Organic Hillbilly Tomato Seeds

Hillbilly tomato is a massive heirloom beefsteak dating back to 1880s West Virginia. Its smooth, ribbed fruits can weigh 1–2 lbs! These incredibly unique and absolutely delicious tomatoes are yellowish-orange with red streaks inside and out. Dense fruits are sweet, juicy, and low in acid, perfect for slicing!

Slice Hillbilly tomatoes into thick slabs for a tasty and irresistible sandwich topper!

Planting by Zones

Zones 9-10

• Tomatoes grow well in the extended warm season of Zones 9 and 10. Often you can grow tomatoes year-round. This process is called perennialization. It happens when a typically annual plant grows year-round in mild weather. You can grow tomatoes year-round in Zones 9 and 10, but their productivity will greatly diminish once temperatures cool and the days are shorter. As a grower, you should decide to pull your tomato plants if they stop producing at a healthy rate, are diseased, or if space is needed for more seasonal vegetables.
• In Zones 9 and 10, you can start tomatoes from seed as early as February if they are protected from the cold. Do not let your seedlings get root bound in their containers. All seeds of the Solanaceae family enjoy warm temperatures to germinate. Using a seedling heat mat can greatly increase germination rate and speed.

Zones 2-8

• Sow seeds in starter pots with a heating pad 5–6 weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the danger of frost is gone.

Planting Tomato Seeds

• Tomato seeds are easy to start with a few key things. Tomatoes germinate very slowly in cold soil. If you are starting your seeds early in the season, you may want to use a seedling heat mat to ensure the soil is warm enough for quick germination. Soil temperature should be 75-90°F.
• If planting seeds in starter pots, plant seeds into thoroughly moistened high-quality seed starting mix. Place seeds on top of the soil and cover with 1/4″ of finely sifted soil.
• If you plan to direct sow (not recommended), follow the same sowing instructions for starter pots or plug trays.
• Once the seedlings have germinated and have their first set of true leaves, fertilize regularly with an organic liquid fertilizer, such as fish emulsion. We highly recommend using compost tea to help jump-start your tomatoes. We use Great Big Tomatoes; it’s our secret to happy, thriving tomatoes!
• Seedlings can be planted in the garden when they are 7–8 weeks old or 5–6″ tall and stocky. Tomatoes are unique because you can plant them deep into the ground. We recommend doing this because the tiny white hairs on the tomato plant become roots. Plant your starts deep into the soil until only 3–4″ of the top leaves show. Tomatoes thrive in full sun.

Growing Tomatoes 

• A granular organic fertilizer like our Darn Good Fertilizer should be added to the planting area, especially if your garden has poor nutrient content or when growing in a new raised bed. 
• The method by which you grow tomatoes depends on the type of tomato. There are three tomato types:

Determinate or Bush tomato varieties do not typically need pruning (some pruning can be helpful) and may be grown with or without support. Fruit of determinate varieties ripens in clusters or all at once. Traditional sauce tomatoes are determinate.

Indeterminate or Pole tomato varieties, like Hillbilly tomato, grow long and wild. They must have a support system like the tomahook to grow on, or they will become a mess. We recommend that you prune them heavily to control the fruit set. You can do so by pruning back the suckers. Always use sharp, clean clippers like our Corona Pruners for the best results.

Semi-determinate tomato varieties have a bushier appearance but do not ripen their fruit all at once. They will require far less support than indeterminate tomatoes but can benefit from support as simple as a tomato cage.

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

• If you are planting tomatoes in containers, make sure your container is at least 20″ deep. Keep in mind containers will dry out faster because they have more surface area and less soil to hold onto moisture. Mulch heavily on the top layer of soil in the pot to keep the soil from drying out or heating up too much.
• We recommend that you grow determinate or bush varieties of tomatoes in pots as they are easier to manage. Our rare dwarf tomato varieties are an exceptional choice for small-space growers!

Harvesting Tomatoes 

• Tomatoes are best harvested at peak ripeness, typically when fruits have turned their appropriate color and have a slight give.
• Our gourmet seas salts bring out the best flavors in your organic produce. Try them all and let us know your favorite. They make great gifts, too! 
  • Fleur de Sel Gourmet Sea Salt is our farm go-to for tomato tastings. It elevates the flavor, brings out the tannins that make tomatoes unique, and adds an amazing “crunchy” texture.
  • Smoked Bacon Gourmet Sea Salt: a blend of sea salt and smoked bacon for mouthwatering flavor
  • Chardonnay Oak Smoked Gourmet Sea Salt: smoke-dried in aged oak wine barrels for a distinct finish to your fine dishes.

Southern California Pro-tips

• In areas of Zones 9 and 10, tomatoes can be grown year-round, but production may decrease drastically during the cooler months.
• Mulch heavily around your tomato plants to ensure the soil does not dry out or heat up too much.
• Plants can suffer from the heat during the hottest months of August, September, and October. Using shade cloth can help protect the plants from extreme heat.
• In July and August, keep an eye out for the tomato hornworm. This beautiful and slightly scary-looking large caterpillar can devour huge parts of your plant. You can find them by following their poop trails. Handpick them off and toss them in a bucket of soapy water.

Companion Flowers/Crops

• Tomatoes can get very large. For this reason, we recommend planting low-lying plants around them. Flowers like alyssum and nasturtium look beautiful in a tomato bed!

Additional Learning Resources

• New to starting crops from seeds? Please watch our Seed Starting Presentation to learn the basics!
• Learn about growing all our crops on our YouTube page!
• Having pest issues? Check out in-depth information for pests that can be an issue to tomatoes at the UC Integrated Pest Management site.

Grow like the pros! Grow Hillbilly tomato and other indeterminate varieties using a support system like the Low and Lean string trellis method we use on our urban farm.