Nova is an exclusive F1 hybrid tomato that brings the season's first burst of color and flavor to early summer gardens. This determinate variety produces beautiful orange grape tomatoes and reaches maturity in just 65 days from transplants, thriving in hardiness zones 4 through 7. Growing 36 to 72 inches tall, Nova combines reliable performance with the kind of early productivity that makes it worth succession-planting every 4 to 6 weeks for a continuous harvest from mid-June into July.
Full Sun
Moderate
4-7
72in H x ?in W
—
High
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This orange grape tomato hybrid is bred for speed: 65 days from transplant to first fruit is remarkably quick for quality production. Its determinate habit means you get a concentrated harvest rather than vining all season, making it excellent for succession planting and fresh market use. Johnny's Selected Seeds developed Nova as an exclusive variety, and for good reason, the combination of early maturity, disease resistance to Fusarium Wilt and Nematodes, and compact growth makes it a standout for gardeners who want reliable tomatoes without the sprawl.
Nova's orange grape tomato form and early maturity make it particularly suited to fresh eating and market sales. The compact, determinate growth habit and consistent ripening window align with the variety's 'new items' designation, meaning it's positioned for growers looking to bring distinctive early-season color and flavor to farmers markets or restaurant menus before traditional red varieties come in.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in 20-row flats with 20 seeds per row, or in 200-cell trays with one seed per cell, lightly covering them. Keep the soil mix at 75 to 85°F with moderate moisture for germination in 5 to 7 days. About 5 to 6 weeks before your transplant date, start seeds so they reach the right stage without becoming root-bound or flowering in their containers. At the first true leaf stage, pot up to 50-cell trays or 4-inch pots depending on your expected transplant timing. Grow transplants at a constant 60 to 70°F under bright light, applying complete fertilizer regularly until you harden them off.
Transplant outdoors after your last frost date, when night temperatures consistently stay above 55°F. Avoid setting out leggy, root-bound, or already-flowering transplants, as these will stunt growth and reduce early production. Space plants 24 inches apart. Because Nova is determinate and matures quickly, you can succession-plant new seedlings every 4 to 6 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the season rather than planting everything at once.
Harvest Nova tomatoes when they are fully ripe for the best flavor; the orange color should be rich and uniform across the fruit. Pick fruit at peak ripeness rather than green, since these tomatoes are bred for quick maturity and will deliver maximum color and taste. For any fruit that doesn't fully ripen before season's end, pick it at the mature stage and ripen it in a cool, dark area indoors to complete the color development without refrigeration.
As a determinate variety, Nova naturally sets and ripens all its fruit within a concentrated window, so extensive pruning is not required. However, for trellising support (especially if using basket-weave with stakes every 2 to 3 plants), you can remove lower leaves once fruit forms to improve air circulation and disease prevention.
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