Discovering the Momotaro Tomato: Review and Growing Guide

Momotaro tomatoes are a tasty addition to your garden, producing a distinctly sweet, tangy fruit.

In this guide, we’ll be showing you our Momotaro tomato review, as well as tips and tricks for growing this exciting Japanese tomato plant at home.

What is a Momotaro tomato?

Momotaro tomato, also known as Tough Boy, is one of the most popular hybrid tomatoes and was developed in Japan by the Takii Seed Company. It is an indeterminate tomato variety, producing large, pink fruits with a very pleasant sweetness, balanced out by just a bit of tang.

Nowadays, Momotaro is the most popular tomato variety cultivated in Japan. The Japanese call it after the name of Momotarō, the troll-slaying hero born from a peach from Japanese folklore, definitely adds to its charm.

So what makes Momotaro unique when you compare it to other tomato hybrids? The taste plays a decisive role, but Momotaro was also specifically bred to be tougher than other cultivars.

Let’s take a quick look at the stats:

• Momotaro tomato is extra-early maturing;
• Each cluster produces up to 7 fruits that can usually weigh around 8 ounces (220 grams);
• Like its namesake, Momotaro is very strong, and it is highly tolerant to fungal diseases such as fusarium race 1, verticillium and stemphylium, nematodes, as well as the tomato mosaic virus;
• The tomatoes also have thick skin, which is resistant to cracking;
• Momotaro is an indeterminate tomato. It means it continues to increase in length throughout the entire growing season; it’s not uncommon for this tomato plant to produce vines as long as 6 feet (1.8 meters).

Momotaro tomatoes are quite rare outside Japan, so it’s unlikely you will find them in local Asian shops and markets. So if you want to enjoy these sweet, juicy tomatoes fresh, the best thing to do is grow your own.

Read on to find out how.

How to grow Momotaro tomato

Growing tomatoes takes a bit of skill to produce an abundant harvest, but hybrids require an extra bit of care

Although tomato hybrids were bred to produce larger yields, unique flavors, and colors and develop a higher resistance to pests and diseases, they can be a bit tricky to get going.

Luckily, we’re here to tell you everything you need to know.

Growing Momotaro tomato outdoors

– When to plant Momotaro tomatoes

All tomatoes are warm-season crops, and Momotaro is no exception. You can plant Momotaro in your garden in late spring or when temperatures are steady above 60 °F (15 °C) throughout the day.

Although Momotaro can reach maturity in as little as 70 days, sowing so late in the year could result in a shorter growing season. As a result, our suggestion is to germinate the seeds indoors and transplant them outside in late spring.

– How to germinate Momotaro tomato seeds

Start by sowing your Momotaro tomato seeds in compostable seed pots. Fill each pot with a nutrient-rich soil mix, place one seed in each pot, and use a hand pump to mist the soil in order to keep it moist gently. The main thing your tomato seeds need to germinate is warmth. Aim for a temperature range between 70 °F and 80 °F (21 °C to 27 °C).

Keep the pots in a warm, dark spot, and you should start seeing seedlings after 7 to 10 days. As the seedlings grow, move them into larger plastic containers to continue to grow indoors until they’re ready for moving outside. Don’t remove the compostable seedling pots, as you risk damaging the roots. Instead, dig a hole in the larger container, and place the seedling plug in the center. The compostable material will decompose naturally in a few weeks.

– When to transplant Momotaro seedlings

Your tomato plants can be transplanted outside once they are at least 6 inches (15 cm) tall and have at least 3 sets of leaves each. Ensure that outdoor temperatures do not drop below 60 °F (15 °C) for at least a week before transplanting. Momotaro seedlings require careful handling when transplanting. When they’re too small, moving them outdoors can stress the plants, resulting in lots of leaves and vines but very little fruit.

– Light and temperature

Pick a part of your garden that gets at least 6 hours of sun each day. Momotaro grows best in full sun, but it doesn’t tolerate extreme heat. Temperatures exceeding 86 °F (30 °C) will result in a very poor harvest. In comparison, temperatures above 95 °F (35 °C) will effectively destroy the pollen, and the plants won’t produce any fruit.

– Soil and spacing

Momotaro tomatoes thrive in nutrient-rich, well-draining soils, with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. Take the time to dig out and turn the soil in your garden to a depth of at least 1 foot (30 cm), and incorporate plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. This boost of nutrients will encourage the young plants to grow strong and healthy. Plant spacing should be at least 18 inches (45 cm) in rows at least 48 inches (1.2 meters) apart.

