Arkansas Traveler

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Arkansas Traveler to a garden.

Sink your senses into Arkansas Traveler’s rich, old-fashioned tomato fragrance and a juicy, beefsteak heft that feels substantial in the hand.

The flesh is deep, rosy-red with a balanced, pleasantly tangy sweetness—ideal for slicing into thick, velvety rounds that shine in fresh salads and standout sandwiches, and also delivers beautifully when simmered into robust sauces. A true garden centerpiece for growers who want bold flavor and a classic, heirloom-style presence from vine to table.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Arkansas Traveler

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Arkansas Traveler Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 13th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 7th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 1st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 30th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	8

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Arkansas Traveler leans into that heirloom, beefsteak heft—meaty flesh and tangy sweetness that holds up when heated instead of turning thin. Slice it thick and let the juice do the work: it blankets bread and greens, then cooks down into a sauce with real spoon-resistance.

Best Uses

thick slicing for salt-and-drizzle tomato rounds (they won’t collapse into watery mush)
classic tomato sandwiches where the flesh stays substantial and juicy without turning bread soggy
chunky, stovetop simmered tomato sauce with a spoonable body
salad slicing with vinaigrettes that cut through the sweet-tang

Flavor Profile

beefsteak-supple juiciness pleasant tangy sweetness rosy, old-school tomato fragrance soft, meaty gel with lots of bite

Kitchen Pairings

garlic red onion aged cheddar balsamic vinegar extra-virgin olive oil black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat early blight on Arkansas Traveler tomatoes?

Early blight shows up as small dark spots on older leaves that expand into concentric “bullseye” rings, often starting near the bottom of the plant. Remove and discard infected leaves early, avoid wetting foliage, and spray with a labeled chlorothalonil or copper product at 5–7 day intervals during wet spells. Make sure plants have good airflow by spacing and pruning lightly so leaves dry quickly after rain.

How often should I water Arkansas Traveler tomatoes during peak fruiting (about weeks 6–10 after transplant)?

During peak fruiting, keep the soil consistently moist by watering deeply about 1–2 times per week, giving enough water to wet 8–10 inches of soil. Aim for steady moisture—if the top 1 inch dries out and leaves start to flag, water, but don’t let the soil swing between bone-dry and soaked (this increases blossom-end rot and fruit cracking). Use mulch to reduce evaporation and water at the base, not overhead.

When are Arkansas Traveler tomatoes ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (red and well-developed) and the shoulders are no longer green, usually around 85 days from transplant. Give the tomato a gentle twist—ripe fruits detach easily from the vine; if it doesn’t release, it’s likely not ripe enough yet. For best flavor, pick when they are firm but yield slightly to thumb pressure (avoid waiting until they’re overly soft).