Iron Lady
Solanum lycopersicum 'Iron Lady'
A breakthrough hybrid specifically bred for superior disease resistance without sacrificing flavor, making it perfect for organic gardeners and areas with challenging growing conditions. This dependable variety produces excellent yields of flavorful, medium-sized fruits even when other tomatoes struggle with disease pressure. Iron Lady proves that you don't have to choose between disease resistance and great taste.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Iron Lady in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Iron Lady · 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 | — | August – 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
Fresh Iron Lady tomatoes store best at room temperature for optimal flavor development. Keep them stem-side down on a counter away from direct sunlight, where they'll maintain peak quality for 7-10 days. Only refrigerate if you need to extend storage beyond this period, though cold temperatures will diminish their flavor.
For preservation, Iron Lady's balanced flavor and meaty texture make it excellent for canning – both whole and as sauce. The variety's disease resistance ensures clean, healthy fruits perfect for water bath canning following USDA guidelines. Process pint jars for 85 minutes in a boiling water bath.
Freeze Iron Lady tomatoes by blanching for 1 minute, peeling, then storing whole in freezer bags. They'll keep for 8-10 months and work beautifully in cooked dishes. The variety also dehydrates well – slice into ¼-inch rounds and dry at 135°F until leathery for concentrated flavor in winter cooking.
History & Origin
Iron Lady represents the modern evolution of tomato breeding, developed in the early 2000s by professional plant breeders focused on solving organic gardeners' biggest challenge: finding varieties that could resist multiple diseases without sacrificing flavor. This hybrid emerged from intensive breeding programs that combined traditional heirloom flavor characteristics with cutting-edge disease resistance genes.
The variety's development took nearly a decade, with breeders crossing multiple parent lines to achieve the comprehensive disease package Iron Lady now offers. The name reflects the variety's 'tough as nails' reputation among market gardeners and home growers who needed reliable production in challenging conditions.
Iron Lady gained popularity during the 2010s as organic gardening expanded and gardeners sought alternatives to chemical disease control. It became particularly valued in regions with high disease pressure, where traditional heirloom varieties often struggled. The variety represents successful modern plant breeding that honors both productivity needs and flavor expectations of contemporary 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, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that control aphids
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels many pests and may enhance tomato growth
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and shade, helping retain soil moisture
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 nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Exceptional resistance to late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, verticillium wilt, and bacterial speck. Outstanding overall disease package.
Common Pests
Tomato fruitworm, aphids, cutworms, flea beetles
Diseases
Highly resistant to most common tomato diseases, occasionally susceptible to blossom end rot in inconsistent watering