Heidi

Family: Solanaceae Vegetable

Heidi delivers a rich, slow-simmering tomato flavor in a compact paste package—fragrant, deeply sweet, and pleasantly tangy from first bite to last.

At maturity, the fruit turns a vivid, classic red with a dense, meaty texture and few seeds, making it exceptionally satisfying for thick, spoonable results. Grow Heidi for dependable harvests of uniform paste tomatoes that shine in sauces and preserves, where their bold character really stands out.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 3rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
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)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Heidi’s compact paste structure—meaty, low-seed, and stubbornly concentrated—turns into a sauce that coats a spoon instead of thinning out. It brings fragrant sweetness with assertive tang, so it holds up beautifully to long reductions and gets along fast with salty, pungent partners.

Best Uses

slow-reduced tomato sauce for pasta (thick, spoon-coating)
thick purée for shakshuka-style simmering
jammy preserves and roasted tomato ketchup-style reductions
concentrated base for braises and soups where you want texture

Flavor Profile

deep, slow-cooked tomato sweetness pleasant tang with a clean finish dense, meaty flesh and low-seed bite

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil anchovies parmesan red wine vinegar balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and how should I manage it?

Watch for Early blight (Alternaria) and leaf-spotting that starts on older leaves near the soil line, often with yellowing and dark concentric spots. Remove and discard infected leaves promptly, water at the base (not overhead), and mulch to keep soil splash off the plants. If it keeps spreading, apply a labeled fungicide for tomatoes early in the outbreak and reapply according to the label schedule.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and container size. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than frequent light watering, and aim for evenly moist soil to prevent blossom-end rot and cracking. In hot weather, check daily and water when the top 1 inch of soil dries out.

How can I tell when Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) ‘Heidi’ is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety and feel firm but give slightly when gently squeezed. Use the fruit’s “shoulders”—if the green area at the top near the stem has disappeared and the skin looks glossy, it’s usually ready. For best flavor, pick at peak color and avoid pulling; twist gently and leave the stem end intact.