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Arkansas Traveler

Solanum lycopersicum 'Arkansas Traveler'

This tough Southern heirloom was specifically bred to handle hot, humid summers and still produce delicious tomatoes when other varieties give up. Developed at the University of Arkansas, it's famous for setting fruit even in extreme heat and humidity while maintaining excellent flavor and disease resistance. Perfect for gardeners in challenging climates who want reliable, flavorful tomatoes all season long.

Harvest

80-90d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Blossom-End Rot of Tomato

☀️

Zones

10–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

1-10 feet

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Start Indoors

Transplant

Harvest

Showing dates for Arkansas Traveler in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Arkansas Traveler · Zones 10–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing24-36 inches

SoilAdaptable to various soils, prefers well-drained loam

pH6.0-7.0

WaterHigh — consistent moisture needed

SeasonYear Round

FlavorWell-balanced, sweet-tart, classic tomato flavor

ColorDeep pink-red

Size6-8 oz

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	April – April	June – July	—	September – October
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	—	September – October
Zone 5	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 6	March – March	May – June	—	August – October
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 8	February – February	April – May	—	July – September
Zone 9	January – January	March – April	—	June – August
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	—	May – July

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.

Garden value: Edible, Showy

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Fall, Summer

Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.

Storage & Preservation

Store fully ripe Arkansas Traveler tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days for peak flavor, then refrigerate for up to one week. Green and partially ripe fruits will continue ripening at room temperature for 1-2 weeks when stored stem-side down.

This variety excels at canning due to its balanced acidity and firm flesh—perfect for whole canned tomatoes, sauce, and paste. The consistent texture makes Arkansas Traveler ideal for dehydrating into tomato leather or dried slices. For freezing, blanch and peel whole tomatoes, or freeze chopped for later use in cooked dishes. The variety's lower water content compared to beefsteak types means better texture retention in preserved forms, making it particularly valuable for year-round cooking applications.

History & Origin

Arkansas Traveler was developed in the 1940s by the University of Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station specifically to address the challenges faced by Southern gardeners. The breeding program aimed to create a tomato that could set fruit and maintain quality during the intense heat and humidity of Arkansas summers, when most existing varieties simply shut down production.

The variety gets its name from the famous 19th-century fiddle tune 'The Arkansas Traveler,' reflecting its deep roots in Southern culture. Plant breeder Dr. J.W. Bauman led the development, crossing heat-tolerant varieties with flavorful heirlooms to achieve the perfect balance of resilience and taste.

Arkansan gardeners had long struggled with tomato production during their extended, brutal summers, often seeing their plants stop flowering entirely from June through August. Arkansas Traveler changed this dynamic, becoming a cornerstone variety for hot-climate gardening throughout the South and Southwest. Today, it remains one of the most reliable heat-tolerant tomatoes available, maintaining its reputation nearly 80 years after its introduction.

Advantages

+Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
+Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
+Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
-High maintenance

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Basil

Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor and growth

Marigolds

Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies while attracting beneficial insects

Carrots

Help break up soil for tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients

Parsley

Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests

Chives

Repel aphids and may improve tomato flavor and disease resistance

Lettuce

Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and utilizes different root zones

Nasturtiums

Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies

Borage

Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may improve tomato flavor

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth

Fennel

Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds

Brassicas

Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby

Corn

Both attract corn earworms and compete for similar nutrients and space

Nutrition Facts

Calories

27kcal(1%)

Protein

0.83g(2%)

Fiber

2.1g(8%)

Carbs

5.51g(2%)

Fat

0.63g(1%)

Vitamin C

27.2mg(30%)

Vitamin K

4.2mcg(4%)

Iron

0.33mg(2%)

Calcium

11mg(1%)

Potassium

260mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Excellent heat tolerance, good resistance to many common diseases, crack resistant

Common Pests

Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites

Diseases

Generally disease resistant, some susceptibility to late blight in very humid conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Arkansas Traveler tomato take to grow?▼

Arkansas Traveler tomatoes take 80-90 days from transplant to first harvest. Started from seed indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting, you're looking at about 4 months total from seed to fruit. The variety produces continuously once it starts, giving you harvests well into fall in most climates.

Can you grow Arkansas Traveler tomatoes in containers?▼

Yes, Arkansas Traveler grows well in large containers (minimum 20 gallons) due to its determinate growth habit and heat tolerance. Container growing actually helps in extremely hot climates since you can move pots to provide afternoon shade. Ensure consistent watering as containers dry out faster, especially important for this variety's continuous production.

Is Arkansas Traveler good for beginners?▼

Arkansas Traveler is excellent for beginning gardeners, especially in hot climates. Its exceptional heat and disease tolerance, forgiving nature with soil types, and reliable production make it nearly foolproof. The variety's resilience means common beginner mistakes like inconsistent watering or poor timing are less likely to result in total crop failure.

What does Arkansas Traveler tomato taste like?▼

Arkansas Traveler has a classic, well-balanced tomato flavor with sweet-tart notes and good acidity. The taste is often described as 'old-fashioned' tomato flavor—not as sweet as modern hybrids but with more complexity and a pleasant tang. Heat stress doesn't diminish the flavor like it does in many varieties.

When should I plant Arkansas Traveler tomatoes?▼

Plant Arkansas Traveler transplants outdoors when soil temperature reaches 60°F, typically 2-3 weeks after your last frost date. In hot climates (zones 9-11), you can plant as early as March. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your planned transplant date. The variety's heat tolerance allows for later plantings too—up to mid-June in most areas.

Arkansas Traveler vs Celebrity tomato what's the difference?▼

Arkansas Traveler excels in extreme heat and humidity where Celebrity often stops producing, making it superior for Southern gardens. Celebrity produces larger fruits and higher yields in moderate climates, but Arkansas Traveler offers better disease resistance and continues setting fruit through summer heat waves. Choose Arkansas Traveler for reliability in challenging conditions, Celebrity for maximum production in ideal climates.