Phoenix
Solanum lycopersicum 'Phoenix'
A heat-tolerant determinate variety specifically developed for hot climate growing where other tomatoes fail. Produces excellent yields of smooth, crack-resistant fruits even in extreme summer heat and humidity. The compact plants set fruit reliably in temperatures that would cause other varieties to drop their blossoms.
Harvest
68-72d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Phoenix in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Phoenix · 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 | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| 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 Phoenix tomatoes store exceptionally well at room temperature for 7-10 days, maintaining firmness longer than most varieties due to their crack-resistant breeding. For longer storage, refrigerate fully ripe fruits for up to 2 weeks, though flavor is best when returned to room temperature before eating.
Phoenix excels for canning due to its firm texture and balanced acidity – process using standard tomato canning methods for sauce, paste, or whole tomatoes. The variety's heat tolerance translates to excellent cooking characteristics, holding shape well in long-simmered dishes.
For freezing, core and quarter fruits, then freeze on trays before bagging – no blanching needed. Phoenix also dehydrates beautifully due to its dense flesh and lower water content compared to beefsteak varieties. The balanced sweet-acid profile concentrates well when dried, creating intensely flavored dried tomatoes perfect for winter cooking.
History & Origin
Phoenix tomato was developed in the 1980s by agricultural researchers specifically targeting the growing challenges faced by gardeners in the American Southwest and other hot, arid regions. The variety emerged from breeding programs focused on creating tomatoes that could maintain productivity in climates previously considered unsuitable for tomato cultivation.
Named for the desert city known for extreme summer heat, Phoenix represents a breakthrough in heat-tolerance breeding. Developers crossed heat-tolerant wild tomato genetics with productive determinate varieties, selecting for plants that could set fruit reliably when temperatures soar above 95°F – conditions that cause most tomatoes to drop flowers and cease production.
The variety gained recognition among Master Gardeners in Arizona, Texas, and Nevada before spreading to other challenging growing regions. Phoenix helped expand tomato growing into previously marginal climates, proving particularly valuable for gardeners dealing with climate change impacts. Its success sparked further development of heat-tolerant varieties, establishing Phoenix as a foundational variety in extreme-climate tomato breeding.
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, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for space
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, draws pests away
Lettuce
Provides living mulch and maximizes garden space without root competition
Oregano
Repels many insects and may enhance tomato growth and flavor
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Releases juglone toxin that causes wilting and death in tomatoes
Fennel
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds that stunt tomato development
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth when planted nearby
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 verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, and heat stress
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, spider mites in hot weather, aphids
Diseases
Bacterial speck, early blight, sunscald in extreme conditions