How to Grow Parade
Wikimedia Commons
Parade
Solanum lycopersicum 'Parade'
vegetableParade is a determinate (bush-type) tomato variety known for its early maturity and reliable production of medium-sized, round red fruits. It was developed in the 1960s and remains popular for both home gardens and commercial cultivation due to its compact growth habit and disease resistance. The variety is particularly valued in cooler climates where its early ripening is advantageous.
When should you plant Parade in your zone?
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Example Parade timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Parade
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 Parade
Around Jun 18≈ 62 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Parade dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Zones 4-9; thrives where early season maturity is needed
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Get my Parade timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with cotyledons (seed leaves) followed by the first true leaves appearing. Growth is slow initially.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights). Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain temperature of 70-75°F. Begin fertilizing weakly at true leaf stage.
Vegetative
4-6 weeksPlants develop multiple sets of true leaves and grow taller. Stems thicken and branching begins. No flowers yet.
Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting outdoors. Ensure 6-8 hours of direct sunlight or 14-16 hours under lights. Feed with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Transplant into garden 6-8 weeks after sowing when risk of frost has passed.
Flowering
3-4 weeksYellow flowers appear in clusters along the stem. Plants reach bushy, compact form (determinate habit). Foliage becomes dense.
Switch to lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorus fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) to encourage flowering rather than excessive leaf growth. Maintain consistent watering. Ensure good air circulation to reduce disease. This stage marks the shift toward fruiting.
Fruiting
3-4 weeksFlowers set fruit, which begins as small green orbs. Fruits enlarge and begin their color transition from green to red.
Continue consistent watering (1-2 inches weekly). Maintain calcium levels to prevent blossom end rot. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding. Mulch around base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. Support heavy fruit clusters if needed.
Harvest
2-4 weeks of active harvestFruits reach full red color and are firm with slight yield when gently squeezed. Because Parade is determinate, most fruit matures simultaneously or in short succession.
Begin harvesting when fruits are fully colored. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. As a determinate variety, production peaks within 2-3 weeks, then declines. Can harvest green fruit before first frost and ripen indoors.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick larvae; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis); encourage parasitic wasps
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Spray with insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; maintain good air circulation
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Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; release ladybugs or lacewings
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Increase humidity; spray with water; neem oil; sulfur sprays
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Plant resistant varieties (Parade has some resistance); improve drainage; remove infected plants; rotate crops
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Remove lower leaves; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide sprays (copper, sulfur); ensure air circulation
Uses
Fresh eating and salads
CulinaryMedium-sized, meaty fruits with good flavor make Parade excellent for slicing into salads, sandwiches, and fresh consumption. The concentrated harvest allows for processing fresh tomato sauce in one efficient session. [source]
Canning and sauce production
CulinaryThe simultaneous ripening of determinates like Parade is ideal for home canners and sauce makers. The fruits are suitable for making salsa, tomato paste, and preserved sauces. [source]
Container and small-space gardening
HouseholdParade's compact, determinate habit makes it ideal for pots, raised beds, and small gardens. It requires minimal staking and pruning compared to indeterminate varieties. [source]
Early season production
CulinaryWith 62-70 days to maturity, Parade produces ripe fruit in cooler climates and shorter growing seasons where longer-season varieties might fail. Gardeners in zones 3-4 value its reliability. [source]
Lycopene and antioxidant benefits
MedicinalRed tomatoes like Parade are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with reduced risk of certain cancers and heart disease. Cooking releases more bioavailable lycopene. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Parade is a determinate variety, meaning fruit ripens in a concentrated period (typically 2-3 weeks). Harvest when fully red and firm. Pick regularly to encourage plant to produce more fruit. Fruits can be harvested at the 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) and ripened indoors if early frost threatens. The compact, bushy growth means you can often harvest from all sides simultaneously.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Parade was developed in the 1960s and gained its name from its reliable, prolific performance—it 'paraded' its fruits proudly and predictably on determinate plants.
- 🌱 As a determinate variety, Parade naturally stops growing at a genetically predetermined height (typically 2-3 feet), making it one of the few tomatoes that does NOT require topping or aggressive pruning.
- 🌱 Parade's early maturity and disease resistance made it a favorite for commercial farmers and canning operations; its concentrated harvest window allows a single picking to yield 50+ pounds per plant in good conditions.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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