Crimson Crush Tomatoes: Blight-Resistant Growing Guide

Crimson Crush tomatoes are one of the best blight-resistant tomato varieties available to UK gardeners. Developed specifically to tackle the problems caused by tomato blight, this modern variety combines strong disease resistance with excellent flavour and reliable yields. For gardeners who regularly struggle with blight — especially outdoors — Crimson Crush offers a genuine solution without sacrificing taste.

This guide explains how to grow Crimson Crush tomatoes successfully, focusing on blight resistance, sowing, planting, care, watering, feeding, harvesting, and how to maximise results in UK conditions.

⭐ Recommended Products — Tomatoes & Growing Essentials

• Tomato Seed Collection (Garden & Greenhouse Varieties)
A mix of popular tomato seeds — including salad and beefsteak types — perfect for sowing indoors early and planting out when warm.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Tomato Plants (Ready-Grown)
Save time with healthy young tomato plants — excellent if you prefer planting established plants rather than starting from seed.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Tomato Support Cages & Stakes
Helps keep vines upright, improving air circulation and reducing disease — essential for healthy growth and easier harvesting.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Tomato Feed & Fertiliser
Formulated with high potassium to support strong flowering and fruiting — use regularly through the growing season for bigger, juicier tomatoes.
👉 Click here to see top options

• Tomato Grow Bags / Containers
Ideal for patios, balconies, or greenhouse growing — provides good drainage and space for roots to develop big, productive plants.
👉 Click here to see top options

---

What Are Crimson Crush Tomatoes?

Crimson Crush is a cordon (indeterminate) tomato variety bred with strong resistance to late blight (Phytophthora infestans). Unlike many traditional tomatoes that succumb quickly once blight appears, Crimson Crush can continue growing and cropping even when blight pressure is high.

The fruits are medium-sized, round tomatoes with a deep red colour and a balanced, classic tomato flavour. They are suitable for salads, slicing, sandwiches, and light cooking, making them a versatile all-round variety.

Crimson Crush is particularly popular with outdoor growers, allotment holders, and gardeners in wetter regions of the UK where blight is a recurring problem.

---

Why Choose Blight-Resistant Tomatoes?

Tomato blight is one of the most destructive diseases affecting tomatoes in the UK, especially during warm, wet summers. Once established, blight can destroy plants within days.

Blight-resistant varieties like Crimson Crush offer several advantages:
• Strong resistance to late blight
• Longer cropping season outdoors
• Reduced risk of total crop loss
• Less reliance on preventative treatments
• More reliable harvests in poor summers

While no tomato is completely immune, Crimson Crush significantly outperforms standard varieties under blight pressure.

---

Best Place to Grow Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Crimson Crush tomatoes are highly adaptable and perform well in several growing environments.

Outdoors

This is where Crimson Crush truly excels. It is one of the best choices for outdoor growing in the UK, coping well with rain, humidity, and fluctuating temperatures.

Greenhouse or Polytunnel

Growing under cover provides even greater protection and often results in earlier and heavier harvests, though blight resistance is most valuable outdoors.

Containers

Crimson Crush grows well in large containers, making it suitable for patios and smaller gardens where blight risk is still present.

---

When to Sow Crimson Crush Tomato Seeds

In the UK, Crimson Crush tomatoes are usually sown indoors from late February to early April.

For outdoor growing, sowing in late March often produces sturdy plants that adapt better when planted outside.

Seeds germinate best at temperatures between 18–22°C, usually within 7–14 days.

Avoid sowing too early without enough light, as this can lead to tall, weak seedlings.

---

How to Sow Crimson Crush Tomato Seeds

Fill clean pots or seed trays with fine, moist seed compost. Sow seeds thinly on the surface and cover lightly with compost or vermiculite.

Water gently and place in a warm location. Once seedlings emerge, move them into bright light immediately.

When seedlings develop their first true leaves, prick them out into individual pots. Handle seedlings by the leaves rather than the stems to avoid damage.

---

Preparing Crimson Crush for Outdoor Growing

Hardening Off

Before planting outside, harden plants off gradually over 7–10 days. This helps them adjust to cooler temperatures, wind, and direct sunlight.

Choosing the Right Site

Select a sunny, open position with good airflow. While Crimson Crush is blight-resistant, good air circulation further reduces disease risk.