– Does Momotaro tomato need a trellis?

Like all indeterminate tomatoes, Momotaro doesn’t grow to a predetermined size or a bushy shape. It will start vining throughout the growing season, and in some cases, it can reach as much as 8 feet (2.4 meters) in height. Therefore, it’s best to provide Momotaro tomatoes with some form of support to climb on, such as a trellis. Make sure that the support system is in place before transplanting to avoid disturbing the plants later on.

– Water and fertilizers

Regularly water your Momotaro tomatoes.

The best time to do this is early in the morning, by watering right at the plant’s base. Avoid splashing water on the leaves and vines, as this can cause fungal problems. Although tomatoes are susceptible to drought, overwatering them can kill them just as quickly by drowning the roots.

Apply a liquid tomato fertilizer once a month. If possible, use fertilizers specifically designed for tomatoes, which should be rich in potassium and phosphorus. Avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers, as they promote leaf and vine growth rather than fruit.

– Pruning and maintenance

Once established, Momotaro tomatoes grow very fast, so you will need to prune them in order to keep your plants healthy regularly.

Using a pair of gardening scissors, trim any side shoots once they have more than 3 leaves on the vine. Encourage your tomatoes to climb on their supports, and use string if needed.

As the plants mature and grow over 3 feet (90 cm) tall, you can start trimming the leaves growing right at the bottom, especially if they start yellowing. This approach will deter attacks from pests and provide proper air circulation, which prevents fungal diseases.

Why is my tomato plant not making fruit?

Throughout summer, your Momotaro tomatoes will produce numerous self-pollinating yellow flowers. Each flower will become a tasty tomato that you can pick in a few weeks if all goes well. But what happens if none of your tomato flowers result in fruit?

Here are the most common causes why your Momotaro tomatoes are not setting:

• Not enough light: make sure your Momotaro tomato plants receive at least 6 hours of sunlight each day;
• Poor pollination: although tomatoes are self-fertile, they still rely on insects or even wind to spread the pollen. If your plants are grown too close together, with leaves obstructing the flowers’ airflow, this can impede pollination. Make sure to regularly prune your plants and remove overly abundant leaves and vines.
• Too much moisture: in very humid climates, the pollen can become ‘clogged’ and not drop on the stigma. In such cases, it might require manual pollination. The easiest way to do this is by using an electric toothbrush and using the gentle vibrations to ‘shake off’ the stuck pollen.
• Too much heat: the optimum temperature range for tomatoes is between 60 °F and 86 °F (15 °C to 30 °C). Anything above that will have a direct negative impact on your crop.
• Fertilizer problems: there are two ways fertilizers can affect your tomato crop — you’re either using too little or the wrong type. Use a potassium-rich fertilizer to stimulate flower growth, and avoid nitrogen-rich fertilizers, which promote vegetative growth.

When to harvest Momotaro tomato

Momotaro is an extra-early maturing tomato hybrid and typically reaches maturity after 70 to 80 days after sowing. The plant produces 6 to 7 tomatoes per cluster, with round fruit that weighs around 8 ounces (220 grams). Unlike common tomato varieties, the ripe fruit’s skin is not deep red but rather a lighter shade — that’s why they’re called ‘pink tomatoes.’

As an indeterminate tomato, Momotaro will continue to produce fruit throughout the growing season. It means you can harvest it several times, picking the tomatoes off the vines as they ripen. If you’re lucky and live in a warm climate, that’s almost 3 months of fresh tomatoes straight from your garden. Momotaro also stores very well, and once picked, it can last for up to 2 weeks in the vegetable drawer of your fridge.

Like all tomatoes, Momotaro is an annual plant. Once the harvest season is over, you can cut down the vines and add them to your compost heap. If there are still some green tomatoes on the vines, you can hang the plants in a cellar or garage, where they will continue to ripen.

Conclusion

Momotaro is one of the tastiest Japanese tomato varieties you can grow in your garden.

Let’s do a quick recap of why we recommend growing this vegetable:

• With a delicious, sweet, and tangy taste, Momotaro tomatoes offer something a little different;
• Also known as the ‘tough boy tomato,’ they’ve been bred to be extremely resistant to pests and disease;
• As an indeterminate species, you can expect your Momotaro tomato plant to continue producing delicious fruit throughout the growing season!

Momotaro tomatoes are undoubtedly popular in our garden and kitchen. There’s nothing quite like eating a pink, juicy, sun-warmed tomato straight from the vine — why not grab some seeds and see for yourself!