Park’s Whopper

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Park’s Whopper to a garden.

Sink your spoon into Park’s Whopper and you’ll meet a lush, garden-ripe sweetness wrapped in a classic slicing tomato tang.

The fruit is generously sized with a firm, juicy flesh and a smooth, satin skin that stays beautifully intact for hearty, showy slices. Grow this 85-day favorite for bold, vibrant summer salads and rich, spoonable sauces that celebrate its full-bodied flavor at peak ripeness.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Park’s Whopper

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Park’s Whopper 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	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
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

Park’s Whopper is a show-slicer: firm, juicy, and satin-skinned, so it won’t collapse into a sad smear in salads. Cook it just long enough to coax a silky, spoonable sauce while keeping the sweetness and tang in balance.

Best Uses

hearty showy slices for salt-and-olive-oil summer plates
brief pan-crush and reduce into a thick spoon sauce
chunky tomato-based salads where dressing needs traction
slow-simmered sauce where it stays bright instead of dulling

Flavor Profile

garden-ripe sweetness classic tomato tang with a juicy snap firm, satin-skinned slices that hold their shape spoonable flesh that turns silky when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic red wine vinegar fresh mozzarella black pepper corn

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Early blight (Alternaria) is common on tomatoes in home gardens, showing up as dark, concentric “target” spots on older leaves and can progress upward. Remove and discard affected leaves early, keep foliage dry by watering at the soil line, and apply a labeled fungicide that targets early blight if spots keep spreading. If you can, start with resistant varieties and avoid working in the plants when leaves are wet to reduce spore spread.

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—aim for about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly so moisture reaches the root zone, then let the top few centimeters of soil dry slightly before watering again. Mulch helps prevent swings that cause blossom-end rot and cracking.

How can I tell when Park’s Whopper (Solanum lycopersicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety and have a slight give when gently squeezed (not hard like a green tomato). The fruit should detach from the vine with a light twist; if it resists, give it a few more days. For best flavor, pick at peak color even if you see slight softness at the stem end.