"Honey Drop" Cherry Tomato
65 days to maturity
30 or 100 seeds per packet
Solanum lycopersicum
(Indeterminate, Early) We simply cannot put into words how amazing this bi-colored cherry tomato is!! The flavor is all at once dazzling, sweet, tangy, fruity, and really packs a tropical punch! Honey Drop was a selection from an exciting project to dehybrize the F1 hybrid cherry tomato, Sunsugar, by Rachel and Tevis Robertson-Goldberg at Crabapple Farm in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. This new open-pollinated variety was pledged as an OSSI variety in 2016. What a gift to tomato lovers everywhere!
The production levels of these vigorous plants are astounding, especially when grown with a multi-leader style (3-4 main stems). It bears an early crop and thanks to its blight resistance, it produces remarkably until the very final breaths of our growing season. The most crack-resistant cherry tomato that we have seen grown in the field and yet its flesh is soft and juicy with very tender skin— no compromises there! In addition to the outstanding flavor profile, high yields and disease resistance they are just such a beautiful plant to grow. The vines are loaded with a multitude of colors: soft creamy apricot, yellowish peach and salmony pink gems. What a delight it is to offer the Honey Drop to you!
The OSSI Pledge – You have the freedom to use these OSSI seeds in any way you choose. In return, you pledge not to restrict others' use of these seeds or their derivatives by patents or other means, and to include this pledge with any transfer of these seeds or their derivatives.
Growing Instructions:
Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting to the field after chance of last frost. If growing in a greenhouse sow 8 weeks before desired transplant date.
Plant spacing: 18" apart.
Row spacing: 28" to 32" apart
*If planting multiple rows we recommend alternating row spacing at 24 inches and 48 inches. The 24 inch row will be space for a trellis and the 48 inch row will be the walking path. This not only maximizes garden space, but also allows you to trellis two rows of tomatoes on one trellis.
There are many trellising systems and ways of pruning and caring for tomatoes. We encourage you figure out what makes the most sense for you, don't be afraid to experiment. We prefer double leader pruning with an overhead T-post and wire trellis for our field tomatoes.
Give tomatoes plenty of compost at time of planting. We also recommend a fall or spring cover crop of peas or another annual legume that will fix nitrogen for the tomato crop.
Mulching tomatoes is a good idea, however mulching in mid spring will keep soil temperature cooler and may slow growth. Mulching can be done once soil has warmed. Make sure soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.0. If plant needs a growing boost, water with nitrogen tea or compost tea a few times. If trace minerals are inadequate, sprinkle a small amount of woodash or azomite in each planting hole.
Harvest:
Harvest when tomatoes turn their full color or just shy of. If frost threatens or tomatoes fall off the vine they can be ripened indoors, out of cold storage.
