Valencia

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sun-warmed and richly aromatic, Valencia tomatoes ripen to a vivid, classic red with a smooth, satin skin that feels firm yet yielding at first touch.

The flesh is juicy and well-balanced—meaty for slicing, with a bright, tangy sweetness that shines in fresh salads and shines again in bold sauces. Grow Valencia for dependable, midseason harvests that deliver beautifully uniform slices for everyday table favorites.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 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 3rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
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

Valencia’s meaty-to-juicy balance and bright tang make it a slicing workhorse: it rewards salt-and-oil like a table tomato and still performs when reduced into a punchy sauce. The satin skin and firm-yet-yielding flesh help the slices stay intact on the plate instead of turning watery.

Best Uses

thick slices on sourdough with a slick of good olive oil and flaky salt
quick-chopped salad where the juice stays lively under vinaigrette
bold, stovetop tomato sauce that doesn’t need heavy balancing—built for quick reduction
hot blister-and-peel sandwiches where the flesh holds its shape

Flavor Profile

bright, tangy sweetness juicy, meaty slice with a clean bite sun-warmed tomato aromatics smooth, satin skin that gives way without collapsing

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic mozzarella balsamic vinegar red onion anchovies

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common disease or pest problem for Valencia peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) and how do I manage it?

Watch for peanut leaf spot (a fungal disease) and caterpillars early in the season. Keep plants spaced for airflow, water at the soil line (not the leaves), and remove heavily spotted foliage as soon as you notice it. If you see persistent leaf-spotting, use a labeled fungicide for peanuts and repeat according to the label, especially during humid spells.

How often should I water Valencia peanuts during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod fill (roughly mid-season through most of the 75 days), keep soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for the top 1–2 in (2–5 cm) to dry slightly between waterings. In full sun, this often means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on your soil, with a deep soak so moisture reaches pod depth. Avoid waterlogging, which increases rotting and poor pod development.

How can I tell when Valencia peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants turn yellow and a portion of the foliage dies back, usually around 75 days after planting for Valencia in favorable conditions. Dig several “test” plants first and check that the pods fill out and have mature, fully developed kernels; you should be able to feel the kernels clearly through the shell. If pods are still small or kernels are thin, leave the crop in the ground for another 7–14 days and re-check.