How to Grow Pixie Bonanza
Pixie Bonanza
Solanum lycopersicum 'Pixie Bonanza'
vegetablePixie Bonanza is a determinate cherry tomato variety that produces abundant clusters of sweet, bite-sized fruits. Known for its compact growth habit and prolific fruiting, it's ideal for containers, small gardens, and hanging baskets. The plant yields hundreds of flavorful tomatoes throughout the season.
When should you plant Pixie Bonanza in your zone?
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Example Pixie Bonanza timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Pixie Bonanza
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 Pixie Bonanza
Around Jun 21≈ 65 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pixie Bonanza dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3b-10b; typically grown as annual in cooler zones, perennial in warm zones
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Get my Pixie Bonanza timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny seedlings with cotyledons and first true leaves emerging
Keep soil moist, provide bright light or seedling lamp, maintain 65-75°F, thin to strongest seedlings
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks after transplantCompact bushy plant with multiple branches developing, pre-flowering
Harden off transplants before moving outdoors, plant deep to encourage root development, ensure full sun, begin light fertilization
Flowering
2-3 weeksDense clusters of small yellow flowers form throughout the canopy
Maintain consistent watering and moisture, avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen (encourages foliage over flowers), allow good air circulation, no heavy pruning needed for determinate varieties
Fruiting
4-6 weeksGreen marble-sized fruits develop rapidly in clusters; color transitions from green to orange to deep red over 2-3 weeks
Maintain steady watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot, fertilize every 2-3 weeks with lower nitrogen formula, provide stakes or cages for support, remove yellowing lower leaves for air circulation
Harvest
6-8 weeks until frostRipe red cherry tomatoes ready for picking in dense clusters
Pick tomatoes when fully red and slightly soft to touch, harvest regularly to encourage continued production, store at room temperature to maintain flavor
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for larvae, neem oil
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Yellow sticky traps, reflective mulch, insecticidal soap, neem oil, strong water spray to dislodge
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Increase humidity, spray with water, neem oil, insecticidal soap, ensure adequate air circulation
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Spray with strong water, insecticidal soap, neem oil, encourage beneficial insects like ladybugs
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Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper or sulfur fungicide, mulch to prevent soil splash
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Improve air circulation, apply sulfur or potassium bicarbonate fungicide, remove infected leaves, avoid overhead watering
Uses
Fresh eating and snacking
CulinaryPixie Bonanza cherry tomatoes are perfectly sized for popping in your mouth fresh, adding to salads whole, or halving for garnishes. Their sweet flavor and tender skin make them ideal for raw consumption. [source]
Roasting and cooking
CulinaryThese small tomatoes roast beautifully in 10-15 minutes, concentrating their sweetness for pasta sauces, bruschetta, or Mediterranean dishes. [source]
Container and ornamental gardening
HouseholdThe compact, determinate growth habit and abundant colorful fruit make Pixie Bonanza an excellent choice for decorative container gardens, patios, and hanging baskets where space is limited. [source]
Preserving and canning
CulinaryThe abundant yield makes Pixie Bonanza ideal for making tomato paste, sauce, or preserves for long-term storage. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeThe dense flower clusters attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting biodiversity and fruit set. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick tomatoes when fully red and slightly soft; they ripen in clusters, so harvest frequently (every 2-3 days during peak season) to encourage continued production. Pixie Bonanza will produce prolifically until frost. For best flavor, allow tomatoes to ripen fully on the vine. If frost threatens, harvest green tomatoes and ripen indoors in a warm location.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Pixie Bonanza can produce over 200 ripe tomatoes from a single plant during the growing season, earning it the reputation as one of the most prolific cherry tomato varieties available.
- 🌱 The name 'Pixie' refers to the diminutive size of the tomatoes, which are typically only ¾ to 1 inch in diameter, while 'Bonanza' reflects the abundance of harvest.
- 🌱 As a determinate (bush) variety, Pixie Bonanza sets and ripens most of its fruit within a 4-6 week window, making it ideal for successive plantings or for preserving projects with concentrated harvest periods.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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