🍅 Tomato ‘Gold Medal’ — Bi-Coloured, Sweet & Spectacular

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An heirloom indeterminate beefsteak famous for its sunset skin — golden yellow with a rosy blush and pink marbling. 🌞 First introduced in 1921 as ‘Ruby Gold’ and later renamed ‘Gold Medal’, this variety has earned its place among the sweetest, most beautiful tomatoes ever grown.

🌟 Highlights at a Glance

• Fruit: Huge 450 g–1.3 kg+ beefsteaks; firm, low-acid, and incredibly sweet with few seeds — perfect for slicing and salads.

• Growth Habit: Indeterminate (keeps growing and fruiting all season).

• Leaf Type: Potato-leaf 🍃

• Maturity: Typically 75–90 days from transplant.

🍽️ Flavour & Kitchen Uses

Expect a mellow, fruity sweetness with almost no sharpness — a show-stopper on bruschetta, Caprese salad, or thick sandwich slices. The vibrant marbling makes every plate look like summer sunshine. ☀️

🌱 How to Grow

🌤️ Climate & Timing

• Frost-free planting only.

• Start seeds indoors or under cover late winter to early spring (Highveld), spring to early summer (Western Cape), or spring through midsummer (KZN and coastal areas).

• Transplant once nights stay above 10 °C and seedlings have 5–7 true leaves.

🌾 Sowing

• Depth: 5–8 mm in a fine, moist seed mix.

• Germination: 7–14 days at 24–30 °C 🌡️

• Keep soil evenly moist, never soggy.

🪴 Transplanting & Spacing

• Harden off seedlings for 7–10 days before transplanting.

• Spacing: 60–75 cm between plants; 90–120 cm between rows.

• Bury stems slightly deeper to encourage strong rooting.

• Install a sturdy stake or cage early — these fruits get massive! 💪

🌿 Soil & Feeding

• Use rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8.

• Mix in compost and a balanced organic fertiliser at planting.

• Feed fortnightly with a high-potassium fertiliser once flowering begins.

• Mulch well to retain moisture and keep roots cool.

💧 Watering

• Deep, consistent watering is key: roughly 25–40 mm, 2–3 times a week depending on heat and soil.

• Water early morning at the base — avoid wetting leaves to prevent disease.

✂️ Training & Pruning

• Train indeterminate vines to 1–2 leaders and remove lower leaves that touch the soil.

• Light pruning improves airflow and reduces disease risk.

• Tie stems gently as they grow.

🌼 Pollination & Fruit Set

• Gently shake stakes or trellis in the morning to help pollen spread.

• In hot weather, provide 30–40% shade cloth to reduce blossom drop.

🐞 Pests & Problems

• Early blight or leaf spot: improve airflow and prune affected leaves.

• Fruit cracking: keep watering regular and steady.

• Sunscald: leave enough foliage for natural shade.

🍅 Harvest

• Pick when fruits turn buttery yellow with a rose blush and yield slightly to touch.

• These slice beautifully and hold their texture for salads or sandwiches. 🥗

🌟 Top Tips for Success

• Support early and strongly — the fruits are heavy!

• Keep moisture consistent to prevent cracking.

• Taste test at various ripeness stages — sweetness peaks when the pink marbling deepens.

• Save seed from your best fruits — it’s a true heirloom worth preserving. 🌿