Park’s Whopper tomato is a popular hybrid variety for home gardeners, known for its robust growth, large fruit, and disease resistance. It offers consistent production and a bountiful harvest of flavorful tomatoes.
Understanding Park’s Whopper Tomatoes
Park’s Whopper tomato is an indeterminate hybrid, growing and producing fruit throughout the entire season until frost. These plants can reach heights of 5 to 10 feet, requiring substantial support. Its fruit is notable for its size, typically 4 inches or more across and weighing up to 16 ounces, ideal for slicing.
Park’s Whopper tomatoes have a classic, well-balanced sweet and tangy taste with a meaty, juicy texture and minimal seeds. They are notably disease resistant, resisting common ailments like Verticillium Wilt (V), Fusarium Wilt (F1, F2), Root-Knot Nematodes (N), and Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV). This resistance contributes to higher yields and a longer harvest season.
Growing Park’s Whopper Tomatoes
Start Park’s Whopper tomatoes from seed indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Germination is optimal at soil temperatures between 70-85°F. Once seedlings have two sets of true leaves, transplant them into larger pots.
Gradually acclimate seedlings to outdoor conditions over about a week (hardening off). Transplant into the garden after all danger of frost has passed, when nighttime temperatures consistently remain above 50-55°F and soil temperatures reach at least 60°F. Choose a location with full sun, ideally 6 to 8 hours daily.
Ensure well-drained soil enriched with organic matter like compost or well-rotted manure, aiming for a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-6.8). When planting, dig deep holes and set plants so lower branches and stem are covered by soil, leaving only the top two or three sets of leaves above ground. This encourages additional root growth along the buried stem, leading to sturdier plants. Space plants 24 to 36 inches apart for proper growth and air circulation. Water thoroughly initially, ensuring the soil is consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Ongoing Care and Support
Consistent watering is important for healthy Park’s Whopper tomato plants, especially during fruiting. Plants require 1 to 2 inches of water per week; deep, consistent watering prevents blossom end rot and cracking. Water at the base to avoid wetting foliage, reducing fungal disease risk. Mulch around plant bases with organic material like straw or grass clippings to conserve soil moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Due to their indeterminate growth and potential 5 to 10-foot height, Park’s Whopper tomatoes require robust support. Staking, caging, or trellising keeps heavy fruit and vigorous vines off the ground, preventing breakage and improving air circulation. Regular pruning, especially sucker removal (small shoots in leaf axils), is beneficial. Removing suckers directs energy toward fruit production and maintains an open canopy for better airflow, reducing disease risk.
Fertilization supports continuous fruit production. Apply a balanced fertilizer when flowers first appear, then every two to three weeks during the growing season. Some gardeners use a high-phosphorus fertilizer before transplanting and when fruits begin to appear. Monitor for general pests and diseases, even with the variety’s resistance.
Harvesting Your Whopper Tomatoes
Park’s Whopper tomatoes mature in 65 to 70 days after transplanting. Ripeness indicators include a uniform red color and slight softness when gently squeezed. Their crack resistance allows them to ripen well on the vine.
Harvest by gently twisting or snipping tomatoes from the vine with garden scissors or pruners to avoid damaging the plant. Picking ripe fruit encourages continuous production. For optimal flavor, store harvested tomatoes at room temperature; refrigeration diminishes taste and texture, so consume them within a few days.
Common Challenges and Solutions
Despite disease resistance, Park’s Whopper tomatoes can still face common issues. Blossom end rot, dark sunken spots on fruit bottoms, is caused by inconsistent watering or calcium deficiency. Consistent soil moisture via regular watering and mulching, plus proper soil pH, helps prevent this.
Fruit cracking, less common in this variety, can occur from rapid watering fluctuations (e.g., dry spell then heavy rain). Consistent watering helps fruit develop uniformly, reducing cracking. While resistant to several diseases, monitor for pests like hornworms and aphids. Hand-picking hornworms or using insecticidal soaps for aphids are effective. Though resistant to common wilts, good air circulation via proper spacing and pruning deters other fungal diseases like early blight.