Growing Guide: Everglades Tomato

Botanical Name Solanum pimpinellifolium

Common Names Everglades Tomato, Wild Currant Tomato, Florida Currant Tomato, Wild Tomato, Red Everglades, Yellow Everglades
Plant Type Fruiting annual or short-lived perennial
Life Cycle Annual in most zones; can be perennial in Zone 9+
Mature Size 3–6 ft tall; can sprawl 6–8+ ft wide
Light Full sun (6–8+ hours daily)
Water Needs Moderate; keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged
Soil Well-drained; sandy or loamy; tolerates poor soils
Fertilizer Every 2–3 weeks with organic tomato fertilizer or compost tea
Container Friendly Yes; minimum 3+ gallon pot with drainage
Support Benefits from trellis, cage, or fence; can also be grown as a sprawler
Bloom Time Spring through fall (nearly year-round in warm zones)
Flower Color Yellow
USDA Zones 9–11 (perennial); grow as annual in colder zones
Florida Native Naturalized (not native)
Propagation Seeds (easy to save)
Time to Harvest 60–75 days from seed; live plants are ready to fruit now
Harvest Notes Pick when fruits are fully colored (red or yellow), slightly soft to touch
Special Features Heat-tolerant, self-seeding, low-maintenance, pollinator-friendly