Amelia Vr Hybrid Tomato Seeds

Days to Maturity: 80 from transplant

Determinate

A sensation throughout the southeast ever since its 2004 introduction in Texas, Amelia is one of the very few tomato plants that is resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus, the scourge of many a fine vegetable garden in that region of the country. But because these 8- to 10-ounce tomatoes also taste delicious, Amelia's popularity now has less to do with its terrific disease resistance and more to do with compact plant size and big, satisfying flavor.

These round, bright red tomatoes are simply scrumptious. In addition to spotted wilt virus, they stand up beautifully to nematodes, gray leaf spot, verticillium wilt, and fusarium wilt—in fact, to just about every problem other tomatoes can have. This makes Amelia a great choice for new gardeners, but even seasoned vets will appreciate the tangy, meaty bite of this mid- to large-size fruit.

And you can expect big yields on compact plants. Amelia is determinate, meaning that it ripens its crop of tomatoes all together, within just a few weeks, instead of continuing to set new fruit all season. This makes it the perfect choice for gardeners looking to can, sauce, juice, sun-dry, and/or freeze their tomatoes.

Amelia reaches just 4 to 5 feet high, so it's ideal for patio containers as well as the garden. And despite its reduced stature, it sets 20 to 30 fruits on every plant. Be sure to stake it to hold up its big bounty of fruit.

Start the seeds indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the last frost date. Plant outdoors when danger of frost is past and night temperatures consistently remain above 55 degrees Fahrenheit. If an unexpected late frost is forecasted, protect young plants with plastic sheeting or other cover. Set plants 2 to 2½ feet apart.