Traveler 76 Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil (68-75°F) under grow lights or in a south-facing window. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Seedlings should emerge in 5-10 days. Thin seedlings if necessary to prevent crowding.

Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, ideally 70°F. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart. Bury stems deeper than they grew in containers to encourage a stronger root system.

Traveler 76 tomatoes mature in 70-79 days from transplant. Harvest when fruits are fully colored and slightly soft to the touch, indicating peak ripeness. The 6-ounce pink fruits can be picked at the breaker stage (when color first appears) if you want them to ripen off the vine, or left on the plant a few extra days for maximum sweetness. Continue harvesting throughout the season as the indeterminate vines will set new flowers and fruit until frost.

As an indeterminate variety, Traveler 76 will grow continuously throughout the season and benefits from pruning lower leaves and suckers. Once the plant is established and has set fruit on the lower clusters, remove leaves below the lowest fruit to improve air circulation and reduce disease. Prune suckers (shoots that form between the main stem and branches) on vigorous indeterminate plants to direct energy toward fruit production rather than excessive vegetative growth. Stop heavy pruning about 4-6 weeks before your first expected frost to allow the plant to focus on ripening remaining fruit.