Monarch Tomato

Start seeds indoors 7 to 9 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds in warm soil (around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit) and keep them consistently moist until germination. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent them from becoming leggy.

Transplant outdoors after your last spring frost date when soil has warmed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space transplants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows.

Pick fruit when it reaches full orange color, which signals peak sweetness. Cherry tomatoes should feel slightly soft to gentle pressure but still firm enough to handle. Harvest regularly, even if you're not using them immediately, to encourage continued flowering and fruit set throughout the season. Monarch produces continuously on indeterminate vines, so plan for multiple harvests over several weeks or months depending on your climate.

As an indeterminate variety, Monarch benefits from pruning suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) early in the season to direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Once plants are established, you can remove lower leaves that touch the soil to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Stop major pruning four to six weeks before your first expected frost to allow the remaining fruit to mature.