Kewalo Slicer Tomato
solanum lycopersicum

days to maturity: 75 days
plant spacing: 1 per square foot, trellised
sunlight requirements: 8-14 hours hours
look out for: all the pests love tomatoes, they require a good amount of management
harvest notes: harvest fruit after allowing it to vine ripen.
season: fall, winter
determinate

Kewalo is a uniform determinate variety bred at University of Hawaii by tomato breeder Dr. Jim Gilbert. Kewalo was named after one of his favorite fishing spots. Kewalo was bred to be resistant to bacterial wilt, mosaic virus and nematodes. 6-8 oz., red, round fruit with excellent sweet flavor. A good choice for hot & humid climates. Nematode resistance is a big deal in Florida, if you want a reliable determinate red tomato this is a great option. Determinate plants are “bush” tomatoes, meaning they do not vine and need less trellising and care. Short stocky plants work great for small spaces and container gardens. We stock a few different “boring red tomatoes” that may all sound similar in their descriptions because they are all humidity resistant plants with red palm-sized fruit but its because they are all very reliable options for South Florida growing. Our climate is so unique we really don’t recommend filling your garden with varieties that aren’t tried and true, so make sure you have at least one of these humid types in your shopping cart alongside some of the more fanciful heirlooms.