Every garden needs a standout tomato that has it all and the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato fits that description. It’s a true heirloom tomato that’s still popular after more than 130 years after its release. Growers appreciate how easy it is to grow and love the tasty pink beefsteak tomatoes they’re rewarded with.
If a low-maintenance tomato that yields big, beautiful, delicious fruit is what you’re looking for, keep reading to learn about the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato.
History of the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomato
The Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato was introduced in 1891 by Peter Henderson of the Henderson Seed Company. The tomato was likely grown by the Henderson family in LeMars, Iowa for decades before the company released it.
The 1903 Henderson Seed catalog had this description for the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa: “Quality Beyond Praise, Rich and meaty-sliced. Thick and delicious canned.”
This is the tomato that set the standard for all pink tomatoes!
Characteristics of the Henderson’s Pink PonderosaTomato
The Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomto is an indeterminate heirloom with vines growing 6-8 feet long. It produces a moderate to heavy yield of pinkish-red, beefsteak-sized fruit growing in clusters of 3-5 fruits. It requires staking, cage, or trellises to prevent the weight of the fruit from damaging vines.
Ripening Season
This is a mid-season tomato, with fruit maturing 85-90 days after transplating.
Tomato Qualities
A Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato has smooth, bright pink skin and a market-quality appearance. The flesh is pink, meaty, and juicy, with a creamy texture and few seeds.
Some growers have reported fruit cracking under certain growing conditions.
Tomato Size
This tomato is oblate-shaped and weighs 12 ounces on average, but can grow to 1-2 lb size.
Planting Zones
Coming from Iowa, the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa is a good tomato for northern climates. Growers should know that extreme temperatures can affect the fruit’s shape.
Size and Spacing
Plant young Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomatoes 36-48 inches apart and provide support structures for future growth.
Pollination
Tomatoes are self-pollinating and only need the assistance of nature. If you have bees and wind, those get the job done.
Plant Care
Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomatoes aren’t fussy and require average tomato care.
The following sections will provide highlights about tomato care. For a complete guide on optimal tomato plant care, from planting to harvesting and storage, please check out our article on How To Grow Tomatoes: The Complete Guide For the Best Tomatoes. You may also be interested in our blog post on how to grow big tomatoes!
Sunlight
Tomatoes need 6-8 hours of sunshine a day.
Soil
The ideal soil conditions for tomatoes are well-draining, loamy, slightly acidic (pH 6.2 – 6.8), and amended with compost. Adding crushed or ground eggshells to the soil prevents blossom end rot.
Water
Tomatoes need soil that’s consistently moist, never soggy. If soil dries out between watering, the fruit cracks. To retain soil moisture, spread a 2-3 inch layer of mulch around your tomato plants, but keep the ground clear of mulch three inches around the base of the plant. Water on a regular basis at the base of the plant to keep the foliage dry. Most tomatoes need an inch of water each week.
Fertilizer
Tomatoes require specific nutrients (such as calcium) to produce their best crops of fruit. To learn how to determine what your tomatoes need and when they need it, consult our ultimate tomato fertilizer guide.
Pruning/Pinching
Most tomatoes produce their best crops of fruit when they’re pruned. Lush, bushy tomato plants won’t give you much, if any, fruit. Pruning and pinching are a tomato care technique that can help your tomato put forth its best yield. But you need to know when to do this and what tomatoes need it. To help you with this, visit our pruning tomatoes guide.
Disease
Gardeners know that all tomatoes are susceptible to diseases like blight, fusarium wilt, Septoria leaf spot, Verticillium wilt, and Southern bacterial wilt. Keeping the foliage dry by watering the base of the plant and removing any foliage in contact with the soil are your best defenses against tomato plant disease.
To learn how to detect, treat, and take steps to prevent diseases, read our tomato diseases guide.
Pests
The ugly truth is that growing tomatoes means dealing with pests. Aphids, whiteflies, tomato hornworms, slugs, pill bugs, stink bugs, and rodents are just a few to look for. Companion plants like marigolds, catnip, fennel, dill, basil, and cilantro repel common tomato pests. Netting keeps out birds and larger pests, but can interfere with beneficial insects and pollinators.
For information to help you spot, eliminate, and deter 15 different pests, visit our guide on common tomato pests.
When to Harvest Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomatoes
Start checking your plants for ripe tomatoes in July.
Ripe Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomatoes are dark pink and will “give” when gently squeezed. They can be picked when there’s minimal blush on the fruit and they’ll continue to ripen on a counter, windowsill, or under newspaper.
Picked tomatoes should never be refrigerated. They’ll keep for several days at room temperature.
Common Uses For Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomatoes
A Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa is an all-around tomato suitable for various uses – fresh, cooked, and preserved.
What Does This Tomato Taste Like?
A Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa has a classic heirloom tomato taste. It has complex sweet and tangy flavors and low acidity.
Cooking
Use them in sauces, chili, soups, stews, and casseroles. Especially large ones can be used for stuffed tomato recipes.
Eating Raw
Slice them for sandwiches, burgers, and tomato platters. Dice them for salads, salsas, relishes, bruschettas, tacos, wraps, or pita pockets.
Canning / Freezing / Drying
Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomatoes are productive and their fruit is large so you’ll need to preserve your harvest. Can, dry, or freeze them for later use.
Recipe Ideas
No-Cook Tomato Sauce (apparently, this is a real thing!)
Health Benefits of Tomatoes
Pink tomatoes don’t just look pretty – they’re healthy foods! All tomatoes are high in fiber, vitamins C and K, potassium, and folate. They’re also one of the best dietary sources of lycopene, an antioxidant credited with reducinetg the risks of heart disease and cancer.
Where to Buy Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomato Plants or Seeds
Starter plants aren’t easy to find for these tomatoes. Nurseries and garden centers in the cooler garden zones may carry them since they perform well in northern climates. Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato seeds are more widely available and can be purchased from online retailers (such as Amazon).
Be aware that this tomato is sometimes called “Pink Ponderosa Tomato.”
Where to Buy Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomatoes
While these are market-quality tomatoes, they’re still heirlooms and not likely to be found in most grocery stores. Contact specialty produce stores or visit farmers markets to ask if they carry Henderson’s Pink Ponderosas tomatoes.
Wrapping Up the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa Tomato
Easy to grow and providing lots of large, tasty fruit, the Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomato is a star both in the garden and the kitchen. You’ll want to brush up on your canning and drying skills to be able to enjoy these mouthwatering tomatoes long after summer has ended!
Are there Henderson’s Pink Ponderosa tomatoes growing in your garden in the summer? If so, tell us about them in the comments section below (or share your favorite recipe)! Excited for more tomato content? Then visit our tomato page for growing tips, comprehensive guides, and tasty recipes!
- About the Author
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Bree is a wife, mom to a silly pitbull, and a writer for Minneopa Orchards. She lives in Oregon where she works as a freelancer and spends her free time cooking or crafting.
She began gardening when she became a homeowner — whenever she moved into a new home, a garden was one of her first priorities. She enjoyed creating beautiful outdoor spaces in whatever growing zone she lived in and says her southwest gardens were the most challenging!
Bree currently lives in a downtown urban setting, so she’s making good use of indoor gardening methods. Writing for Minneopa Orchards also inspires her to experiment in the kitchen with fresh herbs and seasonal produce. Infused oils, fruit syrups, and dried fruits are some of her recent successes.