Park’s Whopper

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

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

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 13th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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.