Tomato ‘ES 58’ Vegetable Seeds
Grow reliable crops of medium-sized red tomatoes with firm, juicy flesh and a compact bush growth habit. ES 58 Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a determinate, semi-dwarf tomato variety producing medium-sized, bright-red fruit with a slightly flattened to oblate shape.
ES 58 is valued for its productive growth, firm fruit and suitability for warm Australian growing conditions. The ripe tomatoes have a sweet, well-balanced flavour and are versatile enough for fresh eating, slicing, salads, sandwiches, sauces and everyday cooking.
The variety is also noted for resistance to fruit cracking and good tolerance to sunburn, heat and soil-borne wilt diseases. Its determinate bush habit makes ES 58 easier to manage than vigorous climbing tomatoes, while still producing a substantial crop.
ES 58 Tomato Seed Details
| Botanical name | Solanum lycopersicum |
|---|---|
| Variety | ES 58 |
| Growth habit | Determinate / semi-dwarf bush |
| Fruit colour | Bright red when ripe |
| Fruit shape | Round to slightly flattened / oblate |
| Fruit size | Medium-sized; approximately 5–8 cm depending on growing conditions |
| Fruit characteristics | Firm, juicy flesh; good resistance to cracking |
| Seeds per gram | Approximately 316 |
| Position | Full sun |
| Sowing depth | Approximately 5–6 mm |
| Germination | Approximately 7–13 days under suitable warm conditions |
| Plant spacing | Approximately 40–60 cm |
| Harvest | Approximately 12–14 weeks, depending on growing conditions |
Why Grow ES 58 Tomato?
- Determinate, semi-dwarf bush tomato with manageable growth.
- Produces medium-sized, bright-red fruit with a slightly flattened shape.
- Firm, juicy flesh with a sweet, well-balanced tomato flavour.
- Productive variety suited to fresh-market and home vegetable production.
- Known for good resistance to fruit cracking.
- Well adapted to warm conditions, with useful tolerance to heat and sunburn.
- Noted for resistance to soil-borne wilt diseases.
- Versatile fruit for fresh eating, slicing, salads, sandwiches, sauces and cooking.
How to Grow ES 58 Tomato from Seed
ES 58 is a warm-season tomato that performs best with plenty of sunlight, fertile free-draining soil and consistent moisture. Its determinate growth habit produces a relatively compact bush compared with vigorous indeterminate tomato varieties.
- Choose a warm, sunny position.
Select a location receiving full sun. Tomatoes require good light and warmth for strong growth, flowering and fruit development. - Prepare fertile, free-draining soil.
Grow in fertile soil enriched with compost or well-rotted organic matter where required. Good drainage is important because tomato roots perform poorly in persistently waterlogged soil. - Sow the tomato seeds.
Sow approximately 5–6 mm deep into seedling trays, cells or small pots filled with quality seed-raising mix. Cover lightly and water gently. - Keep seedlings warm.
Tomato seeds germinate most reliably under warm conditions. Maintain consistent moisture without allowing the seed-raising mix to become waterlogged. - Transplant after frost danger has passed.
Harden established seedlings gradually before transplanting outdoors. Tomatoes are frost tender, so wait until outdoor conditions are reliably warm. - Allow sufficient space.
Space plants approximately 40–60 cm apart to provide room for bush development and adequate airflow. - Water consistently.
Maintain reasonably even soil moisture, particularly while plants are flowering and fruit is developing. Where practical, water around the root zone rather than routinely wetting the foliage. - Harvest when fully coloured.
Pick tomatoes when the fruit develops its mature bright-red colour and has reached the desired stage of ripeness.
When to Plant ES 58 Tomato Seeds in Australia
ES 58 is a warm-season, frost-tender tomato. Planting times vary considerably across Australia, with tropical and subtropical growers generally planting during milder periods and gardeners in cooler climates waiting until frost danger has passed.
| Climate | General Sowing Guide |
|---|---|
| Tropical | Approximately February–August, favouring the milder and drier growing period |
| Subtropical | Approximately August–April, adjusted for local frost, heat and humidity |
| Temperate | Approximately August–December; start early sowings with protection or additional warmth where required |
| Cool / frost-prone | Approximately September–December; transplant outdoors only after frost danger has passed and conditions have warmed |
These periods are a general guide. Local frost dates, temperatures, rainfall and humidity should always be considered when deciding when to establish tomato plants.
