More Information
| Botanical Name |
Lycopersicon lycopersicum |
| Seeds Per Pack |
25 |
| Life Cycle |
Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
5 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
10 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
1/4 in. |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height |
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Plant Spacing |
24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness |
N/A |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Growth Habit |
Indeterminate |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Days to Harvest |
70-80 |
| Propagation Methods |
From herbaceous stem cuttings, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Ferment seeds before storing |
| Open Pollinated (OP) |
Yes |
| Usage |
Fresh, slicing |
| Fruit Color |
Red |
| Fruit Size |
Medium (under one pound), Large (over one pound) |
Lil’s Favorite produces large 10-20 oz. red beefsteak tomatoes that are meaty and juicy with an excellent rich flavor.
This family heirloom originated in Bellville, Illinois. Larry Watson of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania received the seed from his Aunt Lil when she came out to Pennsylvania for a Christmas visit in 1985. She was 77 at the time and passed away in 2002. She told Larry that they were her favorite tomatoes and that she had gotten them in 1949 from Mrs. Smith who lived in Briar Hill, which was just next to Signal Hill where she lived in St. Clair County, Illinois. Mrs. Smith said that her mother had given the seeds to her, and the family had been growing them around Chester, Illinois for many years.
