Seeded Watermelon
Giant Crimson Tomato is a remarkably rare indeterminate variety that nearly vanished from cultivation for over 45 years before being revived by dedicated seed savers. Plants produce substantial pink-red fruits weighing 8 to 10 ounces, sometimes reaching close to a pound, combining the meaty structure of a beefsteak with the juiciness of a slicer tomato. Reaching harvest in 85 to 90 days, this variety rewards full-sun growers with decent yields of distinctly flavorful fruit that bridges two classic tomato categories. Few seeds are produced within each fruit, which is typical of heirloom types and makes preservation an act of real gardening commitment.
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This is a tomato with genuine history and scarcity. Extinct for nearly half a century, Giant Crimson Tomato represents a living archive of agricultural diversity, now available only because someone cared enough to save it. The fruit itself delivers a rare combination: dense, meaty flesh with surprising juiciness and a pink-red color that deepens as it ripens. Large specimens reaching a pound demonstrate the vigorous productivity indeterminate plants can achieve when given proper support and warmth.
Giant Crimson Tomato excels in fresh eating and cooking applications that showcase its hybrid nature. The meaty flesh and relatively few seeds make it superb for slicing into thick wedges for sandwiches, salads, and plates where tomato texture and structure matter. Its juice content also suits it to sauces and cooked preparations where you want both body and flavor complexity. Home gardeners prize large beefsteak types like this for canning and preservation, though the seed scarcity makes seed saving from your harvest a natural practice.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil (70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit) under grow lights or in a bright window. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged; germination typically occurs within 5 to 10 days. Transplant seedlings into individual pots once they develop true leaves.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart in rows or beds. Set transplants slightly deeper than they grew indoors to encourage strong root development.
Pick Giant Crimson Tomato fruits when they develop a deep pink-red color and yield slightly to gentle finger pressure, typically 85 to 90 days after transplanting. Fruits weighing 8 to 10 ounces are ready when the blossom end (the rounded bottom) softens and the fruit detaches easily from the stem with a light twist. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season. If frost threatens before fruits ripen, pick mature green tomatoes and allow them to ripen indoors at room temperature.
As an indeterminate variety, Giant Crimson Tomato benefits from selective pruning to direct energy into fruit production. Pinch off the lowest 8 to 12 inches of foliage once plants are established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Remove suckers (shoots that form between the main stem and branches) when they're small to encourage larger fruits on the main framework. Stop aggressive pruning about four weeks before your expected first frost to allow remaining fruit to mature.
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“Giant Crimson Tomato's journey is one of near-loss and recovery. For over 45 years, this variety disappeared from cultivation entirely, existing only in seed bank collections or lost family gardens. Its resurrection came through dedicated seed savers who sprouted dormant seeds and replanted them into commercial availability. This revival story speaks to why heirloom preservation matters: without active growing and seed saving, remarkable varieties simply vanish from our food system. The scarcity of seeds in each fruit makes propagation labor-intensive, which likely contributed to its original decline and explains why seed companies can only offer five seeds per packet today.”