Boxcar Willie Tomato Heirloom Seeds

Bring classic sweet-tart tomato flavor to your summer table with Boxcar Willie. This open-pollinated heirloom bears juicy red slicing tomatoes on vigorous indeterminate vines. Round to slightly flattened fruits have gently lobed shoulders and rich flavor, ready for a thick sandwich slice or a colorful garden salad.

Why Grow Boxcar Willie?

• Versatile red slicers: Enjoy fresh in sandwiches and salads, chop into salsa, or cook into sauces.
• Rich, balanced flavor: Sweetness and tang give these juicy tomatoes an old-fashioned character.
• Medium-to-large fruit: Published descriptions range from 6–10 oz to 10–16 oz, with some larger reports. Fruit size varies by selection and growing conditions rather than staying within a guaranteed 12–18 oz range.
• Indeterminate vines: Support tall plants for continued growth and progressive harvests during favorable weather.
• Open-pollinated heirloom: Choose approximately 25+ or 50+ seeds per packet.

Planting and Growing

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your intended transplant date. Sow approximately ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix, provide warmth for germination, and give seedlings strong light. Harden off gradually before planting outdoors after frost danger has passed and soil has warmed.

Choose full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Install sturdy stakes, cages, or a trellis at planting time and support heavy branches as needed. Water consistently at soil level, mulch to conserve moisture, and maintain airflow around the plants.

For square foot gardening, use 1 plant per sq ft (trellis required) with dedicated vertical training and regular pruning. Allow more room for caged or multi-stemmed plants.

Harvest Details

Maturity: Approximately 80 days from transplant; weather and conditions affect timing.
Fruit: Red, round to slightly flattened slicers with variable size and shoulder ribbing.
Growth habit: Indeterminate, regular leaf; sturdy support required.
Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum.
Life cycle: Frost-tender warm-season annual.
Packet options: Approximately 25+ or 50+ seeds.

Harvest when fruits develop mature red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Pick progressively as individual tomatoes ripen and handle gently.

Some suppliers report crack resistance, but that does not mean crack-proof fruit or general disease immunity. Consistent watering and healthy foliage remain important; this listing makes no specific disease-resistance claim.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor and your garden's success.