Gum Drop Brown Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination typically occurs within 5 to 10 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge, using grow lights or a sunny windowsill to prevent leggy growth.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, ideally 65 to 70 degrees. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space transplants 18 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart, planting deep so the lowest leaves sit just above soil level to encourage a stronger root system.

Pick fruits when they reach full brown color with subtle striping, typically 70 to 79 days after transplanting. The tomatoes should yield slightly to gentle pressure but still feel firm. Because cherry tomatoes continue ripening on the vine and new flowers form constantly on indeterminate plants, harvest every 2 to 3 days during peak season to encourage continued production. Use a gentle twisting motion or snip with pruners to avoid damaging delicate stems.

As an indeterminate variety, Gum Drop Brown will grow continuously throughout the season. Light pruning of lower leaves improves air circulation and reduces disease risk, especially in humid climates. Remove suckers (shoots that emerge between the main stem and branches) selectively if the plant becomes overly dense, but avoid aggressive pruning that removes too much foliage and exposes fruits to sunscald.