Tomato Seeds - Salad - Indigo Rose
75-80 Days to maturity (from transplant). Solanum lycopersicum. Indigo Rose Tomato Seeds. Non-GMO, annual, open-pollinated, heirloom, indeterminate, salad tomato. Suitable for growing in garden plots, raised beds, and greenhouses. Resistant to Early Blight, Late Blight, and Powdery Mildew. The Indigo Rose is a unique variety that can be used as a large cherry or small salad-type tomato. Its flesh develops the iconic dark purple coloration when it ripens in the sunlight. When shaded, the flesh may appear with more of a traditional deep red color.
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Growing Indigo Rose Tomatoes in the Vegetable Garden
You'll want to start your Indigo Rose tomato seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost in your area. This gives your plants a head start and ensures they're strong enough when the warm weather rolls around. Fill small pots or a seed-starting tray with a good quality seed-starting mix. Plant the seeds about 1/4 inch deep into the soil, then gently water them. Keep the soil moist but not soggy, and place the pots in a warm spot. A temperature of around 70-75°F is ideal for germination. In about 7-14 days, you should see your little seedlings poking through the soil.
Once your seedlings have emerged, they'll need plenty of light to grow strong and healthy. If you don't have a sunny south-facing window, consider using a grow light placed a few inches above the plants, moving it up as they grow. This will prevent your seedlings from becoming leggy and weak.
When your tomato plants have grown their second set of true leaves (these come after the initial, more rounded seed leaves called cotyledons), it's time to start hardening off. This process gradually acclimates your previously indoor-grown plants to the new outdoor conditions. About 1-2 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside, start by placing your plants outdoors in a sheltered, partially shaded spot for just an hour or two on the first day. Gradually increase their time outside, exposing them to more sunlight and wind each day.
Transplanting time comes once the danger of frost has passed and your plants are used to spending the majority of their time outdoors. Choose a sunny spot in your garden, as tomatoes love the sun. Dig a hole for each plant, spacing them about 2 to 3 feet apart to ensure good air circulation. Mix some compost into the hole to improve the fertility of the soil, then plant them deep, burying them up to their first set of true leaves. This encourages strong root development. Water them well after planting.
For ongoing care, your Indigo Rose tomatoes will need regular watering, especially during periods of dryness. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. A layer of mulch can help retain soil moisture and control weeds. When it comes to feeding, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at planting time, and then consider purchasing a tomato-specific fertilizer to apply every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season to support fruit development.
Staking or supporting your tomato plants is crucial to keep the fruit off the ground and promote air circulation. Poor air circulation or crowded plants increases the likelihood of pests and diseases. Use cages, stakes, or trellises, gently tying the plants up as they grow. Pruning isn't strictly necessary for Indigo Rose tomatoes thanks to their compact nature, but removing the lower leaves can help prevent soil-borne diseases. Also, pinching out suckers (the shoots that grow in the angles between the stem and a branch) can encourage more fruit production, although it's not a must-do task.
As your plants grow, keep an eye out for pests and diseases. Regularly checking the plants can help catch any issues early. The best pest management program is the most consistent one! As soon as you notice an unwelcome visitor such as an aphid or any hint of disease, take prompt action to avoid spread.
Harvesting Indigo Rose Tomatoes
Indigo Rose tomatoes take about 75 to 80 days to mature from transplanting. Wait for the fruits to turn from their glossy black to a deep purple with a red bottom, indicating they're ripe and ready to enjoy. Then gently remove the fruits by either twisting the fruit off the stem or using pruners to trim it off.
About Indigo Rose Tomato Garden Seeds
This is the darkest tomato bred so far, and as such, it is exceptionally high in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants.
In the early stages of fruit development, Indigo Rose develops a dark purple pigment in its skin where it is exposed to direct sunlight. The fruits are green when unripe and a deep purple-red when ripe. The 1-2 oz., cocktail-sized tomatoes have good flavor with 'plummy' overtones.
Indigo Rose is an indeterminate tomato variety, meaning it will continuously grow and produce fruit up until the first frost of fall. Yet, its compact nature means it will not get nearly as large as other tomato varieties. It can still be suitable for containers or smaller gardens.
Originally developed in the early 2000s by Oregon State University. It is resistant to Early Blight, Late Blight, and Powdery Mildew.
Tips From Our Gardeners
"Remember, gardening is a learning experience, full of trial and error. Each step you take grows not just your plants, but your skills and confidence as a gardener. Enjoy the journey, and before you know it, you'll be savoring the fruits of your labor—literally!"
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- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer |
Other Resources
- Guide to Tomatoes -->
- 10 seed Packet
- 100 seed Packet
- 500 seed Packet
Indigo Rose Tomato Seeds Per Package:
Non-GMO Indigo Rose Tomato seeds are available for Fast Free Shipping on qualifying orders.
Basic Info
| Latin Name: | Solanum lycoperscium (previously Lycopersicon esculentum) |
| Tomato Type: | Salad - Medium round tomatoes golf ball to tennis ball sized. |
| Indigo Rose Tomato Color: | Black, Green, Purple, Red |
| Indigo Rose Tomato Flavor: | A good tomato flavor with 'plummy' overtones |
Growing Info
| Hardiness Zone: | 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Annual: Not intended to overwinter |
| Days to Maturity: | 75-80 |
| Days to Germination: | 7-10 |
| Seeding Depth: | 0.25 inch |
| Plant Spacing: | 24-36 inches |
| Row Spacing: | 36 inches |
| Plant Height: | 36-96 inches |
| Growth Habit: | Indeterminate - Indeterminate tomatoes are vine-type plants that sprawl (requiring a cage or trellis to support them) and continue to grow throughout the season. Indeterminate tomato plants will continue to produce tomatoes for the rest of the season, so you can harvest continually. |
| Soil Preference: | Well-draining, loose (sandy loam), slightly acidic (6.2 to 6.8), and moisture retaining. Too much nitrogen in the soil may lead to more foliage production and less fruiting. Tomatoes like more phosphorus and potassium than other vegetables. |
| Temperature Preference: | Warmer (70-85 F) |
| Light Preference: | Full Sun |
Other
| Direct Sow: | No |
| Start Indoors: | Yes. Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost date. |
| Plant Width: | 24-36 inches |
| Growth Speed: | Mid - Ready to harvest 70 to 80 days from transplant. Tricky to get a tomato by the 4th of July with these varieties. They are good mid-summer producers for most USDA Zones. |
| Germination Temperature: | 65-85 F |
| Pests and Diseases: | Resistant to Early Blight, Late Blight, and Powdery Mildew. Common pests known to harm tomato plants, in general, include the tomato hornworm, cutworm, aphids, flea beetles, tomato fruit worms, and whiteflies. Also, watch for common diseases such as blossom end rot, fusarium wilt, powdery mildew, verticillium wilt, late blight, bacterial canker/spot, and tobacco mosaic virus. Most of these can be prevented by maintaining a regular watering schedule and avoiding overwatering. Regularly check your plants for pest damage throughout the season. For treating pest and disease problems, we recommend using an organic neem-based product. |
| Garden Size: | Greenhouse, Garden Plot, Raised Bed |
| Tomato Use: | Salads, fresh eating |