Mandarin Cross is an open-pollinated heirloom tomato that brings the warmth of its namesake fruit to the summer garden. Reaching 60 to 84 inches tall, this indeterminate variety produces rich orange fruits in about 80 days from transplant, with a flavor that lives up to the promise of that glowing color. The plant thrives in full sun with moderate water, and its crack-resistant fruits are prized for their thick, sweet flesh and firm texture, making them equally at home sliced fresh or on the dinner plate.
36
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
84in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
The flesh is remarkably tender yet firm enough to slice cleanly, with a sweetness that tastes like summer itself. Orange-colored fruits develop that characteristic mandarin hue, making the plant visually striking even before you taste what it produces. Its resistance to Bacterial Canker, Fusarium Wilt, Late Blight, Powdery Mildew, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and Verticillium Wilt, combined with tolerance to Blossom End Rot, means you're growing a tomato built to handle what nature throws at it.
Mandarin Cross shines as a fresh-eating tomato, best enjoyed fully ripe straight from the vine. The firm, thick flesh makes it ideal for slicing and serving with cheese like feta, or simply seasoning with salt and a touch of oil. Its balanced sweetness and structure also make it suitable for any preparation where you want the tomato's flavor to stand forward rather than dissolve into a sauce.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before outdoor night temperatures are reliably 50 to 55°F. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and 1 inch apart in seed starting mix, keeping it moist but not soggy. Maintain a strong light source and warmth at 80°F for germination. When seedlings reach 2 inches tall, transplant into individual 4-inch pots, burying stems up to the base of the leaves, and maintain them at 70 to 75°F. Feed with half-strength fertilizer every 2 weeks until ready to transplant outdoors.
Move transplants outdoors once night temperatures are reliably 50 to 55°F. Plant several inches deeper than seedlings were growing in containers. Space plants 36 inches apart (or closer at 24 inches in tight spaces) with rows also 36 inches apart. Provide strong stakes or tall wire cages at planting time.
Pick fruit when fully ripe for the best flavor, using the rich orange color as your guide. These tomatoes are meltingly tender when ripe, so handle them gently during harvest. Do not store in the refrigerator; instead, keep them at room temperature to preserve the full depth of their sweetness.
As an indeterminate variety, Mandarin Cross benefits from support and training on stakes or cages established at planting time. While source data does not provide specific pruning guidance, strong support is essential for plants reaching 60 to 84 inches tall.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.