How to Grow Arkansas Traveler
Solanum lycopersicum 'Arkansas Traveler'
Arkansas Traveler is a classic heirloom tomato prized for its excellent heat tolerance and crack resistance. Gardeners value this variety for producing flavorful fruit in warm climates while maintaining good disease resistance against common garden threats.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Arkansas Traveler: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Arkansas Traveler is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; plant seeds directly outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 to support healthy root development. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is warm before planting outdoors. Sow seeds directly into the ground or start indoors in biodegradable pots; they typically germinate within seven to fourteen days.
Space plants twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart to ensure proper air circulation and growth. Install sturdy cages or trellises early, as these indeterminate tomatoes can reach heights of one to ten feet. Provide consistent moisture and apply mulch around the base to retain water. Feed regularly with a balanced fertilizer during the fruiting stage.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, and spider mites; inspect leaves frequently and remove pests manually or use organic controls if needed. While generally resistant, avoid overhead watering in humid conditions to reduce late blight risk. Harvest ripe fruits approximately eighty to ninety days after sowing when they yield slightly to gentle pressure.
When to Plant Arkansas Traveler
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | September – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Arkansas Traveler
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor and growth
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may improve tomato flavor
Help break up soil for tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and disease resistance
Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and utilizes different root zones
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
✗ Keep away from
Release juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
Both attract corn earworms and compete for similar nutrients and space
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
