How to Grow Summertime Tomato
Wikimedia Commons
Summertime Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Summertime'
vegetableSummertime is a heat-tolerant determinate tomato variety bred specifically for hot climates and summer growing. It produces medium-sized red fruits with excellent flavor and disease resistance. This variety is ideal for gardeners in southern regions or those seeking tomatoes that thrive when temperatures soar.
When should you plant Summertime 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 Summertime Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Summertime Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Summertime Tomato
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Summertime Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-11; exceptionally well-suited to zones 7-10 where summer heat is intense
Sign up free to see if Summertime Tomato grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Summertime Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plantlets with cotyledons (seed leaves) emerge and develop first true leaves. Plants are delicate and light green.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights), maintain soil moisture, keep temperature 70-75°F, avoid overwatering to prevent damping off.
Vegetative
3-4 weeks (after transplanting outdoors)Plants develop compound leaves and branching structure. Stems thicken and plant grows taller with vigorous green foliage.
Harden off before transplanting outdoors. Plant in warm soil (at least 60°F, ideally 70°F+). Space properly for air circulation. Remove lower leaves as plant grows. Apply mulch around base.
Flowering
2-3 weeks per flowering flushSmall yellow flowers appear in clusters. Plant continues to grow but begins focusing energy on reproduction.
Maintain consistent watering and temperature. Summertime is heat-tolerant and will set fruit even in high temperatures (85-95°F). Provide support structures (stakes or cages). Do not over-fertilize with nitrogen.
Fruiting
3-4 weeks per flushFlowers give way to small green fruits that gradually enlarge and turn red when mature. Plant bears multiple fruits in clusters.
Continue consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot and fruit splitting. Prune excessive foliage only if shading prevents ripening. Fertilize with balanced or slightly higher phosphorus formula. Monitor for heat stress and provide afternoon shade in extreme heat (over 95°F).
Harvest
4-6 weeks or moreFruits reach full size and deep red color. Pick tomatoes at peak ripeness for best flavor.
Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Pick fruits that are fully red but still firm. For extended season, pick mature green tomatoes before frost and ripen indoors. Continue watering and care until plant declines from heat or frost.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Hand-pick large caterpillars, use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), encourage parasitic wasps, inspect undersides of leaves regularly
-
Use yellow sticky traps, spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, introduce parasitic wasps (Encarsia formosa), avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen
-
Increase humidity and water stress on leaves, spray forceful water to dislodge mites, use neem oil or miticide, provide afternoon shade in extreme heat
-
Remove lower leaves as preventive measure, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide or sulfur, mulch to prevent spore splash
-
Remove infected leaves promptly, improve air circulation, avoid wetting foliage, apply fungicide if severe, stake plants for better air flow
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinarySummertime tomatoes are versatile for salads, slicing for sandwiches, and cooking in sauces and soups. Their heat tolerance means reliable production when other varieties fail in summer heat, making them valuable for continuous harvest. [source]
Canning and preservation
CulinaryThe firm flesh and good acidity of Summertime tomatoes make them suitable for canning, sauce-making, and other preservation methods. [source]
Nutritional benefits
MedicinalRich in vitamins C and A, potassium, and antioxidants like lycopene, which is linked to heart health and cancer prevention benefits. [source]
Heat-tolerant heirloom genetics
HouseholdSummertime represents successful breeding for climate resilience, making it valuable for seed saving and developing locally-adapted varieties in warming climates. [source]
Pollinator attraction
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader ecosystem health while ensuring good 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 when fully red and slightly soft to touch, typically 70-80 days after transplanting. Summertime is a determinate variety, meaning it produces its fruit crop over a defined period rather than continuously. Harvest regularly to encourage production. In extremely hot climates (above 95°F), fruits may develop slower; provide afternoon shade to improve ripening. Pick mature green fruits before the first frost and ripen indoors in a cool location.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Summertime was specifically bred by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service to produce fruit reliably even when daytime temperatures exceed 95°F, a condition that causes many tomato varieties to drop flowers and fail to set fruit.
- 🌱 This variety is determinate, meaning all fruit ripens within a concentrated time window (perfect for canning), unlike indeterminate varieties that produce continuously until frost.
- 🌱 The name 'Summertime' reflects its breeding goal: to deliver tomatoes when summer heat would normally knock out traditional varieties, making it a game-changer for hot-climate gardeners.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Summertime Tomato planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Summertime 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 Summertime Tomato timeline →