Northern Lights Tomato

[NYTomatoNewbie]

Has anyone grown northern lights tomato? I see days to first harvest after transplant ranging from early to late, and when using numbers, from 55 days to 90 days. I have ruled out references to the red small Russian tomato northern light (no s at end of light). These are reputable vendors that have this big difference is season and number of days. I am assuming it is likely a Midseason around 75 days. Has anyone personally grown it? It’s a 10-16 oz beefsteak, yellow/orange bicolor, 6 ft indeterminate? Said to do well with cool temperatures. I first saw it on Tomatofest listed as 55 days so it has stuck in my head as one to try in zone 6.

[AKgardener]

Ohhh I’m so glad you posted this . It’s on my grow list this year why I got them as well should do well in my climate can’t wait to compare to yours

[eyegrotom]

I grew it a couple of years ago. My notes say 6 to 8 oz around 80 days.

[rossomendblot]

I grew it in 2021. My records say that it was one of the latest tomatoes to ripen, around the same time as Orange Jazz and Daniel Burson. For comparison, Mat-Su Express produced its first ripe fruit 1 month earlier.

[NYTomatoNewbie]

Thank you for checking your notes!

[bower]

I first grew Northern Lights in the greenhouse here about a decade ago. Very nice fruit, large ruffly beefs, good producer, early enough for my greenhouse here, not as early as anything 'early' though, so that puts it in the 'midseason' category. They were ripe about the same time as Indian Stripe and other large beefs, ie, end of summer for us. Friends including my farmer friend also grew it and found it good, and early enough. One of those friends grew it again multiple times as they liked it so much. I have one bicolor that is earlier, Oaxaca Jewel PL, so I stuck with the earliest one.

[NYTomatoNewbie]

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. I will look up Oaxaca jewel. I haven’t heard of it.

[pepperhead212]

I grew the Oaxacan Jewel the last two years - I was surprised in '22 when I actually started getting ripe ones on 7-3 (about 60 days for me), and only a couple of the cherries had started ripening! Almost as early last year, but not quite. However, it seems to like heat, and didn't keep producing to the very end, like many do, but it didn't really owe me any more! Here's a photo of the second batch of Oaxacan Jewels, from one plant on 7-30. Not huge fruits, but around 4-6 oz average, occasionally over 8 oz. Good, balanced flavor - not as intense as some of my favorites, but definitely a keeper.
All Oaxacan Jewels, from the same plant again. 7-30 by pepperhead212, on Flickr

And here's a photo of one cut open, showing the inside colors.
Oaxacan Jewel, more red on the skin, but more gold inside. by pepperhead212, on Flickr

[NYTomatoNewbie]

Wow, those look great for July! Thank you for sharing. I will look into this variety.

[AKgardener]

Ok gonna scratch these .. gonna keep looking

[rossomendblot]

Very pretty colours on Northern Lights, too.

northern lights cut.jpg

[loulac]

I have been growing the variety for several years now. The seeds were bought from a well-known US seller. In my place they are very early and last till the end of november. The family and the neighbors enjoy eating Northern lights.