Tomato
Seed # 95
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 95
- Seed Name
- Tomato
- Variety
- Federle
- Category
- Vegetable
- Plant Family
- Solanaceae
- Plant Type
- Indeterminate paste tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Planting Method
- Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Mar 24
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 1
- Plantable Months
- March, April, May, June
- Indoor Start
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Direct Sow
- Not Recommended
- Transplant
- May 12 – Jun 1
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- 6 weeks
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- 1 weeks
- Germination Days
- 5–10 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- 85 days from transplant
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 75-85°F
- Planting Depth
- 1/4 in
- Plant Spacing
- 24-36 in
- Row Spacing
- 36-48 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- About 1-1.5 in/week; maintain consistent moisture during flowering and fruit development
- Soil Preference
- Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter; approximately pH 6.0-6.8
- Minimum Container Size
- 10 gal
- Plant Height
- Indeterminate vine; typically 6+ ft with support
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Annual
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- Yes
- Frost Tolerant
- No
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Culinary Pollinator Seed SavingCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Chives | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Marigold | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Marigold | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Marigold | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Marigold | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Nasturtiums | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Nasturtiums | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Corn | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Corn | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Corn | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Corn | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Corn | Avoid | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- MSU Extension; Detroit frost dates; Almanac Detroit
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Start indoors; transplant after frost
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 15 – Jun 20
Days to Harvest / Bloom: 70–95 days from transplant
Container Friendly: Yes, 5–10+ gal
Pollinator Friendly: Flowers support pollinators
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Culinary
Succession / Reusable Notes: Start indoors yearly. Paste tomatoes are great for sauce/canning.
Zone 6B Notes: Transplant after frost and when soil has warmed. Provide cages/stakes.
Companion Plants: Basil, carrots, onions, parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums, calendula, borage, garlic, chives
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Fennel, potatoes, corn very close by
Sources: MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar | Detroit frost dates: https://www.ufseeds.com/vegetable-planting-calendar-detroit-michigan.html | Almanac Detroit: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/MI/Detroit
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Federle is a main-season paste tomato with an 85-day maturity from transplant. Start indoors about 6 weeks before May 5 and transplant after frost danger passes.
Germination: Use standard tomato seed-starting conditions of approximately 75-85°F, shallow sowing and even moisture.
Harvest: Harvest the long red fruits when fully ripe. Federle produces approximately 6-7 inch paste tomatoes with rich flavor and relatively few seeds, making it especially suited to salsa, sauce and canning.
Seed Saving: Federle is an heirloom/open-pollinated tomato. Save seed from fully ripe fruits, ferment, rinse and dry thoroughly. Tomatoes are mainly self-pollinating, but some crossing can occur.
Special Care: Indeterminate vines require staking or trellising and continue producing through the season until frost.
Research Source: Seed Savers Exchange — https://shop.seedsavers.org/federle-tomato — Federle heirloom identity, 7-inch red paste fruit, rich flavor, few seeds and processing use
Research Source: Cornell University Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners — https://vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/main/detail.php?filterBy=0&variety_id=3356 — indeterminate habit, 6-7 inch fruit and 85-day maturity
Research Source: Rohrer Seeds — https://rohrerseeds.com/products/federle-tomato — indeterminate habit, 85 days from transplant and salsa/processing use
Research Source: Seed Savers Exchange — https://seedsavers.org/grow-tomato/ — tomato seed maturity and seed-saving guidance
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]