Marion is an open-pollinated heirloom tomato that delivers the disease resistance modern gardeners crave without sacrificing the reliable productivity heirloom growers love. Bred to improve upon the classic Rutgers variety, Marion matures in 78-80 days and produces abundant 6-ounce fruits on indeterminate vines that reach 3 to 8 feet tall. Its combination of early maturity, strong resistance to Fusarium Wilt, Gray Leaf Spot, and Late Blight, plus proven performance across Southeast growing regions, makes it a standout choice for gardeners seeking both heritage flavor and practical disease management.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
96in H x ?in W
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High
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Marion hits that sweet spot between old-school heirloom character and modern disease resistance that actually matters in humid climates. It matures a bit faster than Rutgers while yielding more reliably, even when fungal pressure runs high. The 6-ounce fruits come in steady waves on vigorous indeterminate plants, and this variety shows genuine resistance to six major tomato diseases including Fusarium Wilt and Gray Leaf Spot, plus tolerance to Blossom End Rot. Gardeners across the Southeast have proven it performs exceptionally well in their hot, humid conditions where other heirlooms surrender to disease.
Marion is a salad tomato through and through, producing medium-sized fruits ideal for slicing into sandwiches, layering into summer salads, or serving fresh at the table. The steady yield across a long season means you'll have plenty of fruit for eating fresh, and the disease resistance keeps plants productive even when conditions favor fungal infections.
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Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, maintain soil temperature around 70-75°F, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Marion seedlings are vigorous and grow quickly.
Transplant outdoors after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F, ideally closer to 65-70°F. Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Space plants 24 inches apart within rows, with 36 inches between rows. Bury the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.
Pick fruits when they reach full color and yield slightly to gentle pressure, typically 78-80 days after transplanting. Marion produces 6-ounce fruits that ripen steadily throughout the season. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruiting. You can pick fruits at the breaker stage (when the first blush of color appears) and ripen them indoors if needed, or wait for full color development on the vine for maximum flavor.
As an indeterminate variety, Marion will grow continuously and benefit from pruning out suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to direct energy toward fruit production and improve air circulation. Remove lower leaves once fruit sets to further enhance airflow and reduce disease pressure. Support the vines with stakes, cages, or string trellising from early in the season to keep plants manageable and fruits off the ground.
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“Marion was developed as an improvement on the venerable Rutgers tomato, one of America's most important heirloom varieties. By breeding for earlier maturity and enhanced disease resistance, Marion's developers created a variety that honors Rutgers' legacy while addressing the real-world problems that plague heirloom growers, particularly in regions prone to fungal diseases. The result is an open-pollinated variety that carries forward the best of Rutgers while standing on its own merits, preserving the seed-saving tradition for a new generation of gardeners.”