Avoid planting tomatoes in the same spot every year to reduce soil-borne disease buildup.

---

When to Plant Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Plant outdoors once all risk of frost has passed, usually late May to early June in most parts of the UK.

Under cover, planting can take place earlier, from late April to early May.

Ensure soil has warmed before planting, as cold soil slows root development.

---

Planting Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Spacing

Space plants 45–60cm apart. Good spacing improves airflow and supports healthy growth.

Planting Depth

Plant deeply, burying the stem up to the first set of leaves. This encourages strong root systems and improves stability.

Soil Preparation

Improve soil with garden compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Avoid fresh manure, which encourages leafy growth rather than fruiting.

---

Supporting and Training Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Crimson Crush is a cordon variety and requires support.

Use tall canes, strings, or spiral supports. Tie the main stem loosely as it grows and adjust ties regularly.

Removing Side Shoots

Remove side shoots that appear between the main stem and leaf joints. This keeps the plant growing as a single stem and focuses energy on fruit production.

Regular side-shoot removal is especially important outdoors to maintain airflow.

---

Watering Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Consistent watering is essential for healthy plants and good fruit quality.

Water deeply and regularly, keeping soil evenly moist. Avoid letting plants dry out completely followed by heavy watering, as this can cause fruit splitting.

Water at the base of the plant rather than over the leaves to reduce disease risk.

During hot or windy weather, outdoor plants may need watering every day.

---

Feeding Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Once flowers appear and the first fruits begin to form, start feeding with a high-potassium tomato feed.

Feed weekly, increasing frequency slightly for container-grown plants.

Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of flowers and fruit.

Balanced feeding supports steady growth and good flavour development.

---

How Blight Resistance Works in Crimson Crush

Crimson Crush has been bred with genetic resistance to late blight. This means:
• Blight spores struggle to infect the plant
• Disease spreads more slowly
• Plants remain productive longer

In severe conditions, some symptoms may still appear late in the season, but plants usually continue cropping far longer than non-resistant varieties.

Good hygiene, airflow, and watering practices further enhance resistance.

---

Harvesting Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Crimson Crush tomatoes are ready to harvest when fully red and slightly soft to the touch.

Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruiting. Picking ripe tomatoes promptly helps prevent plants becoming overloaded.

Outdoor crops usually begin harvesting from mid to late summer and can continue well into autumn.

---

Flavour and Uses

Despite being blight-resistant, Crimson Crush tomatoes have excellent flavour.

They are ideal for:
• Fresh salads
• Slicing and sandwiches
• Light cooking
• General everyday use

This makes them a strong all-round variety rather than a compromise for disease resistance.

---

Common Problems with Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Leaf Yellowing

Some yellowing of lower leaves is normal. Widespread yellowing may indicate nutrient deficiency or watering issues.

Fruit Splitting

Usually caused by irregular watering. Maintain consistent moisture levels.

Reduced Growth

Often linked to cold soil or lack of feeding early in the season.

Blight

While highly resistant, no tomato is completely immune. Remove any badly affected foliage late in the season if symptoms appear.

---

Saving Seeds from Crimson Crush Tomatoes

Crimson Crush is a hybrid variety. Seeds saved from the fruit will not grow true to type and may lose blight resistance.

For consistent results, it is best to grow Crimson Crush tomatoes from fresh seed each year.

---

When to Stop Crimson Crush Tomato Plants Growing

Towards late summer, usually around August, pinch out the growing tip above the final truss you want to ripen.

This directs energy into ripening existing fruit rather than producing new flowers that will not mature before temperatures drop.

Remove flowers and very small green fruits as autumn approaches.

---

Tips for Maximum Success Outdoors

• Choose a sunny, open position
• Space plants generously for airflow
• Water consistently at soil level
• Feed regularly once fruiting begins
• Remove side shoots frequently
• Harvest ripe fruit promptly

Combining blight resistance with good growing practice gives the best results.

---

Final Thoughts

Crimson Crush tomatoes are one of the best options available for gardeners who struggle with tomato blight. Their strong resistance, reliable yields, and excellent flavour make them an outstanding choice for outdoor growing in the UK.

With correct sowing, careful planting, consistent watering, and regular feeding, Crimson Crush tomatoes can deliver healthy plants and dependable harvests even in challenging summers. For growers looking to reduce losses and enjoy a longer tomato season, Crimson Crush is a modern variety that truly delivers.

---