How to Grow Mountain Fresh Plus
Solanum lycopersicum
Mountain Fresh Plus is a robust hybrid tomato variety known for its strong disease resistance against fusarium wilt, nematodes, and verticillium wilt. Gardeners prize this warm-season crop for its reliable yield in short seasons where soil warmth is critical for success.
📷 Wikipedia: TomatoStarting Mountain Fresh Plus: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Mountain Fresh Plus is not usually started indoors.
Do not plant outdoors until after the last frost date; wait for soil to warm up naturally rather than starting indoors or using a specific pre-frost timeline.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8 to support healthy root development. As a frost-sensitive warm-season plant, do not sow seeds directly in the garden until after the last spring frost when temperatures are consistently warm. Start indoors instead, sowing seeds about one inch deep; they typically germinate within seven to ten days.
Space plants twenty-four to thirty-six inches apart and provide sturdy support or trellising since heights vary from one to ten feet. Maintain consistent moisture levels as this variety requires high water inputs to prevent blossom end rot. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil warmth and feed regularly with balanced fertilizer during the growing season.
Watch for tomato hornworms, aphids, spider mites, and thrips, treating infestations early with organic sprays or by hand-picking. Prevent bacterial speck and blossom end rot by ensuring steady watering and good air circulation. Harvest ripe fruit approximately seventy-five days after transplanting when the color is fully developed and firm.
When to Plant Mountain Fresh Plus
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 | — | August – 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 Mountain Fresh Plus
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may improve tomato growth
Helps aerate soil around tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels whiteflies
Provides ground cover and repels various pests including spider mites
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that control aphids
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in tomatoes
Cabbage family plants can stunt tomato growth and attract different pests
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
