The Stupice Tomato

When it comes to cold weather, most tomatoes don’t do well in freezing temperatures. However, Stupice tomatoes are among the “go-to” varieties growers plant year after year because of their excellent yields and cold hearty nature. Let’s take a better look at the Stupice tomato.

History of the Stupice Tomato

Unfortunately, the exact origins of the Stupice tomato are unknown. However, the first seeds originated from the former Republic of Czechoslovakia. This is an indeterminate heirloom tomato.

Characteristics of the Stupice Tomato

The Stupice can blossom at cooler temperatures than other varieties and can grow in climates as cold as those found in Alaska! This popular tomato is a vigorous plant that yields abundant fruits with good potato-leaf foilage.

Ripening Season

Stupice ripens much earlier than many other tomatoes. If started indoors in January, transplanted in February, your fruit should ripen by late June.

Tomato qualities

The Stupice is a small to medium, slicing tomato with crimson flesh. It’s drought-tolerant and can withstand high temperatures. However, these tomatoes have a tender hardiness rating, meaning they can not endure frost.

Tomato size

The fruits grow 2-4 inches in diameter and can weigh between 1-2 ounces each.

Planting Zones

Stupice can be planted in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-11. The ideal temperature for these tomatoes is 50-95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Size and Spacing

The Stupice tomato plant height ranges between 5-7 feet. It requires between 24-36 inches of space between plants and 3-4 feet of row spacing. It’s best to employ cages with heavy-duty stakes to support the plant and its bountiful yields.

When transplanting, you will need to plant deeply and leave only the top leaves showing (but not touching the ground). You can pinch off the rest. Don’t forget to moisten the soil before transplanting.

Pollination

Stupice tomatoes are heirlooms which means they are open-pollinated. They use natural pollinators such as bees, bumblebees, birds, and the wind.

Plant 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.

Stupice tomatoes are very easy to grow and require no special care other than the standard best practices used for growing tomatoes.

Sunlight

Your tomatoes will require full sun between 6-10 hours per day. And while these fruits are highly heat resistant, on scorching days over 95 degrees, it may be a good idea to cover them with a shade cloth to protect against sunscald. You can learn more about sunscald and how to prevent it in this helpful guide.

Soil

The ideal soil for all tomatoes has a higher acid concentration with pH levels between 6.0-6.8. Soil should be loose and well-draining, with loam and sandy-loam being the ideal type. Clay soil is the most difficult to work with, but you can amend it for growing tomatoes if you till in large quantities of compost and sand. This guide can help if you have clay soil in your garden.

To discover your soil’s pH level and the nutrients present or lacking in it, you can conduct a soil test. Here’s a handy guide to get you started in this process.

Water

Tomatoes often require daily watering. Before starting, you should spread between 2-3 inch layers of mulch around your plant, leaving 3-inches of space between the mulch and the base of your plant. When watering, water at the bottom of the plant and never on the foliage, as this can cause bacterial infections and sunscald. The rule of thumb is to provide 1-1.5 inches of water per week per plant. This handy watering guide will show you the right way to do this.

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

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

Heirloom tomatoes are renowned for their resistance to many tomato diseases. However, they are not wholly immune. To learn how to detect, treat, and take steps to prevent diseases, read our tomato diseases guide.

Pests

Little critters such as birds and insects like grasshoppers, hornworms, cutworms, and others can destroy a good harvest. For information to help you spot, eliminate, and deter 15 different pests, visit our guide on common tomato pests.

When to Harvest Stupice Tomatoes

Stupice tomatoes are ready to harvest between 55-68 days after planting your seed in or outdoors.

Common Uses For Stupice Tomatoes

The Stupice tomato is a great all-purpose tomato that works well in salads and sandwiches. However, many find they are even better in soups and cooked dishes.

What Does This Tomato Taste Like?

This tomato has a very sweet taste with little acid. It’s rated average among most growers.

Cooking

These tomatoes are great in cooked dishes such as stews, soups, chili, and pasta dishes, to name a few.

Eating raw

The Stupice tomato has a sweet, average tomato flavor and is good in salads and on sandwiches. However, eaten raw, many growers say they stop eating their Stupice tomatoes once some of their later, more flavorful varieties come into harvest later in the season.

Canning/Freezing/Drying

Since Stupice tomato plants produce such a big yield throughout the year well into the late season, many growers end up freezing, canning, or drying their excess produce. You can learn more about freezing in this guide, more about canning in this guide, and more about drying your tomatoes in this guide.

Recipe Ideas

Heirloom Tomato Bruschetta

Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho

Basil Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes

Heirloom Parmesan Tomatoes

Southern Tomato Pie with Fried Onions

Health Benefits of Stupice Tomatoes

Tomatoes offer lots of wonderful health benefits. They are very high in potassium, fiber, folate, and vitamins C and K. Plus, they are a great natural source for a potent antioxidant called lycopene. Researchers believe lycopene is able to reduce a person’s risk of heart disease and cancer.

Where to Buy Stupice Tomato Plants or Seeds

Stupice tomato seeds are widely available in many retail outlets, nurseries, and online retailers such as Amazon.

Where to Buy Stupice Tomatoes

You may have a difficult time finding Stupice tomatoes at your local grocery store. Your best option might be to check with your local Farmer’s Market. Otherwise, you may have to grow them.

A Final Word on the Stupice Tomato

The Stupice tomato is a dependable tomato with good, but not great, flavor. However, they are way better than most varieties you’ll find at a grocery store and produce a fantastic yield well into the late season.

Have you grown Stupice tomatoes in your garden? Tell us about your experience with this tomato in our comments section below! Excited for more tomato content? Then visit our tomato page for growing tips, comprehensive guides, and tasty recipes!