Solanum lycopersicum
Overview
Uses: Tomato crop production—produces excellent yields
Benefits: Cordon (produces crops all season). Produces mouth-watering, delicious 3" tomatoes that (as the name suggests) remain green when ripe and have a unique zebra stripe pattern.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 - 9 suggested (has been known to survive in all USDA Hardiness Zones)
Sun: Full
Growth: Indeterminate (cordon)
Life Cycle: Annual
Mature Height: As high as 8' with proper staking and fertilization.
Mature Width: 24"
Bloom Season: Summer to Early Fall
Summary
Green Zebra Tomato is a favorite of many Michelin-starred chefs for a reason. It's equally amazing in both appearance and taste.
As its name suggests, Green Zebra Tomato has gorgeous avocado-green zebra pattern stripes that accentuate it's base color of yellow-green (chartreuse) that remains even after it's ripe!
Their taste is tangy, sweet, and has what is best described as a delicious "bite".
Green Zebra Tomatoes have an average maturation rate, and should begin to produce their first harvests sometime in the middle of summer, often sustaining their production of crops until mid-fall.
Fruit is of average size of tomatoes. Expect fruit about 3" in diameter.
Green Zebra Tomato is an indeterminate variety of tomato, often referred to as a vine or cordon tomato. This means; unlike a determinate variety, they keep growing and producing tomatoes from the beginning of the summer until early fall (determinate varieties stop growing at a certain height, then produce all of their crop within a short time frame).
Does not require staking or caging, although we suggest doing such. It grows as a vine, so unstaked plants will travel along the ground, causing their fruit to be more susceptible to rot.
Delicious and highly visually appealing when used in cooking, especially frying, salsas, and salads.
Care
Green Zebra Tomato Plant Care
Green Zebra Tomatoes will likely tolerate temperatures above 40°F, but it's suggested to attempt to keep them in temperatures above 60°F.
Plant 30" apart.
Suggest planting late-March through May depending on temperatures in your area. Keep in temperatures above 60°F.
Does best in temperatures between 70°F and 85°F.
Likes organic, rich soil with lots of drainage.
Make sure to water regularly and attempt to keep soil moist but not wet.
Give early dose of high nitrogen organic fertilizer either when planting or as a part of soil preparation.
Will benefit from a high phosphorus organic fertilizer once established, just prior to or after it begins to produce fruit.
Suggest caging, or staking and providing something to climb, although not required. Unsupported plants will likely grow on the ground in a somewhat vine-like fashion, which will increase the potential of rotting fruit.
Will transition from a green-chartreuse into more a yellow-chartreuse base color as it ripens. This transition of color, along with a firm but bouncy feel are the best indicators of knowing when this tomato is ready for harvest.
Size
Size of Green Zebra Tomato Plants for Sale Online
The Green Zebra Tomatoes that we sell online will ship in a greenhouse grade grow pot. Each plant will be appropriately sized for its pot. Please contact us with any specific questions.
Size of Green Zebra Tomatoes When Fully Grown
Green Zebra Tomatoes often spread to a width of around 24" when staked and allowed to grow vertical. They're cordon-type growers, so their vines may grow as long as 8' long in certain situations.
Additional Information
Botanical Name of Green Zebra Tomato
The botanical name of Green Zebra Tomato is Solanum lycopersicum.
Toxicity and Risks of Green Zebra Tomatoes
Tomato plants are actually considered toxic. They're members of the nightshade family, and produce an alkaloid called tomatine.
This alkaloid is most present in the unripe fruit, the stem, and the leaves of a tomato plant.
Tomatine is toxic when ingested in extremely large doses, it may cause gastrointestinal problems, liver, and even heart damage.
