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How to Grow Piccolo Bicolor Salmon Tomato

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Piccolo Bicolor Salmon Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Piccolo Bicolor Salmon'

vegetable

Piccolo Bicolor Salmon is a compact indeterminate cherry tomato variety producing small, bicolored fruits with golden-yellow and salmon-pink striping. These bite-sized tomatoes are exceptionally sweet and flavorful, making them ideal for container growing and small spaces. The plant reaches only 3-4 feet tall, perfect for patios, balconies, and urban gardens.

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Example Piccolo Bicolor Salmon Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Piccolo Bicolor Salmon 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 Piccolo Bicolor Salmon Tomato

    Around Jun 21

    ≈ 65 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum (8+ hours preferred for sweetness)
💧
Water: Consistent moisture of 1-1.5 inches per week; water deeply and evenly to avoid fruit cracking and blossom end rot. Mulch around base to retain moisture and regulate temperature.
📏
Spacing: 18 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 65-75 days from transplant
🌱
Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplant depth to first true leaves when 6-8 inches tall

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.0-6.8
Amendments:
compost aged manure perlite for drainage calcium (crushed eggshells or lime to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in 3-4 with season extension

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

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-3 sets of true leaves; very delicate and light-dependent

Provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain 70-75°F for optimal growth. Thin to strongest seedling if multiple sprout.

2

Vegetative

3-4 weeks before transplanting outdoors

Rapid stem and leaf development; plant becomes bushy and compact. Multiple side shoots begin to emerge.

Transplant to larger containers once true leaves appear. Pinch off lower leaves as plant grows. Begin light feeding with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks. Support with stakes early.

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks; flowers appear continuously throughout season

Clusters of small yellow flowers appear in leaf axils. Plant continues compact, bushy growth pattern.

Ensure consistent watering to prevent flower drop. Switch to lower-nitrogen, higher-phosphorus fertilizer to encourage blooming. Gently shake plant when flowering to improve pollination. Provide support as plant becomes heavier.

4

Fruiting

4-6 weeks

Small fruits set and rapidly enlarge. Bicolor striping develops: golden-yellow base with salmon-pink shoulders and stripes. Fruits ripen in clusters.

Maintain even moisture to prevent cracking. Mulch well. Continue fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with tomato-specific formula low in nitrogen. Remove some foliage to increase light penetration to developing fruits. Prune judiciously to avoid sunscald.

5

Harvest

8-12 weeks of continuous harvest

Fruits reach full size (0.75-1 inch diameter) and develop complete salmon-pink coloration. Some fruits may be harvested slightly early and ripen indoors.

Pick fruits when fully colored for best flavor and sweetness. Continue harvesting regularly to encourage more production. Plants remain productive until frost. In cool climates, harvest all remaining fruit before first frost and ripen indoors.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley marigold carrot onion borage nasturtium garlic

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel dill corn potatoes

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick large caterpillars; spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) for smaller larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; check plants daily

  • Use yellow sticky traps; spray with insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects; avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen

  • Increase humidity and water spray foliage; use miticide if severe; remove heavily infested leaves

  • Remove infected lower leaves; avoid wetting foliage when watering; improve air circulation; apply copper fungicide if severe

  • Remove lower leaves as plant grows; stake for air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply chlorothalonil or mancozeb fungicide

Uses

🍳

Fresh snacking and salads

Culinary

These bite-sized tomatoes are exceptionally sweet with a complex flavor profile ideal for eating directly off the vine, adding to fresh salads, or using as appetizers. Their small size makes them perfect for garnishing and plating. [source]

🍳

Sauce and paste production

Culinary

The concentrated sweetness and deep flavor of Piccolo Bicolor make them excellent for homemade tomato sauce, ketchup, and concentrated paste, producing superior results compared to larger tomato varieties. [source]

🏠

Container and small-space gardening

Household

The compact determinate growth habit (3-4 feet) makes this variety ideal for growing in containers, hanging baskets, patios, and balconies where space is limited. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The abundant small yellow flowers attract bees, hoverflies, and other beneficial pollinators that support overall garden health and productivity. [source]

💊

Nutritional and antioxidant benefits

Medicinal

Rich in lycopene, beta-carotene, and vitamins C and K, these tomatoes support heart health, immune function, and possess antioxidant properties beneficial for disease prevention. [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 salmon-pink colored and slightly soft to touch, usually 70-80 days after transplanting. Harvest regularly to encourage continuous production. Fruits can be picked slightly early if desired and will ripen at room temperature in 3-5 days. Pinch off flowers 4-6 weeks before first frost to direct energy to existing fruit.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 The distinctive bicolor striping of Piccolo Bicolor Salmon develops due to a genetic trait that allows both yellow and pink pigments to coexist in the fruit skin, creating the stunning salmon-hued appearance.
  • 🌱 Despite their small size, these cherry tomatoes contain more concentrated sugars and flavor compounds than larger varieties, making them intensely sweet and complex in taste.
  • 🌱 The 'Piccolo' designation refers to the small, compact growth habit—'piccolo' means 'small' in Italian—making this variety revolutionary for urban and container gardeners seeking full productivity in minimal space.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Mulch pH Pollination Transplant True Leaves
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