Federle Tomato Seeds

Grow a harvest made for the sauce pot with Federle, an heirloom paste tomato prized for elongated red fruits reaching up to 7 inches long. Rich flavor, meaty flesh, and very few seeds make it a rewarding choice for salsa, sauces, tomato paste, and canning. Also known as Federle’s Italian Paste, this indeterminate variety keeps producing through the warm growing season.

Variety at a Glance

• Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum
• Seed type: Non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom
• Days to maturity: Approximately 85 days from transplant
• Fruit: Elongated red paste tomatoes, up to 7 inches long, with rich flavor and few seeds
• Growth habit: Indeterminate; sturdy cage or trellis required
• Plant size: Approximately 36–60 inches tall and 24–36 inches wide
• Light: Full sun
• Life cycle: Frost-tender annual

Growing Federle Tomatoes

Start Seeds Indoors

Sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last expected spring frost. Plant seeds ¼ inch deep in a well-draining seed-starting mix. Keep the mix evenly moist, not soggy, with temperatures of 65–85°F during germination. Seedlings typically emerge in 7–10 days.

Provide bright light as soon as seedlings emerge and remove any humidity dome for airflow. Thin to one strong seedling per cell. Begin gentle feeding after two sets of true leaves develop, and pot up as needed.

Transplant and Support

Harden seedlings off gradually, then transplant after frost danger has passed and conditions are warm. Choose full sun and loose, fertile, well-drained soil with a pH around 6.2–6.8. Plant stems deeper to encourage additional roots, removing any leaves that would be buried.

Space plants 24–36 inches apart with rows at least 36 inches apart. Install a sturdy cage or trellis at planting. For square foot gardening, use 1 plant per sq ft only with a vertical trellis and regular pruning; allow additional room for caged plants.

Seasonal Care

Keep soil moisture consistent and feed according to your soil’s needs. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can favor leafy growth over fruit production. Prune selectively for manageable growth and airflow, and keep lower foliage off the soil. Check regularly for hornworms, aphids, whiteflies, and other common tomato pests.

Harvesting and Kitchen Uses

Begin harvesting when fruits are fully red, approximately 85 days after transplanting. Gently twist ripe tomatoes from the vine or clip the stems. As an indeterminate tomato, Federle ripens fruit over an extended period, with the harvest window depending on weather and season length.

Its meaty texture and low seed content are especially useful for simmering into rich sauces and paste or chopping into flavorful salsa. Harvest regularly and enjoy fresh fruit alongside your processing batches.

Why Choose Federle?

Federle brings distinctive, extra-long fruit to the heirloom tomato garden. It is a practical choice for gardeners who want full-flavored red tomatoes for preserving and a later-season harvest from supported vines.

Tips From Our Gardeners

Give this late-maturing variety an early indoor start and strong support from the beginning. Steady moisture and balanced feeding help you grow a useful kitchen harvest without encouraging excessive foliage.