Kellogg’s Breakfast brings a glowing orange color and a bright, sweet taste to the garden. The big fruit looks like sunshine on a plate. This guide covers its flavor, growing needs, common problems, and key facts before planting.
Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomato Quick Facts
| Type | Heirloom, open-pollinated |
|---|---|
| Growth Habit | Indeterminate |
| Days to Maturity | 80 to 85 days |
| Fruit Size | 1 to 2 lb |
| Fruit Color | Orange |
| Shape | Beefsteak |
| Flavor | Sweet, rich, citrusy |
| Best Uses | Slicing, salads |
| Plant Height | 6 to 9 feet |
| Spacing | 24 to 36 inches |
| Support | Tall, strong cage |
| Sun | Full sun, 6 to 8 hours |
| Container Friendly | Yes, large pot |
| Disease Resistance | Low (heirloom) |
| Origin | United States, Michigan |
What Is a Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomato?
Kellogg’s Breakfast is an orange beefsteak heirloom named after a gardener named Kellogg from Redford, Michigan, not the cereal company. The fruit is large, bright orange through and through, and meaty inside. The plant is indeterminate and grows tall like other big heirlooms. Because it is open-pollinated, you can save seeds and grow it again next year.
Kellogg’s Breakfast Flavor and Best Uses
Kellogg’s Breakfast has a sweet, rich taste with a light citrus note and low acid. The flavor is bright and fruity, which sets it apart from red beefsteaks.
It is a classic slicing tomato. Thick orange slices glow on a sandwich and add color to a salad. The low acid also makes it gentle for fresh eating.
How to Grow Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomatoes
This big heirloom needs a long season and strong support. Follow these basics.
- Sun: give plants 6 to 8 hours of direct sun.
- Spacing: set plants 24 to 36 inches apart.
- Support: use a tall, strong cage for the heavy fruit.
- Water: water deeply and evenly to prevent cracking and blossom end rot.
- Feeding: feed with a balanced tomato fertilizer once fruit sets.
Common Problems and Disease Resistance
As an heirloom, Kellogg’s Breakfast has little disease resistance, and the large fruit brings a few challenges.
- Cracking: the big fruit splits from uneven watering. Mulch and water steadily.
- Blossom end rot: a dark spot on the bottom from low calcium and uneven water.
- Slow ripening: the large fruit takes time, so be patient.
Kellogg’s Breakfast vs Lemon Boy
Both are yellow-orange tomatoes, so gardeners compare them. Kellogg’s Breakfast is a large orange heirloom with rich, citrusy flavor and seeds you can save. Lemon Boy is a medium yellow hybrid with milder taste and strong disease resistance. Gardeners who want big flavor pick Kellogg’s Breakfast, while those wanting a tougher plant choose Lemon Boy.
When to Harvest Kellogg’s Breakfast Tomatoes
Pick Kellogg’s Breakfast when the fruit turns a deep, even orange and gives slightly to a gentle squeeze. The orange color is your guide, since a pale fruit is still under-ripe. Harvest carefully, since the large tomatoes are heavy and can crack.
Growing Kellogg’s Breakfast in Containers
Kellogg’s Breakfast can grow in a large container of at least 15 gallons with a heavy cage. Keep the soil evenly moist and feed regularly, since big fruit needs steady nutrients. Be ready to support the vines, as a potted plant still produces heavy tomatoes.
Companion Plants for Kellogg’s Breakfast
Kellogg’s Breakfast pairs well with basil, which may improve flavor and repel pests. Marigolds deter nematodes, and borage attracts pollinators. Keep tomatoes away from potatoes, which share diseases. Good companions help this heirloom carry its heavy crop.
Kellogg’s Breakfast Nutrition
Kellogg’s Breakfast is low in calories and rich in nutrients. The orange flesh is high in beta-carotene, a form of vitamin A the body uses well. It also provides vitamin C and potassium. The bright color signals these helpful antioxidants, which makes it a healthy, flavorful choice.
Where to Buy Kellogg’s Breakfast Seeds and Plants
Kellogg’s Breakfast seeds are sold at most heirloom seed companies in spring, and some specialty nurseries carry plants. Because it is open-pollinated, one packet can supply your garden for years if you save seeds from your best fruit.
Care Notes
Rich, well-drained soil drives steady growth, so refresh the soil with compost each spring. Prune lower leaves and crowded stems to improve airflow.
Related Tomato Varieties
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Kellogg’s Breakfast Take to Grow?
About 80 to 85 days from transplant.
Is Kellogg’s Breakfast Determinate or Indeterminate?
It is indeterminate and produces until frost, so it needs tall support.
What Color Is Kellogg’s Breakfast?
A bright orange, both inside and out.
What Does Kellogg’s Breakfast Taste Like?
Sweet, rich, and slightly citrusy, with low acid.
Is Kellogg’s Breakfast Related to the Cereal?
No. It is named after a gardener named Kellogg, not the cereal company.
Can You Grow Kellogg’s Breakfast in Containers?
Yes, in a large 15 gallon or bigger pot with a strong cage.
Shakeel Muzaffar is the founder of TomatoAnswers.com, a gardener, and a content writer. He combines hands-on tomato growing experience with evidence-based research from horticultural and nutrition sources. His work focuses on tomato cultivation, nutrition, and practical gardening advice, helping readers grow healthier plants and make informed food choices