Slicer Tomato
Porter is an heirloom tomato bred for the unforgiving heat of Texas, a variety that thrives where other tomatoes falter. This indeterminate plant produces egg-shaped fruit with dark pink skin, each weighing 2 to 4 ounces, and reaches harvest in 75 to 85 days. Bred specifically for drought resistance and reliable fruiting in hot, dry climates, Porter rewards gardeners with exceptional juiciness and abundance, whether you're canning, juicing, or preserving.
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
?in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
Hover over chart points for details
Developed in Texas heat, Porter sets fruit reliably even when temperatures soar and water is scarce. The dark pink, egg-shaped fruits are remarkably juicy, making them stellar for canning and juicing applications. Its proven drought resistance and outstanding productivity mean you'll harvest steadily all season without fussing over water schedules, and the plant's indeterminate habit ensures continuous production from mid-summer through frost.
Porter excels in the kitchen as a canning and juicing tomato, prized for its exceptional juice content and reliable yields. The fruits' small to medium size and juicy character make them ideal for sauces, fresh juice, and preserved preparations that capture the essence of late-summer tomato flavor.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil consistently moist at 70 to 75°F, and provide 14 to 16 hours of light daily. Seedlings should be ready to transplant outdoors 6 to 8 weeks after sowing.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F, ideally 65 to 70°F. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart in rows 36 to 48 inches apart, burying the stem deeper than it grew in the pot to encourage strong root development.
Pick Porter tomatoes when they have developed their dark pink color and yield slightly to gentle pressure; they should have some give but not be soft. Harvest begins around 75 to 85 days after transplanting, and fruits continue to ripen throughout the season until frost. Twist and pull gently to detach the fruit from the vine, or use pruners to avoid damaging the plant.
As an indeterminate variety, Porter will grow and vine throughout the season. Prune suckers (shoots that develop between the main stem and branches) regularly to focus the plant's energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Remove lower leaves as the plant grows to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Porter emerged from Texas horticultural tradition, developed specifically to solve the problem that plagued gardeners in the state's hot, dry climate: tomatoes that stop flowering and drop fruit when heat peaks. This heirloom was created to set fruit reliably under stress, a trait that made it invaluable to home and market gardeners across the Southwest who needed tomatoes that refused to quit.”