VegetableTomato
Momotaro Tomato
Momotaro stands as Japan's dominant fresh market tomato, earning its reputation as one of the most perfect and attractive varieties available today. This indeterminate hybrid produces deliciously sweet, pink-shouldered fruits weighing about half a pound each in 60-69 days. Hardy across zones 2-11 and notably heat tolerant, it thrives in temperatures below 86°F but struggles when mercury climbs higher. Vigorous vines reach 48-60 inches tall, clustering 6-7 pristine tomatoes per set with remarkable crack tolerance and exceptional shelf life.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-11
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
60 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-11
Size
60in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Momotaro apart is its coveted status as Japan's go-to commercial tomato, prized for an intensely concentrated, savory flavor that surpasses typical garden varieties. The pink fruits with distinctive green shoulders offer both beauty and substance, delivering crack resistance and extended storage life that made them a shipping favorite. Early maturity combines with impressive disease resistance spanning everything from Fusarium Wilt to Late Blight, while the vigorous indeterminate vines produce consistently uniform clusters. Temperature sensitivity above 86°F makes this variety ideal for cooler climates or greenhouse cultivation where conditions can be controlled.
Common Uses
Momotaro excels as a fresh market slicing tomato, perfect for immediate consumption when flavor peaks. The variety's savory, concentrated taste makes it exceptional for Japanese-inspired dishes like tomato and tofu salads with sesame dressing. Its excellent shelf life and shipping qualities also make it valuable for those who need tomatoes to maintain quality over time, whether for market sales or preserving harvest abundance.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date, maintaining soil temperature between 70-90°F for optimal germination. Sow in trays, then up-pot into 3-4 inch containers when the first true leaves appear. Keep seedlings at 60-70°F with strong light to prevent leggy growth, fertilizing every 10-14 days.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days before transplanting in late spring when soil temperatures consistently exceed 60°F. Bury plants up to the top two sets of leaves, working compost and bone meal into the planting area. Space indeterminate plants 24-36 inches apart in full sun locations.
Direct Sow
Direct sowing is not recommended for Momotaro tomatoes.
Harvesting
Harvest when fruits show full pink color with green shoulders, feeling firm with slight give when gently squeezed. Cut stems with sharp shears in the morning when fruits are coolest, leaving a small stem portion attached to preserve shelf life. The half-pound fruits should be fully colored and crack-resistant when ready.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, Momotaro requires regular pruning to 1-2 main leaders with strong vertical support. Remove suckers and excessive foliage to direct energy toward fruit development, ensuring good air circulation around the medium-sized leaves and medium-short internodes.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Momotaro emerged as a Japanese hybrid specifically developed to dominate that country's fresh market tomato industry. This F1 hybrid represents careful breeding work aimed at creating the most perfect, attractive tomato possible, combining exceptional flavor with commercial viability. The variety's success in Japan's demanding fresh market sector speaks to its superior genetics, eventually making its way to American gardens where growers discovered the same qualities that made it a commercial triumph.”