How to Grow Reward Tomato
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Reward Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Reward'
vegetableReward is a determinate, disease-resistant tomato variety bred for commercial and home garden production. It produces medium-sized red fruits with excellent flavor and impressive disease resistance to late blight, early blight, and verticillium wilt. This variety is particularly valued for its reliability and consistent yields.
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Example Reward Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Reward Tomato
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 Reward Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Reward Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in zones 3-4 with season extension
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Get my Reward Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksCotyledons emerge within 5-10 days; first true leaves develop within 2-3 weeks
Maintain warm soil (70-75°F); provide bright light 14-16 hours daily under grow lights; keep soil moist but not waterlogged; begin fertilizing weakly once true leaves appear
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks after transplantingPlant develops multiple sets of true leaves and stems; roots establish deeply; foliage is vigorous and green
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before transplanting; transplant into garden after last frost; stake or cage early; pinch suckers on determinate varieties if desired; maintain consistent watering
Flowering
2-3 weeksSmall yellow flowers appear in clusters (inflorescences); plant reaches full height of 3-4 feet (determinate growth)
Ensure consistent watering and calcium availability to prevent blossom-end rot; apply balanced or slightly higher phosphorus fertilizer; maintain good air circulation by pruning lower foliage; monitor for pests and diseases
Fruit Development & Maturation
4-6 weeksSmall green fruits form and grow to medium size (6-8 oz); fruits gradually turn from green to yellow to deep red at maturity
Continue consistent watering; reduce nitrogen to avoid excessive foliage; support heavy fruit clusters with cages or ties; watch for late blight and early blight despite resistance; harvest when fully red for best flavor
Harvest & End of Season
Until frost or plant declineFruits fully mature and detach easily from vine; plant may begin showing yellowing or disease by late season
Pick tomatoes when fully colored; ripen off-vine at room temperature if necessary; harvest before first frost; remove plants showing heavy disease pressure to prevent pathogen spread
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps; maintain garden hygiene
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Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; use reflective mulch; introduce beneficial insects; yellow sticky traps
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Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings
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Remove infected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide if severe
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Choose resistant varieties (Reward has VF resistance); practice crop rotation; sterilize tools; remove infected plants immediately
Uses
Fresh Eating & Salads
CulinaryReward tomatoes have balanced sweet-tart flavor ideal for fresh eating, slicing, and salads. Their medium size and meaty texture make them perfect for sandwich slicing. [source]
Sauce & Cooking
CulinaryWith good acidity and flesh structure, Reward tomatoes work well for sauces, salsas, and cooked dishes. Their disease resistance makes them reliable for commercial-style processing. [source]
Nutritional Benefits
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant associated with cardiovascular and prostate health. They also provide vitamin C, potassium, and folate. [source]
Disease Resistance Breeding
HouseholdReward was developed specifically for disease resistance to late blight, early blight, and verticillium wilt, making it a parent variety for breeding disease-resistant tomato cultivars. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators during their flowering stage, contributing to garden biodiversity and supporting beneficial insect populations. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Reward tomatoes reach full maturity 70-80 days from transplanting. Pick fruits when completely red and slightly soft to the touch. Twist gently or use pruning shears to harvest. For best flavor, allow to ripen fully on the vine. In cooler climates near frost, harvest green tomatoes and ripen indoors at 68-75°F.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Reward was specifically bred to resist late blight (Phytophthora infestans), the same pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine, making it exceptionally reliable in humid or disease-prone regions.
- 🌱 Determinate tomato varieties like Reward produce their entire crop within a concentrated 3-4 week period, making them ideal for canning and preserving rather than continuous harvesting.
- 🌱 Tomatoes are technically berries botanically, and despite being called vegetables culinarily, they're fruits containing seeds from a ripened ovary.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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