Seeds, Tomato Manitoba (West Coast Seeds)

Manitoba Tomato seeds produce vigorous determinate plants that thrive in cool climates with short seasons.

A prairie favourite, Manitoba tomato plants bear medium-large fruits 170 grams (6 oz.). The bright red fruits have smooth skin and firm, meaty flesh with a refreshing, tangy tomato taste. Well suited for slicing and preserving.

Manitoba tomato seed plants are resistant to, or tolerant of, the following tomato diseases: Fusarium Wilt and Verticillium Wilt.

Determinate (bush)

Matures in 65 days (Open-pollinated seeds)

Timing
Start indoors in early spring over bottom heat. When seedlings germinate, remove from the heat and grow under bright lights. Grow seedlings on for 6-8 weeks at around 10°C (50°F). Early season tomatoes can be planted out once night time temperatures are reliably above 7°C (45°F) - or later. Other types should be transplanted out when night time lows are 10°C (50°F) or warmer - or later. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C (68-95°F). With bottom heat seeds should germinate in 7-14 days.

Starting
Sow seeds 5mm-1cm (¼-½”) deep. Keep seedlings under very bright light to prevent legginess. You may have to pot on seedlings more than once before they go out to allow for root growth. Space bush (determinate) transplants 45-60cm (18-24″) apart and vine (indeterminate) types 50-75cm (20-30″) apart in rows 1m (3′) apart.

Companion Planting
Another sensitive plant when it comes to companions, tomatoes benefit from asparagus, basil, beans, borage, carrots, celery, chives, collards, cucumber, garlic, lettuce, marigold, mint, nasturtium, onion, parsley, and peppers. Avoid planting alongside Brassicas and dill. Corn will attract tomato pests, and kohlrabi will stunt tomatoes’ growth. Potatoes may spread blight to tomatoes, so keep them apart. Do no plant tomatoes near walnut trees.