Rutgers 250

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your senses into Rutgers 250’s rich, old-summer tomato fragrance and a deep, rosy-red flesh that feels luxuriously dense.

This beefsteak paste tomato delivers a meaty, low-seed interior with a balanced, pleasantly tangy sweetness—ideal for turning into thick, velvety sauces and robust preserves, or for enjoying at peak ripeness on the vine. Grow it for the satisfying weight of its fruits and the steady, garden-to-table performance that makes every harvest feel like a centerpiece.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Determinate

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)	8

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Rutgers 250 is built like a little brick of flesh—low seed, high meat, and a sauce that cooks down to that spoon-coating thickness instead of turning watery. Use it when you want tomato flavor to stay front and center, whether it’s a long-simmered red sauce or a quick salt-and-slice situation.

Best Uses

slow-reduced pasta sauce that clings instead of running
brick-red tomato paste-style reduction for weeknight boosting
robust preserves/simmered chutney where the flesh stays substantial
sliced fresh onto sturdy bread or as a tomato-and-salt plate

Flavor Profile

meaty, low-seed interior with a dense bite balanced tangy sweetness rosy, old-summer tomato fragrance velvety, thick liquid when cooked down

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil mozzarella Parmesan red wine vinegar black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease issue for Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) and how can I prevent it in my garden?

One of the most frequent problems is early blight (Alternaria), which causes dark, concentric ring spots on lower leaves and can reduce yields fast. Water at the base and avoid wetting foliage, remove the worst affected lower leaves early, and rotate out of Solanaceae beds so the fungus doesn’t build up in the soil. If it’s been humid or the plants already show spots, use an appropriate label-following fungicide and keep picking off infected leaves during the season.

How often should I water Rutgers 250 tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) during the main growing phase?

During flowering through fruit set, keep soil evenly moist—about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–3.8 cm) of water per week total, adjusting for heat and rainfall. In practice, water deeply 2–3 times per week rather than a little every day, and aim for moisture consistency to prevent blossom-end rot and fruit cracking. If the top few inches of soil dry out, water; if it stays soggy, slow down to avoid root stress.

How do I know when Rutgers 250 tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety (red and evenly colored for most Rutgers types) and have a slight give when gently squeezed. Fruits should reach their mature size before fully softening; for best flavor, pick at peak color rather than letting them over-ripen on the vine. If you see cracking, harvest those fruits immediately to reduce further splitting and disease entry.