How to Grow Splendor Tomato

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Splendor Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Splendor'

vegetable

Splendor is a determinate (bush-type) tomato variety bred for disease resistance and consistent production. It produces medium-sized, red fruits with good flavor and is particularly valued for its resistance to early and late blight, making it ideal for gardeners in humid climates. This compact variety is well-suited for containers, small spaces, and commercial production.

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Example Splendor Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Splendor Tomato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Splendor Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Splendor Tomato 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 via drip irrigation or soaker hose; water deeply but avoid wetting foliage to prevent disease

📏

Spacing: 24-36 inches apart in rows 36-48 inches apart inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant to first ripe fruit

🌱

Planting depth: Transplants: bury stem up to first true leaves; seeds: 0.25 inches deep

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

compost aged manure perlite or vermiculite for drainage balanced fertilizer (10-10-10)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 5-9; can grow in 3-10 with season adjustments

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling (Week 1-3)

3 weeks

Tiny green shoots emerge with cotyledons, then first true leaves develop. Plant is fragile and pale green.

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide 14-16 hours of grow light 2-3 inches above seedlings; maintain 70-75°F temperature

Vegetative Growth (Week 3-8 after planting)

5-6 weeks

Rapid growth of stems and leaves; plant becomes bushy and stocky. Roots develop strongly in well-prepared soil.

Harden off gradually before transplanting; apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; ensure consistent watering; support with stakes or cages if needed

Flowering (Week 6-10)

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters (inflorescences); plant continues producing vegetative growth but shifts energy to reproduction.

Maintain even soil moisture; reduce nitrogen fertilizer, switch to phosphorus-rich formula (5-10-10) to support flowering; ensure adequate pollination via air movement or gentle vibration

Fruiting & Development (Week 10-16)

4-6 weeks

Small green fruits form behind flowers; fruits rapidly enlarge. Plant becomes heavy with developing tomatoes.

Water deeply and consistently (critical at this stage); support branches with additional stakes or string; apply balanced fertilizer; thin excess foliage cautiously for air circulation

Ripening & Harvest (Week 16+)

2-3 weeks per fruit; ongoing through season

Fruits change from green to breaker stage (first blush of color) then to full red. Plant continues producing if season allows.

Maintain consistent watering to prevent blossom-end rot and fruit cracking; pinch off new flowers 4-6 weeks before first frost; harvest regularly to encourage continued production

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil carrots parsley garlic marigold nasturtium borage

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel potatoes kohlrabi

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray; scout daily for droppings and damaged leaves
Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; reflective mulch deters; encourage beneficial insects
Spray foliage with water to dislodge; use neem oil; increase humidity; predatory mites (Phytoseiulus) are effective
Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper fungicide or chlorothalonil; Splendor's resistance helps prevent this
Apply copper-based fungicide at first signs; remove infected tissue; ensure good drainage; Splendor's resistance is a major advantage

Uses

🍳

Fresh slicing and cooking

Culinary

Splendor tomatoes have balanced sweet and acidic flavor, making them excellent for fresh salads, sandwiches, sauces, and cooking. The medium size and firm texture hold up well in various dishes. [source]

🍳

Canning and preserves

Culinary

The determinate habit and concentrated harvest of Splendor make it particularly well-suited for preserving, canning, and making salsa or tomato sauce in batch quantities. [source]

💊

Lycopene antioxidant

Medicinal

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful carotenoid antioxidant that may support heart health and reduce oxidative stress. Cooking increases lycopene bioavailability. [source]

🏠

Disease-resistant variety for wet climates

Household

Splendor's breeding for early and late blight resistance makes it invaluable for gardeners in humid regions, reducing the need for chemical fungicides and supporting sustainable growing. [source]

🦋

Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

The abundant yellow flowers of tomato plants attract bees and other pollinators, supporting broader garden ecosystem health and fruit set. [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 at the 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) for best flavor or when fully red. Gently twist and pull, or use pruners to avoid damaging branches. Harvest every 2-3 days to encourage continued production. Late-season green fruits ripen indoors on a windowsill. Splendor is determinate, so it produces a concentrated harvest rather than continuous fruiting like indeterminate types.

Fun Facts

🌱 Splendor was developed specifically for its resistance to the two most common tomato fungal diseases (early and late blight), which killed a million people's crops in the Irish Famine potato blight; tomatoes share similar vulnerability but Splendor's breeding offers practical resilience.
🌱 Splendor is a determinate tomato, meaning it grows to a fixed height and produces most of its fruit in a concentrated window, making it ideal for home canners and commercial harvesters who want simultaneous ripening.
🌱 Tomato plants naturally produce alkaloid compounds in their foliage (not the fruit) as a defense mechanism; the flowers are actually self-compatible, so a single plant can produce fruit without external pollinators, though bees and vibration improve yields.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun pH Pollination Transplant True Leaves

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