🌿 ArbGard Online

Mount Washington Arboretum · Baltimore, MD

Tomato

Dr Wyche yellow

Solanum lycopersicum

Annual

Care at a glance

☀️ LightFull sun (8 hrs)
💧 WaterDeep, consistent; 1–2 inches/week; mulch
📅 Days to maturity60–85
🌀 LifecycleAnnual
🗺 Hardiness zoneAnnual (frost-sensitive)
🌡 Temperature60°F – 90°F
↕ Height18–24 (determinate) / 48–96+ (indeterminate)"
↔ Spread24–36"
📏 Spacing24–36" apart

Soil

pH: 6.0–6.8  ·  Rich, well-drained, warm; add calcium to prevent blossom-end rot

Nutrients & Fertilizing

Balanced at planting; high K and P at fruiting; calcium important

Baltimore Planting Windows

Based on last frost ~May 1, first frost ~Oct 31 (Zone 7a)
🪴 Transplant out (spring)May 1 – Jun 1

About this plant

Dr Wyche Yellow is a large beefsteak tomato with golden-yellow fruit and excellent flavor—sweet, rich, and less acidic than red varieties. It's prized by gardeners for slicing, sauce-making, and fresh eating, and the distinctive color makes it a showstopper in salads and on the plate.

Germination

Sow seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. Keep soil between 70–80°F for best results; seeds typically sprout in 5–10 days. Light is not required for germination, but once seedlings emerge, provide bright light immediately to prevent legginess.

How to plant

Start seeds indoors in seed-starting mix, then transplant seedlings into larger pots once they develop true leaves. Plant deep—bury the stem up to the first true leaves to encourage a stronger root system. Move hardened-off plants outdoors after frost danger passes, spacing them 24–36 inches apart in full sun (6+ hours daily).

Growing tips

Water deeply and consistently, aiming for 1–2 inches per week; irregular watering causes cracking and blossom-end rot. Feed every 2–3 weeks with balanced fertilizer once flowering begins, or use a tomato-specific formula. This cultivar produces large vines that benefit from sturdy staking or caging; prune suckers to improve airflow and reduce disease pressure. Watch for early and late blight, especially in humid conditions—remove affected foliage promptly and improve ventilation.

Harvesting

Fruit reaches maturity 75–85 days after transplanting. Harvest when fully colored but still slightly soft to the touch; Dr Wyche Yellow will have a golden-yellow appearance at peak ripeness. Tomatoes picked at the breaker stage (when color just begins to show) will continue to ripen indoors. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight—refrigeration dulls flavor.

Member notes about this plant

No notes yet — be the first to share an observation.

Add a note

Ask a fellow garden member if you don't know it.