How to Grow Southland Tomato
Wikimedia Commons
Southland Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Southland'
vegetableSouthland is a heat-tolerant determinate tomato variety developed for hot climates, particularly suited to Southern U.S. growing regions. It produces medium-sized red fruit with good flavor and disease resistance. The plant is compact and bushy, making it ideal for containers and small spaces.
When should you plant Southland Tomato in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Southland Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Southland Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Southland Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Southland Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 6b-10a, particularly suited to zones 8-9 where heat tolerance is critical
Sign up free to see if Southland Tomato grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Southland Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-14 daysSmall green cotyledons emerge, followed by first true leaves. Plant is fragile and pale green.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights), keep soil moist but not waterlogged, maintain 70-75°F. Thin seedlings to strongest specimens.
Vegetative
3-4 weeksPlant develops sturdy stem and multiple true leaves, growing 6-12 inches tall before transplanting. Bushy compact growth characteristic of determinate types.
Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions, fertilize lightly with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks, pinch off lower leaves once transplanted to encourage airflow.
Flowering
3-4 weeksFirst flower clusters (inflorescences) appear at leaf axils. Small yellow flowers develop in groups, typically 3-5 weeks after transplanting.
Maintain consistent watering and temperatures above 55°F at night for fruit set. Provide support structure (cage, stake, or string). Pollinate flowers gently with hand or brush if needed in hot, dry conditions.
Fruiting
4-5 weeksSmall green marble-sized fruits develop from flowers. Fruits gradually enlarge to full 2-3 inch diameter over 3-4 weeks before color change begins.
Ensure consistent soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Apply mulch to keep roots cool in heat. Begin light pruning of lower suckers if needed. Feed with tomato-specific fertilizer (lower nitrogen) every 2 weeks.
Harvest
4-8 weeks of continuous harvestFruits turn from green to bright red. At full color, fruit yields slightly to gentle pressure and detaches easily from stem.
Harvest ripe fruits regularly to encourage continued production. Pinch off diseased leaves. In extreme heat (above 95°F), shade plants slightly to prevent sun-scald. Continue consistent watering.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick daily, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), encourage parasitic wasps
-
Increase humidity, spray with water, use neem oil, release predatory mites
-
Yellow sticky traps, spray with insecticidal soap, encourage beneficial insects
-
Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, mulch to prevent soil splash, apply copper fungicide
-
Use disease-resistant varieties, practice crop rotation, remove infected plants, avoid overhead watering
Uses
Fresh eating and slicing
CulinarySouthland tomatoes have excellent flavor and are ideal for fresh consumption, slicing in salads, or serving whole. Their medium size and thin skin make them perfect for everyday cooking and eating. [source]
Sauces and cooking
CulinaryThe meaty texture and good flavor development make Southland suitable for sauces, salsa, and cooked tomato dishes. They concentrate well when cooked down. [source]
Antioxidant-rich food
MedicinalTomatoes are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant associated with cardiovascular and prostate health. Heat increases lycopene availability, making cooked Southland tomatoes particularly beneficial. [source]
Heat tolerance for southern gardens
HouseholdSouthland's exceptional heat tolerance makes it one of the few tomato varieties that reliably sets fruit in extreme Southern heat. Ideal for regions where standard varieties fail. [source]
Pollinator and beneficial insect support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Growing Southland tomatoes alongside companion flowers like basil and borage supports local pollinator 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
Pick fruits when fully red and slightly soft to touch. Twist and gently pull upward to detach from vine, or use pruning shears. Harvest regularly (every 2-3 days) to maintain production. Fruits ripen faster in heat, so early morning harvest preserves flavor. Can pick slightly-pink fruit and ripen indoors if needed.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Southland was specifically bred by the University of Florida and USDA for Southern growing conditions, making it one of the few tomato varieties that consistently sets fruit in temperatures above 90°F.
- 🌱 Determinate tomatoes like Southland produce all their fruit in a concentrated period (4-6 weeks), making them ideal for canning and large harvests, unlike indeterminate varieties that produce throughout the season.
- 🌱 Tomatoes ripen better and develop fuller flavor when temperatures stay between 68-77°F during the day; Southland's heat tolerance allows it to produce in much hotter climates where other tomatoes would drop flowers.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Southland Tomato planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Southland Tomato seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Southland Tomato timeline →