Solanum lycopersicum Candyland Red Tomato Solanum lycopersicum Candyland Red Tomato is an award-winning, indeterminate currant variety, valued for its manageable habit and intense, candy-like sweetness. Growing to about 5 to 7 feet tall with a spread of 3 to 4 feet, this 2016 All-America Selections Winner is perfect for home gardens, raised beds, and large containers where high yields and ease of harvest are desired. Unlike wild currant tomatoes that often grow into unruly tangles, Candyland Red features a distinctively tidy vine structure that produces fruit clusters on the outside of the plant, making the massive yields of tiny, dark red berries easy to spot and harvest throughout the season. Culinary and Practical Uses The tiny, currant-sized fruits are smaller than cherry tomatoes and burst with a concentrated, sweet flavor, making them irresistible for snacking straight off the vine. Their petite size requires no chopping, making them an instant, colorful addition to garden salads, pasta dishes, and vegetable trays. Ideal for dehydrating into "tomato raisins" or quickly sautéing to create a burst-tomato sauce that highlights their natural sugars. Characteristics Foliage: Dense, dark green leaves that are slightly finer than standard tomato foliage; the plant maintains a more contained, bushy shape than traditional vining types. Growth Habit: Indeterminate but "tamed" vining habit that continues to grow until frost; specifically bred to hold fruit on the exterior of the canopy for easy access. Flowers: Produces profuse clusters of small, bright yellow blossoms that self-pollinate and rapidly develop into heavy trusses of fruit (often 100+ per truss). Seeds: Very small, standard tomato seeds; fast-germinating and vigorous, ensuring a quick start to the season. Growing Requirements Sun: Thrives in full sun; requires at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily to maximize the sugar content (Brix) of the fruit. Soil: Adapts to most soil types but prefers fertile, well-draining, loamy soil enriched with compost; pH 6.0 to 6.8 is ideal. Water: Requires consistent, deep watering; keeping moisture levels even helps prevent fruit splitting, though this variety is naturally resistant to cracking. Spacing: Plant seeds or transplants 24 to 36 inches apart to allow for airflow and support structure installation. Maintenance: Requires staking or caging to support the heavy fruit load; pruning is less critical than with other indeterminate types due to its naturally tidy habit. Shipping Info Candyland Red Tomato seeds ship as fresh, high-quality, viable seeds that are carefully packaged for stability and protection from damage during transit. Prompt shipping supports reliable germination and seasonally appropriate planting.
