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How to Grow Patriot Red

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Patriot Red

Solanum lycopersicum 'Patriot Red'

vegetable

Patriot Red is a hybrid determinate tomato variety bred for disease resistance and early maturity, producing medium-sized red fruits with excellent flavor. Developed by the University of Florida, it is particularly valued for its resistance to late blight and other common tomato diseases. This variety is ideal for home gardeners seeking reliable production in challenging growing conditions.

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

  1. Plant Patriot Red

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Patriot Red

    Around Jun 21

    ≈ 65 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum (8+ hours preferred for best fruiting)
💧
Water: Consistent moisture, 1-1.5 inches per week through drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Water at soil level to prevent disease. Avoid overhead watering. Allow soil to dry slightly between waterings but never completely dry out.
📏
Spacing: 24 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 65-75 days from transplant to first ripe fruit
🌱
Planting depth: Bury transplants up to first true leaves; can plant deep to develop additional roots

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
Compost aged manure peat moss or coconut coir balanced fertilizer (10-10-10 or similar)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-10, but can be grown as an annual in zones 3-4 with season extension

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

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves emerging from cotyledons. Stems are thin and delicate.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily. Maintain temperature between 65-75°F. Thin if overcrowded.

2

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Robust plants developing multiple branching stems with increasing foliage. Plant grows 12-24 inches tall as determinate variety.

Harden off before transplanting. Plant deeply in garden. Water consistently. Begin staking or caging support system. Pinch off lower leaves once plant establishes.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters (inflorescences). Plant continues vegetative growth while initiating fruiting.

Maintain consistent watering; irregular water causes blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Apply balanced fertilizer or switch to lower-nitrogen formula. Ensure good air circulation.

4

Fruiting

3-4 weeks

Small green fruits develop rapidly from pollinated flowers. Fruits expand and mature through size stages.

Continue consistent watering. Reduce nitrogen, increase phosphorus and potassium for better fruiting. Remove some leaves for air circulation but keep fruit shaded from extreme sun. Monitor for disease.

5

Harvest

2-4 weeks productive window

Fruits turn deep red when fully ripe. Determinate variety concentrates fruit ripening for successive harvest windows.

Harvest when completely red or pick at breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripen indoors. Handle carefully to avoid bruising. Continue watering to support any remaining fruit development.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley carrot marigold nasturtium borage garlic onion

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel dill potatoes kohlrabi other nightshades planted too close

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick larvae, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), encourage parasitic wasps, inspect regularly for frass and damage

  • Remove infected lower leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply sulfur or copper fungicides preventatively. Patriot Red has good resistance but still needs vigilance.

  • Patriot Red bred for resistance; maintain proper spacing, remove infected plants immediately, avoid overhead watering, use chlorothalonil or other approved fungicides if needed

  • Use insecticidal soap, neem oil, yellow sticky traps, encourage natural predators like lacewings

  • Strong water spray to dislodge, insecticidal soap, neem oil, attract ladybugs and parasitic wasps

  • Remove affected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, mulch, apply copper fungicides

Uses

🍳

Fresh eating and salads

Culinary

Patriot Red's medium size and balanced sweet-tart flavor make it ideal for slicing into salads, serving fresh, or using in salsas. The firm flesh holds up well without becoming mushy. [source]

🍳

Canning and sauce making

Culinary

High pectin content and concentrated flavor make Patriot Red excellent for tomato sauce, pasta sauce, and home canning. The determinate habit provides concentrated harvest for processing. [source]

💊

Lycopene-rich antioxidant source

Medicinal

Red tomatoes including Patriot Red contain high levels of lycopene, a carotenoid with potential cardiovascular and cancer-prevention benefits. Lycopene bioavailability increases with cooking. [source]

🏠

Disease-resistant home gardening

Household

Patriot Red was specifically bred to resist late blight and early blight, making it an excellent choice for reducing chemical inputs and supporting sustainable gardening in humid or disease-prone areas. [source]

🦋

Pollinator support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Growing Patriot Red supports local pollinator populations, which benefit the entire garden ecosystem. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Patriot Red reaches maturity in 65-75 days from transplant. Harvest when fruits are fully red and yield slightly to gentle pressure. For determinate varieties like Patriot Red, most fruit ripens within 2-3 week window. Twist gently and pull, or cut with pruners. Can pick at breaker stage (first color change) and ripen indoors for 1-2 weeks at room temperature (68-72°F). Avoid cold storage below 55°F as this damages flavor. Peak production typically occurs mid to late summer.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Patriot Red was developed by University of Florida researchers through conventional breeding to combine early maturity, disease resistance, and reliable production—making it a workhorse variety for home gardeners and small-scale growers.
  • 🌱 This variety is determinate, meaning all fruit ripens within a concentrated 2-3 week window, making it perfect for canning and preserving in bulk rather than continuous harvesting.
  • 🌱 The name 'Patriot' references the breeding program's American heritage, and the variety was specifically engineered to resist the same late blight pathogen (Phytophthora infestans) that devastated Irish potato crops in the 1840s.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Hybrid pH Transplant True Leaves
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