How to Grow Striped Queen Tomato
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Striped Queen Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Striped Queen'
vegetableStriped Queen is a striking heirloom indeterminate tomato variety known for its distinctive golden-yellow skin with red striping and vibrant red interior flesh. This medium-sized tomato produces abundant fruit with a balanced sweet-tart flavor and is popular among home gardeners and farmers market vendors for its visual appeal and excellent taste.
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Example Striped Queen Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Striped Queen Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Striped Queen Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown in cooler zones (3-4) with proper season extension
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny plants with 2 cotyledons and emerging true leaves; fragile and tender
Maintain 65-75°F, provide 14-16 hours of grow light daily, keep soil moist but not waterlogged, thin to strongest seedlings, provide gentle air circulation
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks after transplantingYoung transplants establishing root systems and producing multiple sets of true leaves, leggy if light is insufficient
Harden off gradually before transplanting outdoors, plant deeper if leggy, provide sturdy support early, pinch suckers if desired, fertilize with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks
Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant producing yellow flowers in clusters; first flowers typically appear at 6-8 inches height
Ensure consistent watering and avoid nitrogen excess (causes fewer flowers), maintain warm temperatures (70-85°F), shake plants gently to promote pollination, continue staking/trellising, side-dress with fertilizer low in nitrogen
Fruiting & Development
4-6 weeks until color breakSmall green marble-sized fruit developing on plant; fruit enlarges weekly, may show light striping as it grows
Support heavy fruit clusters with ties or stakes, maintain consistent deep watering, apply calcium amendment if not done earlier, remove lower leaves for air circulation once fruit sets, avoid overhead watering, prune selectively if plant becomes too dense
Ripening & Harvest
2-3 weeks to full ripeness, harvest continues until frostFruit develops characteristic golden-yellow background with red stripes, shifts from light green to full coloration at maturity, becoming softer to gentle pressure
Reduce watering slightly if needed to concentrate sugars, pick at full color when fruit yields slightly to pressure, continue harvesting to encourage more fruit production, pick mature green fruit if first frost threatened and ripen indoors
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars, use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), encourage parasitic wasps, inspect daily especially on upper leaf surfaces
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, introduce beneficial insects like ladybugs, maintain strong airflow
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Spray leaves with strong water stream, apply neem oil or sulfur dust, increase humidity, remove heavily infested leaves
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Remove infected lower leaves, mulch around base to prevent spore splash, improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, apply copper fungicide if severe
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Space plants for air circulation, avoid overhead watering, remove infected plant material, apply fungicide (chlorothalonil or copper), destroy infected plants
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Ensure consistent watering, add calcium amendment before planting, mulch to maintain even soil moisture, avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer
Uses
Fresh slicing and salads
CulinaryStriped Queen's balanced sweet-tart flavor and attractive appearance make it excellent for fresh eating, slicing for salads, and table display. The firm flesh holds up well when sliced. [source]
Heirloom tomato preserves
CulinaryThe lycopene content and natural acidity make this variety suitable for making tomato sauces, jams, and preserves while maintaining the distinctive striped appearance. [source]
Farmers market appeal
CulinaryThe striking bicolor striping and heirloom status make Striped Queen highly desirable for direct sale at farmers markets and specialty food venues. [source]
Seed saving
HouseholdAs an heirloom variety, Striped Queen can be reliably seed-saved from mature, disease-free fruit for replanting in future seasons. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeThe abundant yellow flowers attract bees and other pollinators throughout the growing season, supporting garden ecosystem health. [source]
Harvest Tips
Pick tomatoes at full color when they yield slightly to gentle pressure; Striped Queen should be deep golden-yellow with prominent red striping. For best flavor, harvest at full maturity when slightly soft rather than hard and green. Tomatoes continue ripening after picking if placed in a warm location. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruit production. Pick mature green fruit before first frost and ripen indoors in a warm spot away from direct sun.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Striped Queen is an indeterminate variety, meaning it grows continuously throughout the season and will produce fruit until killed by frost, making it ideal for long harvests.
- 🌱 The striped bicolor pattern in tomatoes develops due to differing concentrations of carotenoid pigments, which also contribute to the antioxidant and nutritional benefits of the fruit.
- 🌱 This heirloom variety has become increasingly popular since the early 2000s as part of the broader heirloom vegetable gardening movement that celebrates historical crop diversity.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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