Blue Beauty Tomato (Organic, 80 Days)

Part of our Indigo series, these extraordinary blue almost black tomatoes will be some of the most unique varieties you have ever grown. They were developed with traditional selection and breeding techniques at the University of Oregon, beginning in the 1960's from crossing cultivated tomatoes and wild species from Chili and the Galapagos islands. Young fruits when exposed to sunlight have indigo-purple skin from the pigment Anthocyanin, naturally occurring in blueberries, which is a powerful and beneficial antioxidant. The fruits are ready to harvest when the skin turns bright rosy red on the bottom, shoulders are indigo shaded and the fruit is soft to the touch. Shoulders start out sapphire blue, darkening to a deep purple-red as they ripen. Abundant amounts of 6-8 oz meaty slicing tomatoes with clusters of fruits hold very well on the vine having great crack and sunburn resistance.

Solanum lycopersicum

Indeterminate

Germination: 7-14 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 70-85ºF.

Seed Sowing Depth: 1/4” deep

Starting Indoors: 6 weeks before last frost. Provide 75-80ºF soil temperatures. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot, thin to the strongest seedling or use the 20 Row seedling flat, transplanting into individual pots when seedlings get their 3rd set of leaves. Fertilize the seedlings every 7-10 days with a liquid or water soluble fertilizer, diluted to ¼ of suggested measurement. Transplant out after last frost. Space 24-36" apart

Sowing Outdoors: Only in areas with very long growing seasons. Sow after last frost. 

Harvest: When fruit is red (or color of the variety planted) and firm.

Tips: Plant in fertile soil, amended with compost, mulch and provide even moisture. Plant deeper than they were growing in the containers as it makes a stronger roots system. Apply a light compost tea every few weeks. Do not apply excessive nitrogen, which can promote excessive foliage and poor fruit set.