Solanum lycopersicum 'Rutgers'
vegetableRutgers is a foundational American heirloom, released by Rutgers University in 1934 after Dr. Lyman Schermerhorn stabilized a cross between J.T.D. and Marglobe at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Developed in partnership with the Campbell Soup Company, it became the dominant US processing tomato of the mid-1900s and a canning staple for Campbell’s, Hunt’s, and Heinz and is still prized in home gardens for its high-acid, high-sugar, deeply tomato-flavored red fruits weighing 6 to 8 oz. Plants are determinate to semi-determinate, reaching 3 to 5 ft.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 3 days
Harvest
~75 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
24 in. apart
Planting Depth
Bury stem to first leaves
Soil pH
6.2-6.8
Soil Type
Rich, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 10
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At planting, then at first fruit set
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 or 5-10-10
Start seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and transplant after the soil is reliably warm. Bury the stem to the lowest leaves to encourage rooting along the buried stem. As a determinate, Rutgers grows to a set size, so a sturdy short cage or two stakes is enough; do not prune off suckers, as that reduces yield on determinates. Water consistently at the base, mulch deeply, and side-dress once fruits set.
Start seeds indoors
Mar 4
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29
Projected first harvest
Jul 13
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Scout leaves every few days; handpick caterpillars or spot-treat young larvae with Bt
Hose off heavy colonies, plant alyssum nearby, and support ladybugs
Water evenly and mulch deeply; ripe Rutgers crack quickly after a heavy rain following dry weather
Mulch deeply, water at the base, and remove the lowest leaves so soil splash does not reach foliage
Rutgers is a determinate, so most of the crop ripens in a 2 to 3 week burst about 75 days from transplant - plan canning and saucing for that window. Pick when fully red and slightly soft to the touch; the fruits hold well on the counter for several days. Excellent for slicing, canning, sauce, or paste.
Rutgers delivers the classic tomato nutrition profile: vitamin C, potassium, folate, vitamin K, and a heavy dose of lycopene. The variety was originally selected for high solids and high acid, which makes it especially well-suited to canning and sauce, where slow cooking concentrates the lycopene and makes it more bioavailable.
Eat the ripe fruit only. Tomato leaves and stems (and large amounts of very unripe green fruit) contain solanine-type compounds and are not for eating.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.