Fourth of July
Solanum lycopersicum 'Fourth of July'
An All-America Selections winner bred for extremely early harvests, often producing ripe fruit by Independence Day in most climates. This compact determinate variety delivers full-sized, flavorful tomatoes weeks before other varieties, making it perfect for short-season gardeners and those eager for their first homegrown tomatoes. Despite its early maturity, it doesn't sacrifice flavor for speed.
Harvest
49-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Fourth of July in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Fourth of July · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | April – June |
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 ripe Fourth of July tomatoes at room temperature for best flavor—refrigeration dulls their taste and creates mealy texture. They'll keep on the counter for 3-5 days, longer if picked slightly underripe. For longer storage, place in a cool (55-60°F) location away from direct sunlight.
Due to this variety's concentrated harvest window, preservation becomes important. Freeze whole tomatoes in freezer bags—the skins slip off easily after thawing, perfect for sauces and soups. For canning, their good acidity makes them suitable for water bath canning as whole tomatoes or sauce. Slice and dehydrate in a food dehydrator or low oven (140°F) for tomato chips. While not traditionally considered a paste tomato, their earliness makes them valuable for early-season preserving when other varieties aren't ready.
History & Origin
Fourth of July tomato was developed by Dr. James Baggett at Oregon State University and released in 1976, earning the prestigious All-America Selections award in 1977. Dr. Baggett specifically bred this variety to address the frustration of gardeners in shorter-season climates who struggled to get ripe tomatoes before fall frosts.
The variety was created by crossing early-season parents with full-sized tomato varieties, aiming to break the traditional trade-off between earliness and size—most early tomatoes were small cherry types. Baggett's goal was a tomato that could reliably produce full-sized fruit by Independence Day, even in northern climates, hence the patriotic name.
This hybrid represents a breakthrough in tomato breeding, proving that extreme earliness didn't require sacrificing fruit size or flavor. Its development helped extend tomato growing into shorter-season areas and gave all gardeners the satisfaction of early homegrown tomatoes. The variety remains popular nearly 50 years later, testament to its practical value for home gardeners.
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
Marigolds
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps loosen soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for space
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels many pests and attracts beneficial pollinators
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and benefits from tomato's shade
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm and compete for heavy nutrient demands
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to verticillium wilt and fusarium wilt
Common Pests
Aphids, flea beetles, cutworms, tomato hornworm
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, bacterial speck, blossom end rot