As we do every year, we like to select a must try tomato for the upcoming season – and this year, hands down, it is all about growing the Blush Tiger tomato.
From incredible flavor to heavy production and eye-catching color, Blush Tiger delivers on every level. The tomato plant will give you mountains of juicy tomatoes with loads of flavor. Whether you enjoy tomatoes fresh from the vine, blended into juice, simmered into soup, or tossed into salads, Blush Tiger is definitely a winner!
So why is it such a great tomato? What truly separates Tiger Blush from many other tomato varieties is its combination of beauty, reliability, and taste. The plants are strong growers, the fruit sets heavily, and the tomatoes themselves have a flavor that is sugary sweet.
Growing The Blush Tiger Tomato
The Perfect Powerhouse Tomato!
Blush Tiger tomatoes produce small to medium-sized fruit with an elongated shape and striking striped skin. Depending on if they are grown in a traditional garden or in containers, the sizes can range from to 2 to 3.5 inches in length.
As the tomatoes ripen, their golden-yellow background becomes accented with deep red streaks. It creates a look that is both unique and attractive.
Flavor is where Blush Tiger tomatoes truly shine. The taste is rich and well balanced, combining natural sweetness with just enough acidity to keep it bright and refreshing. Unlike many smaller tomatoes that can taste one-dimensional, Tiger Blush offers seriously rich flavor in every bite.
The flesh is firm yet juicy. But the thin skin makes them enjoyable for fresh eating without being tough or chewy. Because of their balanced flavor, Blush Tiger tomatoes are incredibly versatile in the kitchen. They are excellent eaten fresh and add both color and taste to salads.
When cooked, their natural sugars deepen, making them ideal for fresh tomato juice, homemade tomato soups and pasta sauces! Last but not least, Blush Tiger has incredibly impressive production. The plants are indeterminate, meaning they will continue to grow and produce fruit until frost. Once flowering begins, clusters of tomatoes form steadily, providing a big harvest week after week.
Growing The Blush Tiger Tomato From Seed
One challenge with this variety is availability. Because it is an heirloom, it’s often difficult to find as a transplant at local garden centers. Most large retailers do not carry it, and finding smaller specialty nurseries can be a challenge as well.
But there is good news – Blush Tiger is easy to grow from seed! Even better, as an open pollinated plant, growing it from seed once means having seeds every year to continue growing for free! Affiliate Link: Blush Tomato Seeds (20+ Seeds) | Non GMO
Blush Tiger tomato seeds should be started indoors about eight weeks before the last expected frost date. This timeline allows seedlings to develop strong roots and sturdy stems without becoming overgrown. It allows plenty of time to harden them off before planting.
Plant seeds in a high-quality seed-starting mix that drains well. The seeds should be planted about a quarter inch deep and lightly covered with soil. Water gently so the soil remains evenly moist but not saturated. Affiliate Link: Seed Starter Natural Potting Soil Mix for Germination and Growth
Tomato seeds germinate best when soil temperatures stay around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping the soil warm during this stage improves germination rates and speeds up emergence. Unfortunately, if the soil is too cool, the seeds can rot away before sprouting.
Caring For Seedlings
Once seedlings emerge, it’s all about giving your plants the right kind of light they need to grow. Without enough light, plants will stretch and become weak. Windows will not provide enough light to produce healthy plants. Instead, artificial light placed within an inch or two of the top of plants is the way to go.
The good news is there is no need for special lights – ordinary LED shop lights are a great choice for giving plants the light they need. See: How To Use LED Shop Lights To Start Seeds Indoors – Grow Vegetables & Flowers With Ease!
Once the first true leaves appear, begin feeding with a diluted liquid fertilizer to support steady, healthy growth. Continue with a light feeding every two weeks until planting day arrives.
Hardening Off & Planting
Before transplanting Blush Tiger tomatoes into the garden, you will need to harden your young transplants off. This process gradually exposes plants to outdoor conditions such as sunlight, wind, and temperature changes.
Start by placing seedlings outside for a short time each day. Slowly increase their exposure over about a week. Whatever you do, don’t skip this step! Hardening off greatly reduces transplant shock and helps plants establish quickly once planted.
Plant Blush Tiger tomatoes outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed. The soil temperature should be at least 60 degrees to allow for fast root growth. When planting, choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day.
Plant your seedlings deep, making sure to bury part of the stem below the soil line. Tomato plants develop roots along buried stems, which leads to stronger, more resilient plants. Space plants at least 24 inches apart to allow good airflow and for room to grow.
Because Blush Tiger tomatoes are indeterminate and heavy producers, they require support. Stakes, cages, or trellises are a must to help keep plants upright and make harvesting easier.
When & How to Harvest Blush Tiger Tomatoes
Blush tomatoes are ready to harvest when they reach full color and feel slightly soft when gently squeezed. Fully ripe fruit offers the best flavor and sweetness. Harvesting regularly will encourage the plant to continue producing. During peak season, checking plants every few days ensures tomatoes are picked at their best
One thing is for sure, once you start growing Tiger Blush tomatoes, they are likely to become a permanent favorite in your garden year after year!
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This Is My Garden is a garden website created by gardeners, for gardeners. Jim and Mary Competti have been writing gardening, DIY and recipe articles and books and speaking for over 15 years from their 46 acre Ohio farm. They publish three articles every week, 52 weeks a year. Sign up today to follow via email, or follow along!