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Slicing / Heirloom Tomato · Indeterminate fruiting
Tomato (Rainbow)
Rainbow
Summer
SunFull sun (6–8+ hrs)
Water1–2" per week in deep soaks (drip). Irregular watering causes blossom-end rot and cracking.
Spacing24–36" apart, staked or trellised
Feeding10-10-10 at planting → switch to 5-10-10 (or tomato-specific) at flowering, every 2–3 wks. Back off nitrogen at flowering. Excess N = leaves, not fruit.
Care
- Prune suckers on indeterminate slicers/heirlooms; remove lower leaves touching the ground.
- Calcium at planting (crushed eggshells or gypsum) prevents blossom-end rot.
- 1 tbsp Epsom salt per plant at transplant; repeat at first fruit set (magnesium for chlorophyll + fruit dev).
- Hand-pollinate on calm mornings: shake clusters / tap stakes / electric toothbrush on flower stems.
- Pinch the very first flower cluster on young plants for stronger root/plant development.
- Succession: start a second wave of indeterminate starts mid-June for late-summer/fall harvest.
Harvest
Pick at full color for best flavor. Heirloom surplus freezes well for later jam/Bloody Mary batches.
Watch for
Blossom-end rot (calcium/water), cracking (irregular water), early blight (airflow, water at soil level, copper spray).