Homestead 24
Solanum lycopersicum 'Homestead 24'
A heat-tolerant determinate variety developed specifically for hot, humid climates where other tomatoes fail. This reliable producer sets fruit even in extreme heat and produces meaty, crack-resistant tomatoes perfect for canning and fresh eating. A true workhorse for Southern gardeners and hot climate growing.
Harvest
80-85d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Homestead 24 in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Homestead 24 · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
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 freshly harvested Homestead 24 tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days for peak flavor, then refrigerate if not used. These meaty fruits maintain quality longer than many varieties, often lasting 7-10 days when properly stored.
For preservation, Homestead 24's dense, low-moisture flesh makes it exceptional for canning whole, crushed, or as sauce. The high acidity and meaty texture hold up well to processing. Freeze whole tomatoes for winter cooking - the skins slip off easily after thawing.
Dehydrating works particularly well with this variety due to its low water content and concentrated flavor. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and dehydrate at 135°F until leathery. The balanced acidity also makes Homestead 24 suitable for fermenting into hot sauces or lacto-fermented tomato products, though this is less common than canning applications.
History & Origin
Homestead 24 was developed in the 1950s by the Gleckler Seed Company, founded by W.A. Gleckler in Metamora, Ohio. Gleckler specifically bred this variety to address the challenges faced by Southern gardeners who struggled with tomato production in hot, humid summers when most varieties would stop setting fruit or succumb to heat stress.
The variety was named 'Homestead 24' to reflect its reliability for home gardens and its exceptional ability to set fruit in temperatures exceeding 90°F for 24 hours or more - conditions that typically cause other tomatoes to drop blossoms. This breeding focus made it revolutionary for zones 8-10 where tomato growing was previously challenging.
Gleckler's breeding program emphasized practical garden performance over appearance, resulting in a true workhorse variety that became essential for Southern gardeners and anyone dealing with extreme heat. The variety gained particular popularity during the 1960s-70s as more gardeners moved to hot climate regions and needed reliable producing varieties.
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, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, whiteflies, and other harmful insects with strong scent
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for space or nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases with sulfur compounds
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away
Lettuce
Provides living mulch, conserves soil moisture, and matures before tomatoes need full space
Oregano
Repels various insects and may provide some disease resistance benefits
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds and attracts harmful insects
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted too close
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent heat tolerance, some fusarium wilt resistance
Common Pests
Hornworms, aphids, spider mites in hot weather
Diseases
Early blight, bacterial spot, cracking in cool weather