Long Keeper Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil warm (around 70 degrees Fahrenheit), and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Transplants will be ready to move outdoors once they develop true leaves and nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Move seedlings into the garden once soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Plant slightly deeper than they were growing in containers to encourage a stronger root system.

The harvest technique for Long Keeper is unconventional and critical to its value. When the plant is nearly full of ripe and ripening fruit (typically in late fall, before the first hard frost), pull up the entire plant, brush off excess soil from the roots, and hang it upside down in a cool location maintained between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In this environment, green and partially mature fruit will continue ripening slowly on the vine for 6 to 12 weeks. Individual fruits can be picked as they reach full color and softness, or left hanging longer for extended storage.

As a determinate variety, Long Keeper naturally stops growing at a predetermined height and doesn't require aggressive pruning to manage its size. Light removal of lower leaves once the plant is established improves air circulation and reduces disease pressure. Avoid heavy pruning that would reduce the total fruit-bearing canopy, especially as you approach your intended harvest window.