How to Grow German Red Strawberry
Solanum lycopersicum 'German Red Strawberry'
German Red Strawberry is a unique heirloom tomato variety known for its distinctive appearance and rich flavor. Gardeners prize this warm-season crop for its reliable production of vibrant red fruit that serves well in salads or sauces.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting German Red Strawberry: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — German Red Strawberry is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors before the last frost; plant seedlings directly outdoors only when all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures are warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 to support healthy root development. Since tomatoes are frost-sensitive, start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date has passed when soil is warm. Sow seeds at a depth of about one-quarter inch; they typically germinate within eight to fourteen days.
Space plants twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart in full sun for optimal growth. Install stakes or cages early to support the tall vines, which can reach up to ten feet. Maintain consistent moisture through regular watering and apply mulch to retain soil humidity while feeding regularly with balanced fertilizer.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies, treating infestations promptly with organic controls. Prevent blossom end rot by ensuring adequate calcium and water; watch for late blight or cracking in wet weather. Harvest ripe fruit approximately eighty to eighty-five days after planting.
When to Plant German Red Strawberry
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 German Red Strawberry
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Help break up soil, don't compete for nutrients, can be harvested before tomatoes need full space
Repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and growth
Provides ground cover, conserves moisture, can be harvested early
Repel nematodes and other soil pests, attract beneficial insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel whiteflies
Repels various pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm, creating increased pest pressure
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
