Old German Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, sowing them in a warm seed-starting mix. Maintain soil temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep seedlings under grow lights and maintain warmth for strong development before transplanting.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. True Leaf Market notes this variety thrives in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses, so choose the location that offers full sun and stable growing conditions.

Harvest Old German Tomatoes when they are fully ripe, with the golden-yellow color fully developed and the fruit yielding slightly to gentle pressure. The fruits should feel substantial and heavy for their size, indicating full juice content and flavor development. Pick tomatoes in the morning when temperatures are cool. According to Territorial Seed Company guidance, do not refrigerate freshly harvested ripe fruit to preserve the best flavor. If you have green fruit at season's end, ripen them in a cool, dark area, ensuring the fruits do not touch one another to prevent rotting.

As an indeterminate variety, Old German Tomato will benefit from selective pruning to improve air circulation and fruit quality. Remove suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fruit production and prevent dense canopy growth that can trap moisture. Pruning lower leaves once the plant is established can reduce disease pressure near the soil line. However, avoid excessive pruning that would remove foliage needed to shade developing fruit in extremely hot climates.