Rouge De Summer Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil, around 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil moist until germination, which typically occurs within 5-10 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legging.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off for 7-10 days by gradually exposing plants to outdoor conditions. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows. Plant deep, burying the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.

Pick fruits when they reach full deep red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Mature fruits typically arrive 70-79 days after transplanting. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and production. Twist or cut the fruit from the vine carefully to avoid damaging the brittle stems of indeterminate varieties. Early morning harvest yields the crispest, most flavorful fruit.

As an indeterminate variety, Rouge De Summer benefits from selective pruning to manage vigor and improve air circulation. Remove suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) on the lower plant to reduce disease risk and focus energy into fruit production. Prune lower foliage once fruit is set to improve air flow around the base. Avoid heavy pruning during peak heat; light pruning works better.