Dakota Sport Tomato Seeds

A glossy red slicer with a North Dakota story. Dakota Sport produces bright red, thin-skinned tomatoes with balanced flavor, just the right size for a sandwich, fresh salad, or platter of garden slices. Selected by farmer David Podoll from a sport of Crimson Sprinter, this open-pollinated variety combines an attractive finish with relatively early maturity.

Why Grow Dakota Sport?

• Glossy red fruit: Smooth, shiny, medium slicing tomatoes typically weigh 5–7 ounces, with natural variation.
• Balanced tomato flavor: Enjoy fresh slices on sandwiches, in salads, or with a little salt and basil.
• Relatively early maturity: Approximately 65–75 days from transplant makes this a useful candidate for shorter growing seasons.
• Vigorous indeterminate vines: Plants need sturdy support and can continue growing and setting fruit while conditions remain favorable.
• Thin skin with reported crack tolerance: Consistent watering still matters; tolerance does not mean fruit cannot split.
• Farmer-bred, open-pollinated selection: Developed by David Podoll at Prairie Road in North Dakota from Crimson Sprinter.

Planting and Growing

Start indoors approximately 5–6 weeks before your intended frost-free transplant date. Sow about ¼ inch deep in seed-starting mix, provide warmth and strong light, and harden seedlings off gradually. Transplant after frost danger has passed and soil has warmed, into full sun and fertile, well-drained soil.

Install sturdy cages, stakes, or a trellis early. Allow generous canopy room; the breeder recommends 36–48 inches between plants for its field-growing system. Water consistently at soil level, mulch to conserve moisture, and maintain airflow while retaining healthy foliage to shade fruit.

For square foot gardening, use 1 plant per sq ft (trellis required) only with dedicated vertical training and regular pruning. Allow additional space for caged or multi-stemmed plants. Dakota Sport is reported to tolerate cooler growing conditions, but it remains a frost-tender tomato, not a cold-hardy crop.

Harvest Details

Maturity: Approximately 65–75 days from transplant; conditions affect timing.
Fruit: Glossy bright red medium slicers, typically 5–7 ounces.
Growth habit: Vigorous indeterminate; sturdy support required.
Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum.
Life cycle: Frost-tender warm-season annual.
Seed type: Open-pollinated, non-GMO.
Packet options: Approximately 25+ or 50+ seeds.

Pick when fruit is fully red and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Harvest individual ripe tomatoes regularly for sandwiches, salads, and fresh summer meals.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — open-pollinated seeds grown without GMOs, selected for your garden.