Early Doll Tomato

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Keep soil temperature between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Plant seeds roughly 1/4 inch deep in a seed-starting mix and keep it moist until seedlings emerge.

Transplant seedlings outdoors after your last frost date once they have developed 2 to 3 true leaves and the soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before planting.

Pick tomatoes when they have fully colored red and feel slightly soft to gentle pressure. At 4 to 5 ounces each, the globe-shaped fruit is easy to spot against the foliage. Early Doll typically begins producing fruit 50 to 59 days after transplanting, and the determinate habit means you'll get a concentrated harvest window rather than fruit trickling in all season. Harvest in the morning when fruit is coolest for the best flavor and shelf life.

As a determinate variety, Early Doll naturally stops its vertical growth at a genetically predetermined point and produces its fruit in concentrated flushes. Light pruning of the lowest leaves once the plant is established helps improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but avoid aggressive pruning, which can stress the compact plant and expose developing fruit to excessive sun.