Lime Green Salad Tomato

Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Press seeds lightly onto moist seed-starting mix, cover with a thin layer of soil, and keep the soil warm and consistently moist. Germination typically occurs within 5 to 10 days at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Once seedlings emerge, provide bright light to prevent legginess.

Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally closer to 65 to 70 degrees for vigorous growth. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Plant at 24-inch spacing with 36 inches between rows, burying the stem slightly deeper than it was in the container to encourage a stronger root system.

Pick fruits when they transition from apple-green to yellow-green, typically 50 to 59 days after transplanting. Gently twist and lift the tomato, or use pruning shears to cut the stem if needed. For peak flavor and juiciness, harvest in the early morning when temperatures are cool. Ripe fruits will yield slightly to gentle pressure but shouldn't be mushy.

As an indeterminate variety, this tomato will grow continuously throughout the season and benefits from selective pruning to improve air circulation and disease management. Remove lower leaves once the plant is established and flowering, keeping the bottom 12 inches of the stem clear of foliage to reduce soil-borne disease pressure. Pinch out excessive side shoots (suckers) that develop between the main stem and branches to direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive vine growth, but avoid over-pruning which can sunscald fruit.