Soldacki Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing at a depth of 1/4 inch. Keep soil warm (70-80°F) and moist until germination occurs in 5-10 days. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.

Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days by exposing them to increasing amounts of outdoor light and wind. Transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.

Pick fruits when they've fully colored to dark pink and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Harvesting typically begins around 70-79 days after transplanting. Since thin-skinned varieties bruise easily, handle carefully and use them within a few days of picking for best flavor and texture. You can harvest mature green fruits in early fall and ripen them indoors to extend the season.

As an indeterminate variety, Soldacki benefits from pruning suckers (shoots that form in the crotch between the main stem and branches) once plants are established. Remove these shoots when they're small to direct energy toward fruit production rather than excessive foliage. As the season progresses, prune lower leaves (those below the first fruit clusters) once they've fully matured to improve air circulation and reduce fungal disease pressure, especially important given this variety's exposure to Late Blight and Powdery Mildew in humid climates.