike is a determinate hybrid tomato variety known for its striking golden-yellow fruits with bold red striping and excellent flavor. The medium-sized fruits are sweet and tangy with a complex taste profile. This variety is prized by gardeners for its ornamental appearance combined with reliable productivity.

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Example Mr. Goldstrike Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Mr. Goldstrike Tomato

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Mr. Goldstrike Tomato

    Around Jun 26

    ≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours optimal for best flavor)
💧
Water: Consistent moisture; water deeply 1-2 inches per week, more during hot spells. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged to prevent fruit cracking. Water at the base to reduce disease pressure.
📏
Spacing: 24 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant
🌱
Planting depth: Seed: 0.25 inches; Transplant: bury stem up to first true leaves

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Aged compost Balanced fertilizer (5-10-10) Calcium source (crushed eggshells or gypsum for blossom end rot prevention) Peat moss or coconut coir

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown as an annual in zones 3-4 and 10+

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

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny plants with cotyledons and emerging true leaves, very delicate

Provide bright light (grow lights 3-4 inches above plants), keep soil moist but not saturated, maintain 70-75°F, use sterile seed-starting mix

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks after transplant

Plant develops sturdy stems, larger leaves, and robust root system; pre-flowering stage

Harden off seedlings before planting outdoors, use balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks, provide sturdy support (stakes or cages), prune lower leaves as plant grows

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; plant transitions to reproductive phase

Maintain consistent watering, switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer (higher phosphorus/potassium), ensure good air circulation, gently shake plants to aid pollination

4

Fruit Development

3-4 weeks

Small green fruits form and begin to enlarge; striped pattern develops as fruits mature

Increase watering during fruit set, maintain consistent moisture levels, continue supporting with stakes/cages, remove some leaves to allow sun to reach fruit

5

Ripening & Harvest

2-3 weeks per flush

Fruits transition from green to golden-yellow with red striping; flavor develops fully

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer, allow soil to dry slightly between waterings, harvest when fruits are fully colored and slightly soft to gentle pressure

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Carrot Marigold Nasturtium Parsley Borage Chives Garlic

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Potato Walnut trees

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick daily (check undersides of leaves), introduce parasitic wasps, spray neem oil or spinosad, plant dill and basil to attract natural predators

  • Yellow sticky traps, reflective mulch, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly, encourage natural predators like ladybugs

  • Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage ladybugs and lacewings, reflective mulch

  • Remove infected lower leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply copper fungicide or sulfur sprays, water at soil level only

  • Remove infected plant material immediately, avoid overhead watering, apply copper or chlorothalonil fungicides weekly during wet weather, improve drainage

  • Ensure consistent watering (1-2 inches weekly), add calcium amendments (gypsum, crushed eggshells), maintain soil pH 6.0-6.8, mulch to stabilize soil moisture

Uses

🍳

Fresh slicing and salads

Culinary

Mr. Goldstrike's sweet, tangy flavor and beautiful striped appearance make it exceptional for fresh eating, slicing into salads, or as a colorful garnish. The balanced sugar-acid profile provides complex taste perfect for summer eating. [source]

🍳

Sauces and cooking

Culinary

The high solids content and excellent flavor make this variety suitable for tomato sauces, soups, and cooked dishes where its sweetness shines without becoming cloying. [source]

🏠

Ornamental gardening

Household

The striking golden-yellow fruits with red stripes serve as beautiful ornamental elements in vegetable gardens, containers, and landscape designs while remaining fully edible and productive. [source]

💊

Antioxidant content

Medicinal

Like all tomatoes, Mr. Goldstrike contains beneficial lycopene and other carotenoids with antioxidant properties that support cardiovascular health and may provide protective benefits. [source]

🍳

Canning and preservation

Culinary

Due to its meaty texture and good acid balance, Mr. Goldstrike can be canned as sauce or whole tomatoes, making it suitable for home food preservation and storage. [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 fruits when fully colored golden-yellow with red striping and slightly yielding to gentle pressure. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Morning harvesting captures peak flavor. For vine-ripened fruit with best flavor, allow to ripen fully on plant. Can also harvest at breaker stage (faint color change) and ripen indoors at room temperature.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 The 'Mr. Goldstrike' name refers to the prominent red striping on a golden-yellow background, resembling a lightning strike or stripe pattern. This bicolor appearance makes it a visually striking ornamental as well as productive variety.
  • 🌱 Determinate varieties like Mr. Goldstrike grow to a fixed, compact size (usually 3-4 feet) and produce fruit over a concentrated 3-4 week period, making them ideal for canning and bulk harvesting compared to indeterminate varieties.
  • 🌱 The golden coloring in yellow tomatoes comes from carotenoids like lutein and beta-carotene, which differ from the lycopene found in red tomatoes—both offer distinct nutritional benefits and create beautiful color combinations in garden harvests.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid pH Pollination True Leaves
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