Homestead 8611

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Homestead 8611 to a garden.

Sink your senses into Homestead 8611’s rich, beefsteak abundance—meaty, juicy flesh with a balanced, old-fashioned tomato tang and a gentle sweetness that lingers on the palate.

At maturity, fruits develop a warm, rosy-red blush over broad shoulders, with a dense, velvety texture that holds its shape beautifully for hearty slices and showy platters. Grow Homestead 8611 for a bold, garden-to-table centerpiece that rewards your care with every sun-warmed harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Homestead 8611

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Homestead 8611 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)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Homestead 8611’s beefsteak structure stays handsome when you slice—juicy, not watery—and its old-fashioned tang plays well against fats and salt. Slice it thick and let the tomato’s meaty sweetness do the heavy lifting in a hot sear or a no-cook platter.

Best Uses

thick-cut tomato slices for sandwiches that won’t turn to mush
hot, quick pan-searing or grill baskets for char + juicy interior contrast
plate-topping for olive oil–salt–pepper with fresh herbs and flaky salt

Flavor Profile

meaty, sliceable flesh with a velvety bite balanced tomato tang with a gentle sweetness juicy, old-school flavor that lingers on the palate

Kitchen Pairings

garlic black pepper extra-virgin olive oil aged balsamic vinegar mozzarella sourdough

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage early blight on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) in a home garden?

Look for small, dark-brown spots with yellowing on older leaves, which often spread from the bottom of the plant upward. Remove and discard affected leaves, avoid overhead watering, and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for tomatoes (especially one with chlorothalonil or copper) and repeat according to label timing.

How often should I water my tomatoes during the main growing phase (around flowering and fruit set)?

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week, increasing during hot spells. Water deeply 1–3 times per week depending on rainfall and soil type, so moisture reaches several inches down rather than just wetting the surface. Mulch around the plants to reduce swings, since irregular watering commonly leads to blossom-end rot and fruit cracking.

How can I tell when Homestead 8611 tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (no green shoulders), firm but not hard, and have developed their full tomato aroma. Pick at the pink-to-red stage if you want firmer fruit, but for best sweetness wait until the fruit is evenly colored and gives slightly when gently squeezed. For tomatoes, harvesting at peak ripeness also helps prevent overripe fruit from splitting and attracting pests.