Days to Maturity: 90 to 100 direct sow; 60 to 70 transplant
Indeterminate
All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 2019
Sparky XSL, an F1 hybrid cherry tomato, is a fruit vegetable. Early maturing and heavy fruiting, the plant sets small "perfect" flowers followed by 1-inch round fruits weighing about 1 ounce. The fruit has unique coloring: red with yellow stripes. The color is clean and bright and clear, making a beautiful plate presentation. The flavor is very sweet, having an average Brix score of 8.5. Tomatoes are considered a superfood for their nutrient rich content, having a high (top 20) Aggregate Nutrient Density Index score (ANDI), or micronutrient-per-calorie density. Tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C and provide vitamin A and potassium. They also contain carotenoid lycopene and beta-carotene as well as phenolic acids and flavonoids.
An herbaceous tender perennial, usually grown as an annual, Sparky XSL is a member of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which contains plants that typically grow in temperate to tropical regions. A vigorous, multi-cluster, indeterminate variety, often called a "vining" tomato, Sparky XSL requires staking or caging for support. Blossoms and fruit continue to develop as the vine grows, so, it bears an impressive amount of fruit over the course of a season, typically 100+ cherry tomatoes per plant. This variety is a good option for a farmers market crop.
Tomato is easy to grow from seed, growing best in sunny locations with moist, humusy, fertile, deep loams. Sparky XSL has excellent tolerances to biotic (pests and disease) and abiotic (heat and harsh growing conditions) stresses.
A warm-season vegetable, sensitive to cold temperatures and frost, tomato seed should be direct sown into warm spring soil after all threat of frost has passed. Seeds can also be started indoors about 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Flowers begin to set fruit with night temperatures between 55° and 75°F. Protect plants with row covers if temperatures are expected to dip below 50°F. Mulching helps to moderate soil temperature and to maintain soil moisture.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