What Are ES 58 Tomatoes Like?
ES 58 produces medium-sized tomatoes that ripen to a bright red colour. The fruit is generally round to slightly flattened or oblate, with firm yet juicy flesh.
Under favourable conditions, fruit can reach approximately 5–8 cm across. This useful medium size makes ES 58 suitable for both slicing and general-purpose kitchen use.
The firm texture also contributes to good handling and keeping qualities, while the variety’s resistance to cracking can help maintain fruit quality as tomatoes approach maturity.
ES 58 has a sweet, balanced tomato flavour and can be used either fresh or cooked.
Is ES 58 Tomato Determinate or Indeterminate?
ES 58 is a determinate tomato with a semi-dwarf, bush-type growth habit.
Determinate tomatoes generally develop to a more defined size and produce much of their crop over a relatively concentrated period. They require less training than vigorous indeterminate tomatoes, which continue extending and producing new flowering trusses throughout favourable growing conditions.
ES 58 is therefore well suited to ground cropping and situations where a manageable bush tomato is preferred.
Although extensive trellising is generally unnecessary, supporting the main stem with a sturdy stake can be beneficial when plants are carrying a heavy crop.
Heat, Cracking and Disease Tolerance
ES 58 has developed a reputation as a reliable tomato for warm growing conditions.
The variety is noted for good resistance to fruit cracking and tolerance to sunburn, helping the developing tomatoes maintain quality under challenging warm conditions.
ES 58 is also described as having resistance to soil-borne wilt diseases. Disease resistance can reduce susceptibility, but it does not eliminate the need for good crop hygiene, suitable crop rotation, well-drained soil and appropriate watering practices.
For best results, avoid repeatedly growing tomatoes and closely related solanaceous crops in the same soil where disease problems have previously occurred.
Harvesting ES 58 Tomatoes
ES 58 generally produces ripe fruit in approximately 12–14 weeks under favourable conditions, although harvest timing varies with climate, sowing time and plant establishment.
Harvest tomatoes once they have developed their mature bright-red colour and have reached the desired stage of ripeness.
For fresh eating: Allow fruit to develop its full colour and flavour before harvesting.
For slicing: Harvest ripe but still firm fruit for sandwiches, salads and other fresh dishes.
For cooking: Fully ripe tomatoes can be used for sauces, soups, casseroles and other cooked dishes.
For larger harvests: Because ES 58 is determinate, a substantial proportion of the crop may ripen over a relatively concentrated period compared with an indeterminate tomato.
Check productive plants regularly as fruit begins to ripen and remove mature tomatoes as required.
How to Use ES 58 Tomatoes
ES 58 is a versatile general-purpose tomato with firm, juicy flesh suited to both fresh and cooked dishes.
- Fresh eating: Enjoy fully ripe tomatoes freshly harvested from the garden.
- Salads: Dice or cut ripe fruit into wedges for salads and fresh dishes.
- Sandwiches: Firm medium-sized fruit is well suited to slicing.
- Sauces: Cook ripe tomatoes into pasta sauces and other tomato-based dishes.
- Soups and casseroles: A useful general-purpose tomato for everyday cooking.
- Grilling: Firm fruit can be halved or sliced for grilling and cooked dishes.
- Preserving: Concentrated production from determinate plants can be useful when tomatoes are required in quantity for preserving.
ES 58 as a Bush and Ground-Crop Tomato
ES 58’s determinate, semi-dwarf growth habit makes it particularly suitable where a compact bush tomato is preferred.
Unlike tall indeterminate varieties, ES 58 does not require continual training onto a tall trellis. Plants develop a more compact framework and produce their crop over a relatively concentrated period.
