Tomato – Hillbilly

Tomato Hillbilly

Tomato Hillbilly. An American Heirloom beefsteak variety producing one of the largest fruits at up to 2 lb each, with amazing orange-yellow fleshed tomatoes with red and pink streaks. Fantastic flavour and a perfect slicing tomato. Indeterminate.  Best grown under glass or in a sunny sheltered position requiring a longer season that normal varieties to fully mature

Cultivation advice Tomato Hillbilly

• Sow in spring 1/16 inch deep.
• Germination takes around 6-14 days at 65-75F.
• Transplant the seedlings when large enough to handle into 3 inch pots.
• Grow on under cooler conditions and when about 8 inches tall,
• either plant in their growing position in the greenhouse
• or gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions
• and plant out 18 inches apart in a warm and sunny spot in moist,
• fertile well drained soil and keep watered.

What’s the difference between “indeterminate” and “determinate” tomatoes?

Determinate tomatoes, or “bush” tomatoes, are varieties that grow to a compact height (generally 3 – 4′). Determinates stop growing when fruit sets on the top bud. All the tomatoes from the plant ripen at approximately the same time (usually over period of 1- 2 weeks). They require a limited amount of staking for support and are perfectly suited for container planting.

Indeterminate tomatoes will grow and produce fruit until killed by frost. They can reach heights of up to 12 feet although 6 feet is normal.  Indeterminates will bloom, set new fruit and ripen fruit all at the same time throughout the season. They require substantial staking for support and benefit from being constrained to a central growing stem.