Jet Star

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Jet Star to a garden.

Sink your senses into Jet Star’s glossy, deep-red fruits—smooth as polished lacquer and richly aromatic at first touch.

As a slicing tomato, it delivers a firm, meaty bite with balanced sweetness and bright, tangy lift, ideal for showcasing in bold, fresh-forward presentations. Grow Jet Star for dependable midseason harvests and a striking, garden-to-plate presence that’s as satisfying to grow as it is to savor.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Jet Star 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 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 25th – 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	80
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Jet Star’s firm, meaty slice holds its shape under a hot pan or on a loaded sandwich—no watery slide, just a steady tomato bite. Use it when you want bright tang and real tomato perfume to stay up front, not smoothed into oblivion by overcooking.

Best Uses

thick slices on crusty bread where the firm flesh won’t collapse
high-heat blistering or quick pan-sear for jammy edges
fresh tomato salad with minimal dressing to keep the tang crisp
rapid marinara—cook just until glossy, not long and flat

Flavor Profile

balanced sweetness with bright tang meaty, firm slicing flesh and low seed jelly polished, aromatic tomato-forward bite clean, quick finish that doesn’t turn dull

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil red onion balsamic vinegar mozzarella black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and how do I prevent it?

Watch for early blight (Alternaria) on tomato leaves—look for dark, target-like spots that spread from older leaves upward. Remove infected leaves early, water at the soil line (not on foliage), and space plants for airflow; a preventive spray with a copper-based fungicide is most effective when symptoms first appear. If you’ve had repeated outbreaks, rotate tomatoes out of that bed for 2–3 years to break the disease cycle.

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

During flowering and fruit set, keep soil evenly moist with about 1–2 inches (2.5–5 cm) of water per week, adjusting for heat—don’t let the root zone swing from dry to waterlogged. Water deeply 1–3 times weekly depending on weather, targeting the soil around the plant rather than wetting leaves. Mulch around the base to reduce evaporation and help prevent cracking from irregular moisture.

How do I tell when Jet Star tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety and feel slightly soft at the blossom end but still firm overall. Green should no longer be prominent, and the fruit should detach easily with a gentle twist. For best flavor, pick every few days once they start ripening so remaining fruit doesn’t overstay on the vine.