For ground-grown plants, allow adequate spacing to promote airflow around the foliage. Mulching around plants can help maintain more even soil moisture and reduce direct contact between low fruit-bearing branches and bare soil.
A short sturdy stake can also be used to support the main stem and heavily laden branches without substantially changing the plant’s natural bush habit.
Growing ES 58 Tomato in Pots
ES 58 can be grown in a sufficiently large container because of its determinate, semi-dwarf growth habit.
Choose a large container with excellent drainage and fill it with a fertile, good-quality growing medium. Position the pot in full sun and provide a sturdy stake if additional support is required.
Container-grown tomatoes can dry out rapidly during warm weather, so monitor soil moisture carefully. Consistent watering becomes particularly important once plants begin flowering and carrying fruit.
Avoid using very small pots. Adequate root volume helps maintain moisture and nutrient availability and allows the plant to support a productive crop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ES 58 Tomato?
ES 58 is a determinate, semi-dwarf tomato variety producing medium-sized, bright-red fruit with a round to slightly flattened shape. It is valued for firm, juicy flesh, productive cropping and good performance under warm growing conditions.
Is ES 58 determinate or indeterminate?
ES 58 is a determinate tomato. It develops a bush-type growth habit rather than the continually extending vines produced by indeterminate tomatoes.
What do ES 58 tomatoes look like?
ES 58 produces medium-sized, bright-red tomatoes that are generally round to slightly flattened or oblate. Fruit can reach approximately 5–8 cm across depending on growing conditions.
What does ES 58 Tomato taste like?
ES 58 has firm, juicy flesh with a sweet, well-balanced tomato flavour. It is suitable for both fresh eating and cooking.
Is ES 58 suitable for hot climates?
ES 58 is noted for good performance in warm conditions and tolerance to heat and sunburn. In tropical and subtropical areas, tomatoes generally perform best when planted to avoid the most extreme combinations of heat, humidity and heavy rainfall.
Is ES 58 resistant to cracking?
ES 58 is noted for good resistance to fruit cracking. Maintaining reasonably consistent soil moisture can further help reduce problems associated with sudden changes in water availability.
Is ES 58 disease resistant?
ES 58 is described as resistant to soil-borne wilt diseases. Resistance reduces susceptibility but does not guarantee plants will remain disease-free under all conditions.
Does ES 58 Tomato need staking?
ES 58 has a determinate bush habit and generally requires less support than tall indeterminate tomatoes. However, supporting the main stem with a sturdy stake can be useful when plants are carrying a heavy crop.
How deep should I sow ES 58 Tomato seeds?
Sow seeds approximately 5–6 mm deep in a quality seed-raising mix and maintain warm, consistently moist conditions during germination.
How long do ES 58 Tomato seeds take to germinate?
Seedlings generally emerge in approximately 7–13 days under suitable warm germination conditions.
How far apart should ES 58 tomatoes be planted?
Allow approximately 40–60 cm between plants. Adequate spacing provides room for bush development and helps maintain airflow through the crop.
How long does ES 58 Tomato take to harvest?
ES 58 generally begins producing ripe fruit in approximately 12–14 weeks under favourable growing conditions. Actual timing depends on climate, sowing time and plant establishment.
Can ES 58 Tomato be grown in pots?
Yes. Its determinate, semi-dwarf growth habit makes ES 58 suitable for large containers. Use a fertile growing medium, provide excellent drainage and position the container in full sun.
Can ES 58 tomatoes be used for sauce?
Yes. ES 58 is a versatile general-purpose tomato. Its firm, juicy fruit can be eaten fresh or used for sauces, soups, casseroles and other cooked dishes.
How many ES 58 tomato seeds are there per gram?
The commercial ES 58 seed line is approximately 316 seeds per gram. Actual seed counts can vary slightly between seed lots.
Where can I buy ES 58 Tomato seeds in Australia?
Seedmart supplies ES 58 Tomato vegetable seeds for Australian gardeners and growers. This determinate, semi-dwarf variety produces medium-sized red fruit and is well suited to fresh eating, slicing and general-purpose cooking.
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