How to Grow Blaufuchs Tomato

Wikimedia Commons

Blaufuchs Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Blaufuchs'

vegetable

Blaufuchs is a German heirloom tomato variety known for its distinctive dark blue-purple coloring with red undertones. This indeterminate variety produces medium-sized fruits with a complex, rich flavor profile combining sweet and slightly tangy notes. The unique coloration comes from high anthocyanin content, making it both visually striking and nutritionally dense.

When should you plant Blaufuchs Tomato in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Blaufuchs Tomato timeline →

Example Blaufuchs Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Blaufuchs Tomato
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Blaufuchs Tomato
Around Jun 26

≈ 70 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Blaufuchs Tomato dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily (8+ hours preferred for best color development)

💧

Water: Consistent moisture, 1-2 inches per week. Water deeply at soil level to avoid fungal issues. Avoid wetting foliage. Water more frequently during fruit development and hot periods.

📏

Spacing: 24-36 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 70-80 days from transplant

🌱

Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplants should be buried deeply up to first true leaves

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost Aged manure Bone meal for phosphorus Calcium (lime or gypsum) to prevent blossom end rot

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 5-9; can be grown in zone 4 with season extension techniques

3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a

Get my Blaufuchs Tomato timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves, delicate stem structure. Requires bright light and consistent moisture.

Provide grow lights 14-16 hours daily under controlled conditions. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Maintain temperatures 65-75°F. Begin gentle air circulation with a small fan.

Vegetative Growth

2-3 weeks pre-transplant, then 2-3 weeks post-transplant

Robust growth with expanding foliage, 8-12 inches tall. Plant is developing strong root system and branching structure.

Harden off seedlings gradually before transplanting. Install sturdy stakes or cages early. Provide consistent nutrition with balanced fertilizer. Remove lower leaves once plant is established to improve air circulation.

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters along the main stem and branches. Plant reaches mature height of 5-7 feet for indeterminate variety.

Reduce nitrogen fertilizer; switch to phosphorus-rich formula to encourage fruit set. Maintain consistent watering. Ensure full sun exposure for optimal pollination. Gently shake flower clusters on warm days to aid pollination.

Fruiting & Color Development

4-5 weeks

Small green fruits appear and gradually enlarge. Fruits develop distinctive dark blue-purple coloring with red undertones as they mature. Anthocyanin development is enhanced by full sun and cooler night temperatures.

Provide consistent calcium and balanced nutrients. Prune selectively to improve air circulation and light penetration to ripening fruits. Maintain steady water supply—fluctuations cause cracking and blossom end rot. Full sun is critical for color development.

Harvest Ready

Ongoing through frost

Fruits reach full size (2-3 inches diameter) with deep blue-purple color throughout. Fruits yield slightly to gentle pressure and have fully developed rich flavor.

Harvest when fruits are fully colored and slightly soft. Early morning harvest offers best flavor. Continue watering and fertilizing to encourage continued production on indeterminate plants. Support heavy fruit-laden branches.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Borage Marigold Nasturtium Lettuce

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Dill Potato

Common Pests

Hand-pick larvae; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) if infestation is severe
Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; apply copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering
Remove infected plant material immediately; apply sulfur or copper-based fungicides; ensure adequate spacing for air flow
Spray with water to dislodge; increase humidity; use neem oil or insecticidal soap if population is heavy
Yellow sticky traps; spray with neem oil; encourage natural predators like ladybugs
Remove infected foliage; improve air circulation; apply fungicide; water at soil level only

Uses

🍳

Slicing & Fresh Eating

Culinary

Blaufuchs offers a complex, rich flavor with sweet and slightly tangy notes, making it excellent for fresh slicing in salads, on sandwiches, or as a table fruit. The striking purple-blue color adds visual interest to any dish. [source]

🍳

Sauces & Cooking

Culinary

The concentrated flavor develops beautifully in cooked applications, including tomato sauce, soup, and preserved products. The deep color carries through to finished dishes. [source]

💊

Antioxidant-Rich Food

Medicinal

The high anthocyanin content (responsible for the blue-purple pigmentation) provides powerful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that support cardiovascular health and overall wellness. [source]

🏠

Ornamental Garden Feature

Household

Blaufuchs is grown as much for its striking appearance as its flavor. The dark purple fruits and lush foliage create a visually dramatic addition to vegetable gardens and can be showcased as an ornamental specimen. [source]

🎨

Seed Saving

Craft

As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, Blaufuchs can be easily seed-saved by fermenting and drying seeds from ripe fruits, allowing gardeners to perpetuate this rare variety year after year. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fruits are fully dark blue-purple with slight give when gently squeezed, typically 70-80 days after transplanting. Pick early in the morning for peak flavor and sugar content. The indeterminate nature means continued harvesting throughout the season until first frost. Fruits harvested at the 'breaker stage' (showing first color) will ripen indoors if needed. Store at room temperature, not in refrigerator, to preserve flavor.

Fun Facts

🌱 Blaufuchs (which means 'Blue Fox' in German) originated in Germany and represents a prized heirloom tomato that was nearly lost to cultivation before dedicated seed savers revived it in recent decades.
🌱 The blue-purple coloration comes from anthocyanins, the same powerful antioxidants found in blueberries and red wine, making Blaufuchs one of the most nutritionally dense tomato varieties available.
🌱 While the indeterminate growth habit means continuous harvesting, Blaufuchs is known among heirloom enthusiasts for its exceptional flavor complexity—a 'meaty' texture with sweet and slightly wine-like undertones that intensify in full sun.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Heirloom pH Pollination Transplant True Leaves

Shop Blaufuchs Tomato plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Blaufuchs Tomato planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Blaufuchs Tomato seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Blaufuchs Tomato timeline →