How to Grow Sundown Tomato
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Sundown Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Sundown'
vegetableSundown is a determinate paste tomato variety bred for disease resistance and late-season production. It produces medium-sized, oblong fruits with excellent flavor and crack resistance, making it ideal for fresh eating and processing. This cultivar is particularly valued for its ability to set fruit in challenging late-season conditions.
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Example Sundown Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Sundown 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 Sundown Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Sundown Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-8, but can be grown in zones 3-9 with proper care
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Seedling
10-14 daysTiny plants with 2-4 leaves, delicate appearance with thin stems
Provide bright light (14-16 hours under grow lights), maintain soil moisture, keep temperature 65-75°F. Thin to strongest seedlings if direct seeding.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks (from seedling to transplant size)Plants develop true leaves, stronger stems, and begin rapid growth. Multiple leaf sets form along the main stem.
Gradually harden off transplants before planting outside. Plant deeply after last frost; provide support stakes or cages. Apply mulch around base.
Flowering & Early Fruiting
3-4 weeksFirst flower clusters appear in leaf axils; yellow flowers develop into small green fruit. Plant grows determinately, reaching mature height.
Maintain consistent watering and fertilization with balanced or tomato-specific fertilizer. Prune suckers on determinate varieties if desired. Monitor for early blight.
Fruit Development
3-4 weeksFruits enlarge rapidly, changing from green to light red/orange. Multiple clusters mature at different rates. Plant reaches full size.
Reduce nitrogen fertilizer to encourage ripening. Continue consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Support heavy fruit clusters.
Harvest
2-4 weeksFruits turn deep red/orange, fully ripe and flavorful. Determined varieties produce most fruit within 2-3 weeks.
Pick ripe fruit regularly to encourage continued production. Harvest before first frost if needed; green fruit ripens indoors.
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)
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Spray with water to dislodge, use neem oil or insecticidal soap, maintain humidity
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Yellow sticky traps, neem oil, insecticidal soap, reflective mulch
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Remove infected leaves, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide if needed
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Maintain consistent watering, add lime or gypsum to soil, mulch to regulate moisture
Uses
Fresh Eating & Cooking
CulinarySundown tomatoes are excellent for fresh eating with balanced sweetness and acidity, making them ideal for salads, sandwiches, and slicing. Their paste-type structure also makes them perfect for sauces, salsas, and cooking applications. [source]
Tomato Products
CulinaryAs a paste tomato variety, Sundown excels in homemade tomato sauce, paste, and canning. The meaty flesh and lower moisture content make it efficient for reduction into concentrated tomato products. [source]
Nutritional & Antioxidant Benefits
MedicinalSundown tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to heart health and cancer prevention. They also provide vitamins C and K, potassium, and folate. [source]
Seed Saving
HouseholdAs a hybrid or open-pollinated variety, Sundown tomatoes can be a good candidate for seed saving. Properly fermented and dried seeds remain viable for 4-5 years. [source]
Pollinator Support
WildlifeTomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity. The flowers provide pollen and nectar resources for beneficial insects. [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 colored and slightly soft to the touch. Ripe Sundown tomatoes have deep red/orange color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Harvest regularly to promote continued production. For fresh eating, pick vine-ripened fruit in morning after dew dries. For storage, pick at mature-green stage and ripen indoors at 68-72°F.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Sundown was specifically bred for late-season production, allowing gardeners to harvest ripe tomatoes later into fall than many other varieties.
- 🌱 Determinate or 'bush' tomato varieties like Sundown were developed for mechanical harvesting and commercial canning, which is why they produce most fruit in a concentrated period.
- 🌱 The crack-resistant nature of Sundown tomatoes makes them ideal for areas with variable rainfall or inconsistent watering schedules, as their skin resists splitting better than many slicing varieties.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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