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; sow indoors before last frost |
| Seed Collecting |
Allow unblemished fruit to ripen; clean and dry seeds, Ferment seeds before storing, Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored |
| Open Pollinated (OP) |
Yes |
| Usage |
Fresh, slicing |
| Fruit Color |
Black, Brown, Red |
| Fruit Size |
Medium (under one pound) |
This Russian heirloom was named in honor of Paul Robeson (1898-1976) who befriended the Soviet Union. He was an athlete (15 varsity letters at Rutgers), actor (played Othello in the longest-running Shakespearean production in Broadway history), singer (world famous for his vibrant baritone renditions of Negro spirituals), orator, cultural scholar and linguist (fluent in at least 15 languages). Robeson was an outspoken crusader for racial equality and social justice. Revered by the left, reviled by the right, he was blacklisted during the McCarthy Era and beyond, harassed by the FBI, his passport revoked for eight years, his career stifled. He died broken and almost forgotten, his life a testament to lost opportunities in 20th-century American history. His namesake tomato developed almost a cult following among seed savers. This heirloom was made available by Marina Danilenko, a Moscow seedswoman.
This rare variety’s amazing flavor is so distinctive, sweet and smoky, and wins flavor contests every year. The 6-18 oz. fruits are a brick/maroon color with dark green shoulders and meaty red flesh. This is an extraordinary tomato for an extraordinary man.
