Surefire Red
Solanum lycopersicum 'Surefire Red'
An All-America Selections winner bred specifically for cool-weather performance and short growing seasons, producing ripe tomatoes even when temperatures dip below ideal ranges. This compact hybrid sets fruit reliably in conditions that cause other varieties to drop blossoms, making it perfect for northern gardens and unpredictable climates. Surefire Red delivers dependable harvests when gardening success seems uncertain.
Harvest
50-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Surefire Red in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Surefire Red · 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 fully ripe Surefire Red tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days for best flavor, or refrigerate for up to one week if you need to slow ripening. Keep stem-end down to prevent moisture loss and maintain quality longer.
For preservation, these medium-sized tomatoes work excellently for freezing whole—simply core, blanch for 30 seconds, and freeze in bags for winter cooking. Their balanced flavor and firm texture make them ideal for fresh salsa that can be frozen in small portions. You can also slow-roast halved fruits with herbs and olive oil, then freeze in ice cube trays for convenient recipe additions.
While not acidic enough for water-bath canning alone, they're perfect for mixed salsas and sauces when combined with higher-acid varieties or added vinegar.
History & Origin
Surefire Red was developed by Burpee Seeds and introduced to the market in the early 2000s as part of their focus on creating varieties adapted to challenging growing conditions. The variety earned the prestigious All-America Selections award, recognizing its exceptional performance across diverse North American growing regions during extensive field trials.
This hybrid was specifically bred to address the frustration of gardeners in northern climates and areas with unpredictable weather patterns, where traditional tomato varieties often failed to set fruit reliably. Plant breeders crossed cold-tolerant genetics with reliable fruit-setting characteristics to create a tomato that could thrive where others struggled.
The development program focused on creating a variety that would appeal to beginning gardeners who had experienced disappointment with more temperamental tomatoes, while still providing the flavor and productivity that experienced gardeners demand. Its success helped establish the market for 'insurance' varieties designed for reliability over maximum size or exotic characteristics.
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 flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Chives
Repels aphids and may improve tomato flavor
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Carrots
Help break up soil around tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Borage
Repels tomato hornworms and attracts pollinators
Oregano
Repels various pests and may enhance tomato growth
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Corn
Both attract corn earworm which also damages tomatoes
Brassicas
Stunts tomato growth and competes for similar nutrients
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, fusarium wilt, and tobacco mosaic virus (VFT)
Common Pests
Aphids, cutworms, flea beetles, whiteflies
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, bacterial spot