How to Grow German Pink
Solanum lycopersicum 'German Pink'
German Pink is a beloved heirloom tomato prized for its vibrant color and rich flavor. Gardeners grow this variety to enjoy classic taste in their summer harvests.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting German Pink: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — German Pink is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; plant seedlings directly outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil adjusted to a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 for optimal growth. As a warm-season crop, you must start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date or wait until soil is thoroughly warm. Sow seeds at a depth of about 1/4 inch; they typically germinate within 7 to 14 days.
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart and provide sturdy support like cages or trellises since heights vary from one to ten feet. Maintain consistent moisture by watering regularly, as dry spells cause cracking. Apply mulch around the base to retain water and feed with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
Watch for tomato hornworms, cutworms, aphids, stink bugs, late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, blossom end rot, and cracking. Prevent issues by ensuring good air circulation and consistent watering to avoid splitting. Harvest ripe fruit in 85 to 95 days after transplanting when the skin yields slightly to gentle pressure.
When to Plant German Pink
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 | — | October – 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 | — | August – October |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 11 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January | — | May – July |
Companion Plants for German Pink
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Helps break up soil for better tomato root development
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Provides ground cover and utilizes space efficiently
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
✗ Keep away from
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilt
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both are heavy feeders competing for nutrients, shared pest issues
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
