Chef's Choice Bicolor Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds at a shallow depth, keeping soil warm at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. Once seedlings develop true leaves, provide strong light and cooler temperatures (around 65 degrees) to prevent leggy growth.

Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, and consider burying the transplant slightly deeper than its container to encourage stronger root development.

Harvest Chef's Choice Bicolor tomatoes when they reach full color and yield slightly to gentle pressure at the blossom end. The fruits typically mature 70 to 79 days after transplanting. Pick tomatoes when they transition from firm and glossy to soft enough to give just slightly when squeezed, indicating peak sugar development. For maximum flavor, harvest in early morning after dew dries but before the day's heat intensifies.

As an indeterminate variety, Chef's Choice Bicolor benefits from selective pruning of suckers, the shoots that emerge in the crotch between the main stem and branches. Removing these lateral growth points directs energy into the main stem and fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Prune lower foliage once fruiting begins to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.