Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red', Surefire Red Tomato
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Annuals

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red'

Surefire Red Tomato

SolanaceaeSouth America

At a Glance

Typeannual
Habitupright
Foliagedeciduous
Height3-4 feet
Width2-3 feet
Maturity0.2 years

Key Features

Attracts Pollinators
Attracts Butterflies
Fragrant (strong)
Container Friendly
Maintenancelow

Overview

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' is a compact determinate cherry tomato cultivar that exemplifies modern breeding excellence, combining exceptional disease resistance with prolific fruit production in a manageable plant size. This robust annual typically reaches 3-4 feet in height with a naturally bushy, upright growth habit that requires minimal staking compared to sprawling indeterminate varieties. The sturdy stems support deeply compound leaves composed of 7-9 irregularly serrated leaflets, each covered in fine trichomes that release the distinctive, pungent tomato fragrance when touched or brushed against. Small, bright yellow flowers appear in pendulous clusters along the main stems, each displaying five pointed petals with prominent yellow stamens that attract pollinators and facilitate fruit set. These blooms develop into perfectly round cherry tomatoes that ripen from green through orange to a brilliant, glossy red color, each measuring approximately 1 inch in diameter and weighing about 1 ounce. The fruits possess a sweet, well-balanced flavor with good acid-to-sugar ratio and firm flesh that resists cracking and holds well both on the vine and after harvest. Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' is particularly renowned among gardeners for its outstanding resistance to early blight, late blight, and various mosaic viruses, making it an invaluable choice for organic cultivation and regions with challenging growing conditions where disease pressure typically limits tomato success.

Native Range

Solanum lycopersicum originated in the western highlands of South America, specifically throughout the Andean mountain regions spanning modern-day Peru, Ecuador, northern Chile, and parts of Bolivia. The wild ancestors of all cultivated tomatoes evolved as sprawling perennial vines in the diverse microclimates of these mountainous areas, thriving in valleys and slopes with cool nighttime temperatures and warm, sunny days. These native populations developed remarkable genetic diversity that continues to serve as the foundation for modern tomato breeding programs worldwide.

Suggested Uses

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' excels in diverse growing situations including traditional vegetable gardens, raised bed systems, and container cultivation due to its compact size and heavy production capacity. The sweet, firm cherry tomatoes are ideal for fresh eating straight from the vine, adding to salads and vegetable platters, healthy snacking, and various preservation methods including canning, dehydrating, and freezing. The manageable plant size makes this cultivar particularly valuable for small-space gardening, patio containers, urban growing environments, and situations where space efficiency is paramount. Market gardeners and commercial producers appreciate the concentrated harvest window that facilitates efficient picking and the exceptional disease resistance that significantly reduces crop losses compared to more susceptible varieties.

How to Identify

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' can be readily identified by its distinctive determinate growth pattern that creates a compact, self-topping bush rather than the indefinite vining habit of indeterminate tomato varieties. The plant maintains a neat, upright form reaching 3-4 feet tall with multiple sturdy main stems arising from the base, creating a bushy appearance without the need for extensive pruning. Key identifying features include the characteristic deeply compound leaves with pronounced serrations and fine hairs that emit a strong tomato scent when disturbed, and the small bright yellow five-petaled flowers borne in drooping clusters. The perfectly spherical cherry tomatoes that follow are uniformly sized at about 1 inch across, ripening to an intense red color with glossy skin. Unlike sprawling indeterminate types, Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' produces most of its fruit in a concentrated time period, with clusters of ripe tomatoes appearing simultaneously across the plant rather than continuously over many months.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 4'
Width/Spread2' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 0.2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
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SummerFall
Continuous flowering from early summer through fall, beginning approximately 6-8 weeks after transplanting and continuing until terminated by first killing frost. Peak bloom production occurs during mid-summer months when temperatures are consistently warm, with flowers appearing in successive waves as the plant reaches full maturity.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

bright yellow

Foliage Description

dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.0(Neutral)
357912
Drainage
moist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

moderate to high

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

65-75 days

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' thrives with consistent moisture management throughout the growing season, requiring soil that remains evenly moist but never waterlogged to prevent both root rot and the calcium uptake issues that cause blossom end rot. Provide approximately 1-2 inches of water weekly including rainfall, delivering water directly to the soil at the plant base rather than overhead to minimize foliar disease problems. Establish a regular fertilization program beginning with a balanced fertilizer at transplanting, then transition to a lower nitrogen, higher phosphorus and potassium formulation once flowering commences to promote fruit development over excessive vegetative growth. Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch around plants to retain soil moisture, suppress competing weeds, and moderate soil temperature fluctuations that can stress the root system. While this determinate variety is naturally more self-supporting than indeterminate types, install light cages or stakes early in the season to prevent fruit-laden branches from drooping to the ground where they become susceptible to soil-borne diseases and pest damage.

Pruning

Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' requires minimal pruning intervention due to its determinate growth habit that naturally limits plant size and shape through genetic programming. Focus pruning efforts on removing suckers that develop in the crotch between main stems and branches, but only when plants are young and actively establishing their framework, as excessive pruning later reduces the concentrated harvest. Once flowering and fruit set begins in earnest, avoid aggressive pruning since determinate varieties produce most of their crop within a defined time window rather than continuously. Remove lower leaves that naturally yellow with age or make contact with soil to improve air circulation around the plant base and prevent soil-borne pathogens from splashing onto foliage during watering or rain events. Late in the growing season, selectively remove any obviously diseased, damaged, or dead plant material to maintain overall plant health and prevent disease spread to developing fruit.

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 5 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Ripe Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red' fruits are completely safe and highly nutritious for human consumption, containing valuable vitamins, antioxidants, and beneficial compounds. However, all green parts of the plant including unripe fruits, leaves, stems, and root system contain significant concentrations of solanine and other toxic glycoalkaloids that can cause serious illness if consumed by humans or pets. Exercise caution to prevent children and animals from accessing plant foliage or green fruits, and educate household members about the distinction between safe ripe red fruits and potentially dangerous green plant parts.

Planting Guide

Planting Methods & Timing

Planting Method

transplant

Indoor Start

6 weeks before last frost

Direct Sow Timing

not recommended for direct sowing

Days to Maturity

65–75 days

Plant Spacing

24 inches

Companion Planting

Good Companions

basil
oregano
parsley
marigolds
nasturtiums
carrots

Avoid Planting With

fennel
brassicas
black walnut
corn