The Glacier Tomato produces all season long. If you’re looking to start enjoying your tomatoes sooner and for longer, this variety is definitely worth trying!
Keep reading to learn all about the Glacier Tomato, from growing it to eating it.
History
The Glacier Tomato is an heirloom that was initially introduced in Sweden in 1985. However, it was not popularized until horticulture teacher and founder of the Siberia Seed Company, Ron Driskill, started to sell seeds.
The tomato has since become an ideal for super early tomatoes to meet, thanks to its sweet flavor and season-long production.
Characteristics
Glacier Tomato plants take an average of 55 days to produce fruit. They were specifically bred to tolerate frigid temperatures.
The Glacier is a semi-determinate tomato variety, meaning it has characteristics of determinate and indeterminate tomato plants.
Semi-determinate tomatoes are taller than the bush growth of determinate varieties but more compact than the climbing, sprawling growth of indeterminate varieties.
As a result, Glacier Tomatoes require some structural support, such as a trellis or stakes. The plant reaches an average height of two-and-a-half to three feet.
A Glacier tomato is about two inches in diameter, very round, and weighs two to three ounces. The fruit’s color is “orangey-red.”
Eating the Glacier Tomato
These fruits have a sweet, tangy flavor. They would go nicely in a salad or other healthy snacks like cucumbers and carrots.
While these plants fruit quickly, they shouldn’t be eaten until they reach full maturity.
Health Benefits
Tomatoes offer many health benefits, such as vitamin C, potassium, and vitamin K. These vitamins are essential for bone and muscle health, as well as your immune system.
Lycopene is the most well-known compound in tomatoes. It’s an antioxidant that provides sun protection for your skin and improves heart health.
Our Tomato Nutrition Guide further explains what tomatoes can do for you, such as combatting high blood pressure and reducing cancer risk.
Recipes
There are plenty of delicious dishes you can make with Glacier Tomatoes. Here are the recipes we thought you have to try!
Caprese Flatbread with Balsamic Reduction
While this recipe calls for grape tomatoes, Glacier Tomatoes can be used instead. With lots of fresh ingredients, this tasty, pizza-styled flatbread won’t disappoint your tastebuds.
Tomato Soup
If you want to try your hand at a homemade recipe rather than a canned one, look no further. This simple Homemade Tomato Soup recipe is guaranteed to be delicious and filling.
Roasted Tomatoes
This easy and tasty Roasted Tomatoes recipe requires only a few ingredients: Glacier Tomatoes, balsamic, olive oil, basil, and parmesan cheese. Toss everything together and enjoy!
Where to Buy Glacier Tomatoes
Unfortunately, Glacier Tomatoes aren’t grown commercially in the United States.
Your best chance to find the fruit is to check farmers’ markets and nearby tomato farms to find out if anyone grows them locally.
Where to Buy Seeds
If you strike out at markets and farms, you’ll get to grow your own! Plenty of Glacier Tomato seeds can be easily found on Amazon.
Growing and Care
Glacier tomatoes have a huge appeal over other varieties. They’re an early crop and will produce fruit from spring to fall, so long as they’re correctly cared for. Because they’re also incredibly cold-resistant, you can harvest Glaciers until the temperatures drop to freezing.
I’ll go over the basics of planting and caring for tomatoes to get you started. For more information, our website provides detailed instructions for planting tomatoes in our comprehensive Tomato Care Guide.
Location
All tomato plants, including the Glacier, require full sun. Some shade is alright, but your plants should get a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight daily.
Seeds can usually be planted in mid-April, though that can vary depending on your temperature zone. Whatever the date, if the soil temperature reaches 60 degrees, you can plant your seeds.
If you decide to start growing your Glacier Tomatoes indoors before you transplant them outside, you can plant your seeds at the beginning of April.
Whether you decide to grow them in containers or in-ground, Glaciers need at least 18 inches of space between plants.
Watering
Since they prefer moist soil, tomatoes need to be watered every one to two days. When you water, make sure to avoid the leaves to prevent fungal disease.
Pests, Diseases, Pruning
All tomato varieties are pest-prone. However, if you keep an eye on your soil and leaves, you should be able to catch them early. If you’re unfamiliar with pests or how to get rid of them, check out our Common Tomato Pests blog post for more information.
On the other hand, tomatoes are not very susceptible to disease, though it’s always possible. If your plants do become sick, there will be obvious physical signs. Watch for unhealthy leaves or spots of mildew.
If you suspect your plants are sick but aren’t sure how to help them, read our Tomato Diseases article. This piece talks not only about the most common diseases to affect tomato plants but also about how to treat them best.
Pruning is also essential for tomato health. Read our Tomato Pruning Guide for advice on how and when to prune your plant.
Harvesting
If you want to pick Glacier Tomatoes for the entire season, make sure to use proper harvesting techniques.
Our guide for Harvesting Tomatoes contains plenty of advice for picking your tomatoes at the right time, the right way.
Time to Try the Glacier Tomato
The Glacier Tomato is a unique variety that’s definitely worth adding to your gardening repertoire. Give them a try!
Here at Minneopa Orchards, we’re passionate about tomatoes and tomato plants. That’s why our website has everything you need on the subject.
Visit our Tomato Plants page for easy, useful guides on everything tomato. We have articles on planting, raising, picking, storing, cooking, and more. Come check us out!