Manitoba Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing at a depth of 1/4 inch in warm soil around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil consistently moist until germination, then provide bright light to prevent leggy seedlings. Harden off transplants over 7 to 10 days before moving outdoors.

Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, though waiting for 65 to 70 degrees will give faster establishment. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart. This variety tolerates cooler soil better than many tomatoes due to its northern heritage, but still performs best when planted into warm ground.

Pick fruit when it reaches full bright red color and yields slightly to gentle pressure; Manitoba Tomatoes develop their tangy character best when fully ripe on the vine. Harvest regularly once fruit begins to color to encourage continued production throughout the concentrated ripening window. For northern gardeners facing early frost, pick mature green fruit in the final weeks of the season and ripen indoors at room temperature.

Determinate tomatoes like Manitoba require minimal pruning compared to indeterminate types. Remove only the lowest leaves as fruit develops to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, and prune any obviously diseased or damaged foliage. Because this variety concentrates its fruit set and ripening, aggressive pruning will reduce your yield more than help it.