Campbell 33 Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum (nightshade)

Also known as: Campbell's 33, Mighty Red

A genuine commercial heirloom, originally developed for the Campbell Soup Company as the tomato behind their famous condensed soup, and still valued today for the same practical reliability. Round, slightly flattened fruit ripens to a deep, bright red all at once, with meaty, firm flesh and a sweet flavour balanced by just enough acidity. Bred for toughness as much as flavour, it copes well with adverse weather and shrugs off disease that would trouble fussier varieties — a genuinely hardworking tomato equally at home in soups, sauces, sandwiches, or sliced fresh. Determinate (bush) variety — minimal staking required.

Days to harvest 65–70 days from transplant
Fruit size 200–280g, round, slightly flattened
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 6–8 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 45–60cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun, open position with good air circulation. Avoid planting where tomatoes or other nightshades have grown in the previous year or two. Compact determinate habit suits pots from 30L


Soil preparation: Well-drained, fertile soil with organic matter worked in.

Support: Minimal staking required given the compact, sturdy bush habit — a light cage can help keep fruit off the ground.

Watering & feeding: Keep soil consistently moist, especially through flowering and fruiting. Feed regularly with a balanced fertiliser.

Harvest: Fruit ripens together for one strong main harvest, making it well suited to a dedicated canning or soup-making day rather than a slow trickle of pickings.

Timing: Expect harvest around 65–70 days after transplanting — one of the earlier tomatoes to mature.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated commercial heirloom, developed by Campbell Soup Company
  • Round, slightly flattened fruit, 200–280g
  • Meaty flesh, sweet flavour with balanced acidity
  • Strong disease resistance and crack tolerance
  • Reliable performer even in adverse weather
  • Ripens all at once — ideal for soup, sauce, and canning days

Short season tips

Sow 6–8 weeks before you want to plant out, on a heat mat if possible — soil needs to be 24–29°C to germinate reliably. Transplant only once all risk of frost has passed, burying the stem deep and leaving just the top leaves above ground to encourage strong roots. Its early maturity and genuine toughness in adverse weather make it one of the most forgiving tomatoes for an unpredictable or shorter season.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (classic tomato pairing) Marigolds Carrots Parsley
  • Other nightshades (capsicums, chillies, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel Corn

Developed for the Campbell Soup Company, whose first can of ready-to-eat tomato soup was introduced in 1895 — this variety became a cornerstone of that product line for decades. Bred specifically for reliability, disease resistance, and consistent processing quality rather than novelty, it's since earned a loyal home-garden following for delivering genuine commercial-grade performance in a backyard patch.