Purple Zebra tomato is a fun new addition to striped tomatoes, producing tomatoes that are rich with complex flavors and a moderately firm texture. Dark red fruits with green stripes and a deep mahogany red interior do not produce muddy coloration like other tomatoes of this type. The taste is sweet and acidic leaning to sweet. Overall, this tomato has a better taste and thinner skin than the comparisons, with excellent disease resistance. Judges in the know say this is a very marketable fruit for farmers’ market growers. High disease resistance to ToMV, Verticillium Wilt Va/Vd, Fusarium Wilt Race 1, Leaf Mold A-E, Late Blight PH2/PH3, and intermediate resistance to TYLCV and TSWV.
Retailers: Download 8×10″ benchcard
Transplanting recommended. Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Set out when all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed.
- “The entry fruit was beautiful inside and out. They were orangy-red with green stripes and when cut diagonally, the interior was an especially attractive, juicy red.”
- “The entry had very pretty coloring on the fruit. The flavor was very good.”
- “Flavor is rich, deep-bodied, almost dessert-like. It could go with vanilla ice cream. Very unique.”
- “Very much appreciate the internal color of the entry. Very nice presentation on the plate or dish.”
- “Good plant habit and disease resistance.”
Pamela Keene –
I LOVE this tomato, but it took a while. With its vivid red and green stripes, at first I wasn’t sure when it was ripe. Here’s the answer: when it has a balance of red and green, it’s ready to go. The seedlings were strong and once planted in our garden in Georgia and in grow bags on our driveway, it thrived. Here it is the end of September and it’s still producing very well. The summer heat in July/August set it back a bit, but adding shade cloth atop our 8-foot cages made of cattle gate helped. Now that the heat has abated, it’s still giving us lovely fruits that are firm with a distinctive flavor. We’ve also used them in homemade salsa because they stand up well to cooking. I’ll plant more next year for certain.
Pamela Keene –
I was so happy to see purple zebra agin this year in my 2024 AAS winners collection. It has not failed my expectations and in early November 2024 it’s still bearing fruit. Grow bags, raised beds and straw bales all delivered.