Gum Drop Pink Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge, and maintain consistent moisture without waterlogging.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Harden off plants gradually over 7 to 10 days before planting. Space transplants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows in a location receiving full sun.

Pick fruits when they reach full pink color and yield slightly to gentle pressure, typically 80 to 89 days from transplant. The thin skin is delicate, so handle gently to avoid bruising. Harvest regularly throughout the season to encourage continued fruit production; leaving ripe fruit on the vine signals the plant to slow flowering. Cherry tomatoes can be picked slightly underripe and will continue ripening off the vine if needed.

As an indeterminate variety, Gum Drop Pink benefits from pruning to manage its continuous growth and improve air circulation. Remove lower leaves as the plant grows to reduce disease pressure and direct energy toward fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Pinch off suckers (shoots between the main stem and branches) selectively, though light sucker removal on cherry tomatoes is less critical than on larger slicing varieties.