Mountain Pride
Solanum lycopersicum 'Mountain Pride'
A reliable determinate variety specifically bred for cooler climates and shorter growing seasons, making it perfect for northern gardeners and high-altitude areas. This compact plant produces firm, meaty red tomatoes with excellent flavor and outstanding disease resistance. Developed by North Carolina State University, it's become a favorite for gardeners who need dependable harvests in challenging conditions.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Mountain Pride in USDA Zone 7
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Mountain Pride · 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 |
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
Complete Growing Guide
For northern and high-altitude gardeners, Mountain Pride's 75-80 day maturity means you can direct-seed or transplant 2-3 weeks later than traditional varieties and still harvest before frost—make note of your first frost date and work backward. This determinate type needs full sun but actually tolerates cooler nights better than indeterminate heirlooms, so don't delay planting waiting for warm soil. Its compact 1-10 foot habit means closer spacing than sprawling varieties, reducing air circulation issues; however, ensure adequate water during the critical flowering window since this meaty-fruited type demands consistent moisture. The excellent disease resistance reduces foliar problems common in cool, damp climates, but watch for early blight in wet springs by removing lower leaves. One practical tip: pinch off flower clusters appearing after mid-August in short-season areas—this redirects energy to ripening existing fruit rather than setting fruit that won't mature before cold arrives.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. 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
Mountain Pride tomatoes reach peak harvest readiness when they display a deep, uniform red color across the entire fruit surface, typically weighing 5-7 ounces with a slight give when gently squeezed. As a determinate variety, expect concentrated ripening rather than continuous production, with most fruit maturing within a 2-3 week window. Harvest when tomatoes pull cleanly from the vine with minimal pressure, leaving the stem attached. For optimal flavor development in cooler climates, pick fruits at the mature-red stage rather than waiting for over-ripeness, as Mountain Pride's shorter season means missing the window can result in frost damage before secondary ripening occurs.
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
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 Mountain Pride tomatoes at room temperature (65–70°F) away from direct sunlight until fully ripe, then refrigerate at 50–55°F in a single layer to extend shelf life to two to three weeks. Keep humidity moderate to prevent moisture accumulation, which encourages rot. Ripe tomatoes lose flavor when chilled, so remove them from refrigeration 30 minutes before eating for best taste.
This variety's balanced acidity and natural sugars make it exceptional for both water-bath canning whole or as sauce, and for freezing whole on sheet trays before transferring to bags—the skins slip off easily after thawing. Drying works well too; slice thin, salt lightly, and dry at low heat until leathery. Mountain Pride's meaty flesh holds up particularly well to sauce reduction without excessive watering down, producing a concentrated, rich result that justifies the extra cooking time.
History & Origin
Developed by North Carolina State University's tomato breeding program, Mountain Pride was created to address the specific challenges faced by gardeners in cooler climates and high-altitude regions where traditional tomato varieties struggle to mature. While detailed documentation on the exact year of release and specific parent varieties used in its development is limited in readily available sources, the variety emerged from NCSU's systematic breeding efforts aimed at producing determinate tomatoes with shortened maturity periods, disease resistance, and reliable yields. The university's commitment to developing regionally adapted cultivars made Mountain Pride a natural fit for northern gardeners and high-elevation areas where growing seasons are compressed, establishing it as a dependable choice for challenging agricultural zones.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Specifically bred for cooler climates and short growing seasons
- +Determinate habit keeps plants compact and manageable for small spaces
- +Firm, meaty texture makes it excellent for cooking and canning
- +Outstanding disease resistance reduces need for fungicide treatments
- +Quick 75-80 day maturity ensures harvest before first frost
Considerations
- -Susceptible to late blight in humid or wet conditions
- -Prone to blossom end rot without consistent calcium and watering
- -Determinate type produces all fruit at once, not continuous harvest
- -More vulnerable to bacterial speck than some other varieties
Companion Plants
Basil is the first thing I'd tuck alongside Mountain Pride — its shallow roots don't compete with tomato's deeper ones, and the two are close enough in water needs that you're not juggling two irrigation schedules. Marigolds (Tagetes spp.) do real work here: their root secretions suppress root-knot nematodes, which are a persistent problem in Georgia's sandier soils, and the flowers bring in parasitic wasps that knock back aphid populations before they get out of hand. Carrots and parsley fit well at 6–8 inches from the cage; they fill dead space under the canopy without pulling from the same root zone.
Fennel is the one to keep well off the bed — it releases allelopathic compounds that stunt most vegetables nearby, and tomatoes are particularly sensitive. Brassicas cause a different kind of trouble: they compete hard for nitrogen and draw cabbage loopers and aphids that don't stay put. Around here in zone 7 Georgia, the spring planting window closes fast once daytime temps push past 85°F, so anything robbing soil moisture or inviting extra pest pressure in that bed is a problem you don't need.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Marigolds
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Carrots
Breaks up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato growth and flavor
Borage
Attracts pollinators and beneficial insects, may deter hornworms
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and shade, maximizes space usage
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunting
Fennel
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
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
Excellent resistance to fusarium wilt races 1 and 2, verticillium wilt, and tobacco mosaic virus (VFN)
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, flea beetles, cutworms
Diseases
Late blight, bacterial speck, blossom end rot
Troubleshooting Mountain Pride
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Large gray-green patches spreading across foliage fast — whole branches collapsing within days, sometimes with dark sunken spots on fruit
Likely Causes
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) — thrives in cool, wet weather, spreads fast through a planting
- Overhead irrigation keeping foliage wet for extended periods
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — don't compost them; late blight spores travel
- 2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base in the morning only
- 3.Rotate tomatoes out of that bed for at least 3–4 years; NC State Extension notes the rotation window for some tomato diseases can stretch to 5–7 years
Dark, water-soaked specks on leaves and fruit — spots have yellow halos and stay small (under 1/4 inch), first appearing in wet weather
Likely Causes
- Bacterial speck (Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato) — splashes up from soil during rain or overhead watering
- Cool, wet conditions in spring — this disease tends to hit transplants before the heat arrives
What to Do
- 1.Strip and trash affected leaves; don't leave debris on the soil surface
- 2.Mulch with 3–4 inches of straw to cut down on soil splash
- 3.Mountain Pride is a hybrid with some disease resistance built in — if bacterial speck keeps returning, check that plants aren't crowded inside the 24-inch spacing minimum
Bottom of fruit has a sunken, leathery black or brown patch — usually shows up on the first heavy set of the season
Likely Causes
- Blossom end rot — calcium deficiency in the developing fruit, triggered by irregular watering rather than a true soil calcium shortage in most cases
- Moisture fluctuations: letting the bed dry out then soaking it blocks calcium uptake even when Ca is present in the soil
What to Do
- 1.Water on a consistent schedule — a drip line on a timer beats hand-watering for keeping moisture steady
- 2.Check soil pH; below 6.0, lime the bed to bring it into the 6.0–6.8 range and free up available calcium
- 3.Pick off affected fruit so the plant redirects energy into the next set — once watering evens out, new fruit usually comes in clean
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Mountain Pride tomato take to grow?▼
Can you grow Mountain Pride tomatoes in containers?▼
Is Mountain Pride tomato good for beginners?▼
What does Mountain Pride tomato taste like?▼
When should I plant Mountain Pride tomatoes?▼
Mountain Pride vs Roma tomatoes - what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.