Gum Drop Yellow Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil consistently moist at 70-80°F, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge. Seedlings are ready to transplant outdoors after developing 2-3 true leaves and hardening off gradually over 7-10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods.

Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil temperature reaches 60°F or warmer and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 36 inches wide. Bury the transplant deeper than it was growing in the pot, allowing the buried stem to develop additional roots for stronger plants.

Pick fruits when they are fully yellow and slightly soft to the touch, typically 70-79 days from transplant. Gum Drop Yellows can be harvested slightly underripe and will continue to sweeten at room temperature if needed, though vine-ripened fruit offers the best flavor. Gently twist and pull each fruit, or use pruning shears to avoid damaging delicate branches heavy with fruit. Harvest regularly throughout the season to encourage continued production.

As an indeterminate variety, Gum Drop Yellow grows continuously throughout the season. Pinch off suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) in the lower third of the plant to channel energy into fruiting and improve air circulation. Remove lower leaves once the plant is well-established to reduce disease pressure and improve harvesting access.