Sowing: Sow tomatoes indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost date. Keep soil at 75° F. Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. Or sow outdoors well after the last frost date when nighttime temperatures have stayed 60° F and above for two weeks, which is also the indicator to begin the transplanting process as well.

Transplanting: If sown indoors, harden off your plants for a period of two weeks before transplanting. Without hardening off, your plants may die from “transplant shock.” Make sure you plant in an area that hasn’t grown peppers, eggplant, potatoes, or other tomatoes for the last two years. Plant deeply, covering the roots and stem up to the first set of leaves.

Soil Preference: Keep soil warm and moist! Water a lot just after transplanting and maintain a moist but not soggy consistency. Make sure your soil has good drainage and won’t be likely to accumulate standing water at the base of the plant.

Other Tips: Mulches can help keeps weeds down and maintain even soil temperatures, which contribute to a healthy plentiful garden plant. Yellow Pear Tomatoes require a trellis system of some kind. Simple cages and box trellises work just great!