More Information
| Botanical Name |
Lycopersicon lycopersicum |
| Seeds Per Pack |
25 |
| Life Cycle |
Annual |
| Min. Time to Germinate |
5 Days |
| Max. Time to Germinate |
10 Days |
| Depth to Sow Seeds |
1/4 in. |
| When to Sow |
Indoors 6-8 weeks before last spring frost |
| Growing Height |
4-6 ft. (1.2-1.8 m) |
| Plant Spacing |
24-36 in. (60-90 cm) |
| Hardiness |
N/A |
| Sun Exposure |
Full Sun |
| Danger |
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested |
| Growth Habit |
Indeterminate |
| Soil pH Requirements |
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic), 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral), 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) |
| Days to Harvest |
70-80 |
| Propagation Methods |
From herbaceous stem cuttings, From seed; germinate in a damp paper towel, From seed; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Ferment seeds before storing |
| Open Pollinated (OP) |
Yes |
| Usage |
Fresh, salad, Fresh, slicing |
| Fruit Color |
Green, Lime green |
| Fruit Size |
Medium (under one pound) |
This family heirloom was introduced to the general public by Ruby E. Arnold (1915-1997) of Greeneville, Tennessee. According to the family, they are not sure how, when or why the "German" got added to the name of this variety. They are not from Germany and they have no known German ancestry.
They speculate that Ruby's may have selected her tomato from a now unknown variety from seed originally sourced from a German-speaking Amish seedsman in their area named Ivan Snapp.
This cherished Tennessee heirloom produces plump 12-16 oz. beefsteak tomatoes with apple-green blushed pink skin. Its juicy, spicy-sweet apple-green flesh that is faintly marbled with pink inspires that swoon-over-the-first-mouthful experience for which we all long. It is the perfect slicer for unforgettable BLTs, salads, Salsa Verde, or for fried green tomatoes.
