Containers Choice Red Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70-75°F. Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; seedlings will be ready to transplant into larger containers once they develop their first true leaves.

Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches 60°F, ideally 70°F. Plant at the spacing of 24 inches between plants and 36 inches between rows. Bury the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.

Harvest fruits when they reach full bright red color and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure. Most fruits will mature between 70-79 days from transplant. The oblate shape and 6-8 ounce size make them easy to identify at peak ripeness. Twist gently or use pruning shears to remove the fruit from the vine, leaving a small portion of the stem attached if desired. Because this is a determinate variety, expect most of your crop to ripen within a 2-3 week window, so plan accordingly for preserving or sharing.

Because Containers Choice Red is a determinate variety, pruning is minimal. Unlike indeterminate tomatoes, this type sets all its fruit at once rather than continuously, so aggressive pruning isn't necessary. You can remove any damaged, diseased, or dead leaves to improve air circulation, but avoid the heavy sucker removal that indeterminate varieties require.