How to Grow Striped Tomato

Striped Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum var. striatum

vegetable

Striped tomatoes are heirloom varieties characterized by distinctive colored stripes or patterns on their skin, ranging from red and yellow to green and purple combinations. These indeterminate or determinate plants produce medium to large fruits with complex, sweet flavors. They are prized by gardeners and chefs for their unique appearance and rich taste.

Looking for a specific variety?

Cherokee Purple Zebra Brandywine Yellow Stripe Green Zebra Tigerella Candy Stripe

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

Plant Striped Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

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

≈ 70 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

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

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Water: Consistent moisture; 1-2 inches per week. Water at soil level to keep foliage dry and prevent disease. Avoid overwatering, which causes fruit cracking and dilutes flavor.

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Spacing: 24-36 inches apart; space rows 36-48 inches apart inches

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Days to maturity: 70-85 days from transplant (varies by variety)

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Planting depth: ¼ inch for seeds; transplants should be planted deep, burying stem up to first true leaves

Soil

Type: Well-draining, fertile loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost aged manure bone meal calcium (to prevent blossom end rot)

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Zones 5-10; can be grown in zones 3-4 as annuals with season extension

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

Seedling

3-4 weeks

Small plants with 2-4 true leaves emerge 7-14 days after planting. Cotyledons appear first, followed by serrated true leaves.

Provide bright light (14-16 hours daily under grow lights), maintain soil moisture without waterlogging, and keep temperature 65-75°F. Thin seedlings to strongest plant per cell.

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks after transplanting

Plant develops robust stem, multiple branches, and increasingly complex foliage. Plant grows 12-24+ inches tall depending on variety. Suckers (side shoots) emerge between main stem and branches on indeterminate varieties.

Stake or cage early for determinate varieties; install support early. Begin pruning suckers on indeterminate types if desired. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Monitor for early blight.

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters (racemes) along the main stems and branches. Flowers are self-pollinating but benefit from air movement or gentle vibration.

Maintain consistent watering; stress from dry conditions reduces fruit set. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes leafy growth at expense of flowers. Temperature range 65-80°F is ideal for pollination.

Fruiting & Development

4-6 weeks

Green fruits develop after flowers drop. Fruits gradually enlarge and show characteristic striped patterns as they mature. Color transition begins at mature green stage—stripes become more prominent as sugars develop.

Continue consistent watering to prevent blossom end rot and fruit cracking. Remove excess foliage only if needed for disease management. Prune lower leaves once fruit is set to improve air circulation. Side-dress with compost if needed.

Ripening & Harvest

7-14 days per fruit depending on conditions

Fruits fully develop their distinctive striped coloration and reach full size. Sugar content peaks at full ripeness. Skin color shifts from mature green to full color with clear stripe pattern.

Do not harvest prematurely; striped varieties develop their best flavor at full ripeness. Reduce watering slightly in final weeks to concentrate sugars. Pick fruit in early morning when flavor is peak. Can be harvested at 'breaker stage' (first blush of color) and ripened indoors if frost threatens.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Marigold Nasturtium Borage

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) Fennel Kohlrabi Potato Walnut

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars, encourage parasitic wasps, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray, monitor regularly
Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap, use yellow sticky traps, encourage natural predators, reflective mulch
Increase humidity, spray water forcefully on foliage, use neem oil or miticide, remove heavily infested leaves
Spray with water, use insecticidal soap or neem oil, encourage ladybugs and parasitic wasps, reflective mulch
Maintain consistent soil moisture, add calcium (lime or crushed eggshells), mulch to regulate moisture, avoid overwatering then underwatering

Uses

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Fresh eating and slicing

Culinary

Striped heirloom tomatoes are prized for their complex, sweet flavor and striking visual appeal when sliced. The balanced sugar-to-acid ratio makes them excellent for fresh salads, bruschetta, and any dish where tomato flavor is the star. [source]

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Sauce and preserves

Culinary

The rich flavor of striped varieties concentrates beautifully in sauces, marinara, and tomato paste. Their lower water content compared to modern hybrids makes them excellent for preservation and canning. [source]

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Seed saving

Household

As heirloom varieties, striped tomatoes breed true from seed, allowing gardeners to save seeds annually for replanting. This traditional practice preserves genetic diversity and creates a self-perpetuating garden resource. [source]

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Unique color presentation

Culinary

The distinctive striped pattern makes these tomatoes visually stunning in salads and plating, providing professional-looking presentation for home meals and farmers market sales. [source]

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Pollinator attraction

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, supporting broader ecosystem health while improving fruit set through enhanced pollination. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fruits reach full size and stripes are clearly visible with rich color development. Striped varieties are best eaten at full ripeness for complex flavor. Pick in early morning to maximize sweetness. Can harvest at breaker stage (first blush of color) if frost is approaching; ripen indoors at room temperature (68-75°F). Fruits continue ripening after picking due to the ethylene hormone.

Fun Facts

🌱 Striped tomatoes are often heirloom varieties, some with lineages stretching back 50+ years, passed down through generations of gardeners who saved seeds each season.
🌱 The stripes are caused by chimeric tissue (a mix of different genetic material in the same plant), creating the unique color patterns that make each variety distinctive—some varieties produce more consistent stripes than others.
🌱 Striped varieties like 'Cherokee Purple' and 'Zebra' have experienced a major culinary renaissance since the 1990s, transforming from nearly extinct to gourmet restaurant staples.

Gardening Terms

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

Compost Full Sun Heirloom Pollination Sucker True Leaves

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