Monica

Family: Solanaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Sun-warmed and richly aromatic, Monica paste tomatoes ripen to a deep, glossy red that feels almost lacquered in the garden.

Their dense, meaty flesh is low in gel and seeds, with a firm, spoonable texture that holds its shape beautifully for thick sauces and hearty roasting—ideal for preserving flavor at its most concentrated. Grow Monica for a dependable 75-day rhythm and a harvest that tastes as bold as it looks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Monica 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – 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	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
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

Monica’s low-gel, meaty interior is built for concentration—so when you cook it down, it becomes a spoon-coating sauce instead of a watery slurry. Use it when you want the tomato to stay structured through roasting, reduction, and preserves.

Best Uses

thick paste-style sauce that clings to pasta without thinning out
high-heat roasting where the flesh stays meaty and doesn’t collapse into juice
canning and preserves that lock in concentrated tomato taste
pan sauce for schnitzel-style proteins, where a reduced tomato base coats rather than runs

Flavor Profile

high-intensity, sun-forward tomato flavor dense, low-gel flesh with a firm, spoonable bite sweet-tang balance with a clean, savory finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil onion balsamic vinegar Parmigiano-Reggiano white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What disease is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) in home gardens, and how can I prevent/treat it?

Early blight is a common problem on tomatoes, showing as dark, concentric “target” spots on older leaves that spread upward and can reduce fruit set. Remove and discard infected leaves as soon as spots appear, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry. If the disease keeps progressing, apply a labeled fungicide for tomatoes and reapply according to the product directions.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase to avoid fruit issues?

During active flowering and fruit growth, keep the soil evenly moist—about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times per week rather than light daily watering, and aim to prevent the soil from drying out completely between waterings. Inconsistent moisture is a major trigger for blossom-end rot and cracking, so use mulch to steady soil moisture.

How do I know when my Solanum lycopersicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety and the flesh yields slightly to gentle pressure (not rock-hard). For the best flavor, pick at peak ripeness—tomatoes typically take about 60–75 days from transplant depending on conditions. If night temperatures drop or frost threatens, harvest the turning fruits and ripen them indoors away from direct sun.