65-70 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycoperscium. Orange Queen Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, determinate, slicing tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Orange Queen tomatoes have a tame, mild flavor that captivates your tongue. These early-maturing 4- to 6-ounce beefsteaks make a beautiful ingredient and a quick, easy on-the-go snack. ~6,800 seeds/oz. Download Free Vegetable Growing Guide PDF Latin Name: Solanum lycoperscium (previously Lycopersicon esculentum) Hardiness Zone: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. Annual: Not intended to overwinter Days to Maturity: 65-70 (from transplant) Days to Germination: 7-10 Seeding Depth: 0.25 inch Direct Sow: No Start Indoors: Yes. Start indoors, 7-9 weeks before your last spring frost date. Tomato Type: Slicing - Larger, round tomatoes, the size of your fist or larger. Plant Spacing: 18 to 24 inches Row Spacing: 36 inches Plant Height: 36 to 48 inches Plant Width: 18 to 24 inches Growth Habit: Determinate - Determinate tomatoes are more compact, bush-type plants that set their fruit all at once and end the harvest. They won't conwon't to produce tomatoes after that. By planting multiple plants a week apart, you can harvest for longer. Growth Speed: Early - Ready for harvest from about 60 to 69 days (or less, depending on variety) from transplant to harvest. Including time for indoor seed starts, this can range to about 130 days (or less depending on the variety) from sowing the seed to harvest. To have a tomato by the 4th of July, start seeds indoors in mid to late February and transplant by mid-April at the latest. Soil Preference: Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8), and moisture-retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting—tomatoes like more phosphorus and potassium than other vegetables. Temperature Preference: Warmer (70-85 F) Germination Temperature: 65-85 F Light Preference: Full Sun Pests and Diseases: Common pests that harm tomato plants include the tomato hornworm, cutworm, aphids, flea beetles, tomato fruit worms, and whiteflies. Also, watch for common diseases such as blossom end rot, Fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, Verticillium wilt, late blight, bacterial canker/spot, and tobacco mosaic virus. You can prevent most of these by maintaining a regular watering schedule and avoiding overwatering. Check your plants regularly for pest damage throughout the season. For treating pest and disease problems, we recommend using an organic neem-based product. Orange Queen Tomato Color: Orange Orange Queen Tomato Flavor: Mild Garden Size: Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed Tomato Use: Salads, fresh eating, etc. Climate Tolerance: Growing Orange Queen Slicer Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden Six to eight weeks before the last spring frost, start your tomato seeds indoors in seed-starting trays. Use a well-draining potting or germinating mix to start the seeds. Plant two or three seeds per cell and cover the seeds. Water them in gently to avoid washing the seeds away. Water the tray regularly and use a clear plastic dome or plastic wrap to improve humidity and moisture around the tray. As soon as one seedling emerges, move the tray to a bright window or use grow lights positioned a few inches above the tray. Seedlings should receive at least 8 hours of direct sunlight. Tomatoes are very sensitive to insufficient light and will not grow as readily if the light is too weak or too short. If using, remove the greenhouse dome or plastic wrap once the seedlings have developed true leaves. Thin the seedlings to one per cell by removing the weaker seedlings when they have reached two inches tall. Fertilize once they have two sets of true leaves. Transplant the seedlings into larger pots once their root systems have developed beyond the starting cell’s, but a few weeks before they can be moved outdoors; using biodegradable pots will speed up the final transplant. Before planting them in your garden soil, harden off the seedlings gradually to acclimate them to sunnier, windier conditions. Transplant the seedlings into the garden once the danger of frost has passed. Bury a calcium supplement in the soil beneath the seedlings. Bury most of the stems to encourage more root development. Leave at least one good set of leaves at the top. Remove lower leaves that can’t reach sunlight or might be buried, along with any suckers growing between fruit-bearing branches. Fertilize with compost, worm castings, or another fertilizer of choice when planting into the garden. Prune the bush periodically throughout the season to remove suckers and bottom leaves. Fertilize once more in mid-season. Water Orange Queen tomato plants so the soil stays evenly moist; this helps prevent blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Limit disease spread by avoiding water or mud on the leaves. Applying mulch can help the soil stay evenly moist. Protect the plants from any cool weather below 50 F; they are not cold-tolerant. Harvesting Orange Queen Slicer Tomatoes Orange Queen produces for about one month. If the harvest buts up against a frost, pull up the plant and finish ripening the tomatoes off the vine indoors. Harvest them off the vine when orange and shiny but still firm. Gently twist the tomato off the calyx or snip it loose if it won’t come off on its own. About Orange Queen Slicer Tomato Garden Seeds Orange Queen tomato plants suit various growing locations, including raised beds, large containers (minimum of 10 gallons), fields, greenhouses, and more. Ensure they get full sun and consistent watering. Orange Queen tomatoes have a tame, mild flavor that captivates your tongue. These early-maturing 4- to 6-ounce beefsteaks make for a beautiful ingredient and quick on-the-go snack. Slicing tomatoes are medium to large and round, ideal for fresh eating. The juicy fruits have a higher water content than paste tomatoes, making them ideal for fresh applications. They can also be cooked but require longer cooking time to reduce and thicken. Tomatoes are native to the tropical regions of South and Central America and love warm weather and plentiful sunshine. However, since they were first introduced to Europe in the 16th Century, different tomato cultivars have been developed and grown globally in many climates. To get multiple harvests from these determinate tomato plants, start the seeds in succession. This means starting a small batch of seeds and then, 2-4 weeks later, starting another batch, and so on, until you calculate that the last batch will ripen right before your predicted first frost of fall. This will ensure you have delicious tomatoes all season long! Tips From Our Gardeners "I love the visual appeal of layering these with other red beefsteak tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves, and then drizzling with balsamic glaze for a colorful tomato-lover's salad. Delicious, nutritious, and beautiful!" - Lar Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer Other Resources Guide to Tomatoes Orange Queen Slicer Tomato Seeds Per Package: 300 mg packet - Approximately 65 Seeds .25 oz - Approximately 1,700 Seeds 1 oz - Approximately 6,800 Seeds 4 oz - Approximately 27,200 Seeds 1 lb - Approximately 108,800 Seeds Non-GMO Orange Queen Slicer Tomato seeds are available with fast, free shipping on qualifying orders.
