Green Zebra Tomato Seeds

This one-of-a-kind heirloom lives up to the hype. Technically, Green Zebra is a borderline heirloom as it’s only been around for 50 years but there is no denying its originality and popularity. It was developed in 1983 by Tom Wagner in Everett Washington and first marketed in his Tater-Mater Seed Catalog. His desire was to produce a green tomato that wasn’t considered underripe or unworthy of eating fresh. 

Stunning in appearance, the bright yellow skin is mottled with jagged stripes of electric green. Highly sought after by chefs, foodies and tomato lovers, Green Zebra offers excellent flavour alongside its apparent aesthetic. Indeterminate plants grow vigorously and produce heavy yields of 4-5-ounce fruits all throughout the season. The sporadic ripening of the tomatoes conveniently allows for a staggered harvest. They are ready to pick and enjoy at around 75 days from planting. To achieve peak flavour, wait until the fruit turns yellow and the flesh is slightly soft to the touch before picking. 

Easy to grow for an heirloom, it is resilient to disease, wildlife and cracking. The exceptional flavour is notable for its perfect balance of sweetness and acidity. Green Zebra tomatoes can be eaten raw or cooked in any recipe that calls for tomatoes. Use in salads, sandwiches or to make an extra special batch of striped salsa verde. More than just a novelty in the garden, Green Zebra is sure to please the palate of every tomato lover. 

- Latin Name: Solanum lycopersicum
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 75
- Planting Depth: 5 mm - 1 cm
- Plant Spacing: 45-60 cm
- Row Spacing: 120 cm
- Growth Habit: Indeterminate

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

For most folks, tomatoes are an indispensable summer fruit. There are scores of heirloom varieties showcasing different shapes, sizes, colors, flavours and textures. Tap into this large selection when starting from seed. You have the ability to grow and eat your perfect tomato!

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last spring frost date. In flats or individual pots, plant seeds at 1 cm. Make sure soil stays warm and moist. The ideal temperature for germination is 21°C. Keep seedlings under lights, a few centimeters away from the top of the plants and adjust as needed. An oscillating fan will provide the young plants some resistance. This will result in stockier stems and more structurally sound tomato plants. Seedlings should be hardened off a week prior to transplanting.

When the soil is 16°c and all danger of frost has passed it is time to transplant. Pinch off any sets of lower leaves that are yellow or faded so more of the stem can be buried. Place roots deeply into the hole to the point that the bottom leaves are just above the surface of the soil. Roots will sprout from the stalk and provide a stronger base for the plant.

Provide a site with full sun and well-drained soil. Water well, about 5cm/week, mulch and feed every two weeks. Leave fruits on the vine to ripen as long as possible.

There are two main categories of tomato plants: determinate and indeterminate.

A determinate tomato is a bush-type plant, usually reaching about three to four feet tall, making them ideal for the small-space gardener. The fruits of a determinate tomato plant ripen all at once, which is useful for those who want to grow tomatoes for canning.

Indeterminate tomatoes grow continuously until the first frost and can reach six to twenty feet in height. Indeterminate plants produce tomatoes all season long for a continuous harvest.

If indeterminate varieties are being grown, be sure to set up tall trellises or cages to support the wandering vines. One sturdy stake and some twine should suffice for determinate varieties.

Tomatoes can easily be frozen whole, but never refrigerate a tomato. This will deteriorate its fresh garden taste and texture. Enjoy fresh throughout the season and make multiple batches of sauce and salsa to savour through the winter.

QUICK FACTS

- The ancestor of the tomato is native to South America, where the wild versions are the size of peas. The Spanish first introduced tomatoes to Europe during the 1500s. Unique varieties were developed over the next several hundred years to improve production, size, shape, colour, and flavour.

- Tomato seeds will remain viable for 5 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.