Bellstar Paste Tomato Seeds

Turn a garden harvest into flavorful homemade sauce with Bellstar, also known as Bellestar. This Canadian open-pollinated tomato produces firm, meaty red fruits on compact determinate plants. Enjoy the harvest cooked into sauce or puree, roasted with herbs, or sliced fresh into a summer salad.

Why Grow Bellstar?

• Meaty processing fruit: Red tomatoes commonly weigh approximately 4–5 ounces and range from round to slightly elongated or oval.
• Compact determinate plants: A bushy habit suits home gardens and generously sized containers.
• Relatively early harvest: Approximately 65–75 days from transplant, with timing affected by seed selection and growing conditions.
• Jointless stems: A processing-variety trait that helps fruit separate without the calyx attached.
• Versatile flavor: Useful for sauces, puree, roasting, and fresh eating.
• Canadian breeding: Developed at Smithfield Experiment Farm in Ontario and introduced in 1981. Described here as open-pollinated rather than a traditional heirloom.

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 conditions have warmed.

Choose full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. A small cage or stake helps support fruiting branches and keeps tomatoes off the soil. Plant height varies by selection and growing conditions, so allow room for a spreading bush rather than relying on a fixed height. Avoid routinely removing side shoots from determinate plants.

Water consistently at soil level and mulch to conserve moisture. For square foot gardening, use 1 plant per sq ft (cage and extra canopy room required); allow more room for unsupported plants. A compact plant still needs space for airflow.

Harvest Details

• Days to maturity: Approximately 65–75 days from transplant; weather and growing conditions affect timing.
• Fruit: Firm red paste tomatoes, commonly 4–5 ounces, round to slightly elongated.
• Growth habit: Compact determinate, with regular leaves and jointless stems.
• Harvest pattern: Often suited to batch processing, but ripening can extend over a longer period depending on conditions.
• Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum.
• Life cycle: Frost-tender warm-season annual.
• Packet options: Approximately 25 or 50 seeds; choose your packet size.

Harvest when fruit is fully red and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Bellstar is described as crack-resistant by some seed sources, but abrupt moisture changes can still cause splitting. Sauce thickness and cooking time depend on the fruit and preparation method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bellstar an heirloom?

It is an open-pollinated variety introduced in 1981. Because traditional heirloom definitions differ, this listing uses its documented open-pollinated status rather than an heirloom claim.

Will every plant stay under two feet?

No. Sources report different plant heights. Expect compact determinate growth, provide support as needed, and allow enough canopy space.

Is it only for cooking?

No. Its meaty fruit is useful for processing but can also be enjoyed fresh in salads or sliced alongside a meal.

Does early maturity mean frost tolerance?

No. Bellstar is frost-tender. Wait for warm planting conditions and protect plants from cold weather.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC. Open-pollinated, non-GMO seeds selected for your garden.