Tomato Qingdao (Cindao, Tsindao) Seeds

Qingdao is a red slicing tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from the Qingdao area of China, with glossy, smooth 150–300 g fruit, round to slightly oblong, on a 1.5–2 m vine.

Also known as: Cindao, Tsindao, Tomato, Tamatar (Hindi), Thakkali (Tamil, Malayalam), Tamata (Telugu), Tomate (Spanish, French, German, Portuguese), Pomodoro (Italian), Domates (Turkish), Pomidor (Polish), Fanqie (Chinese).

Glossy round-to-oblong red fruit

• Habit: indeterminate, 1.5–2 m tall with staking or caging
• Fruit: 150–300 g, round to slightly oblong
• Colour: deep glossy red, smooth skin
• Flesh: dense and meaty, moderate juice
• Flavour: sweet and slightly tangy

Sow 3–6 mm deep in soil at 16–29 °C

Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Cover it with 3–6 mm of seed-starting mix and keep the soil at 16–29 °C. At 20–30 °C seedlings usually appear in 6–8 days (figure measured with seed sown about 12 mm deep). These are typical values for tomatoes as a species, not a test of this seed lot.

Planting out and support

Move plants outside after the last frost. Give them well-drained soil at pH 6.0–6.8 and at least 6–8 hours of direct sun. The vine reaches 1.5–2 m, so stake or cage it at planting. The first ripe fruit comes about 80–85 days after transplanting, counted from planting out rather than from sowing.

Tomato seed typically stays usable for 4 years or more when kept cool, dark and dry. We do not state a germination percentage.

FAQ

Is Qingdao the same as Cindao or Tsindao?

Yes. These are other spellings of the same name used for this variety.

How long from sowing to the first ripe fruit?

Roughly 6–8 weeks of indoor growing before transplanting, then about 80–85 days after planting out.