Plum Lemon Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep them warm (around 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit), and maintain consistent moisture. Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge to prevent leggy growth.

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days. Transplant outdoors when nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, burying the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system.

Pick fruits when they reach full yellow color and yield slightly to gentle pressure; they should feel soft but not mushy. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruiting throughout the season. You can pick slightly less-than-fully-ripe fruit and allow it to finish ripening on the counter, which also reduces the load on the vine and encourages more blooms. In cool climates, harvest all remaining fruit before the first frost and bring them indoors to ripen.

As an indeterminate variety, Plum Lemon Tomato will continue growing and flowering throughout the season. Prune suckers (shoots that emerge between the main stem and branches) when they are small and tender to direct energy toward fruit production rather than excess foliage. Remove lower leaves once the plant is established to improve air circulation and reduce disease risk, but avoid heavy pruning that would expose fruit to sunscald.