Indigo Apple Tomato
Best early-maturing choice for gardeners seeking antioxidant-rich, visually striking tomatoes.
Discover the unique Indigo Apple Tomato, an early-maturing, open-pollinated variety that yields 4-6 oz fruits. Its skin develops a striking shiny black hue when exposed to sunlight, rich in anthocyanin antioxidants. This indeterminate tomato offers a mild, aromatic flavor, best enjoyed when fully ripe. It resists cracking and sunscald, with some late blight resistance, maturing in about 70 days for a distinctive garden harvest.
$4.15
Owner Satisfaction
4.6
/ 5
Category Rank
2999
/ 5867
#2999 in Seeds & Seed Tape
Price vs Category Average
-61%
Below average
Days to Maturity
70
/ days
Who it's for
- Health-conscious gardeners seeking nutrient-dense, visually striking produce
- Gourmet home cooks prioritizing complex, balanced flavor profiles
- Busy gardeners needing reliable, low-maintenance, disease-resistant plants
Who should skip it
- Novice growers preferring clear, visual ripeness indicators
- Canners and chefs requiring large, high-yield beefsteak varieties
- Gardeners with limited sun exposure seeking uniform fruit color
Performance breakdown
Disease Resistance
Reliable late blight resistance provides a safety net for home gardeners.
Harvest Efficiency
Early 70-day maturity ensures a bountiful harvest before the season ends.
Visual Appeal
Striking black skin makes these tomatoes a standout garden conversation piece.
Durability
Strong resistance to cracking and sunscald keeps fruit looking pristine.
Flavor Profile
Mild and aromatic notes offer a pleasant, approachable taste for salads.
Growth Versatility
Indeterminate habit allows for continuous production throughout the growing season.
Key Specs
Days to Maturity
70 days
Type
Indeterminate
Fruit Size
4-6 oz
Pollination
Open-Pollinated
Seed Starting Depth
1/8-1/4"
Optimal Germination Temp
75-85°F
Preferred Soil pH
6.0-6.8
Planting Season
Spring
Features
- Unique shiny black fruit color in sun
- Rich in anthocyanin antioxidants
- Mild and aromatic flavor profile
- Resists cracking and sunscald
- Offers some late blight resistance
- Indeterminate growth habit
- Early maturity
- Open-pollinated variety
What customers say
The Indigo Apple tomato is celebrated for its stunning deep purple black coloration, making it a garden centerpiece. Customers consistently praise the high germination rates and the robust, productive quality of the plants. The flavor is noted as complex and rich, appealing to those seeking a gourmet experience. A key benefit is that the unique dark color holds up well even in high heat. While judging ripeness requires careful attention due to the consistent dark shoulders, gardeners find the novelty and high performance deliver excellent value. This specialty seed provides a unique and rewarding harvest that consistently draws compliments.
Know before you buy
Indeterminate means the plant will continue to grow, flower, and produce fruit throughout the entire growing season until the first frost. You will need to provide a sturdy trellis or stake to support its ongoing vertical growth.
The black coloration is caused by high levels of anthocyanin, a natural antioxidant that develops when the fruit is exposed to direct sunlight. For the best color, ensure the fruit is not overly shaded by the plant's foliage.
While the skin turns black in the sun, the fruit is ready to pick when the shaded side transitions from green to a deep, mature color and the tomato feels slightly soft to the touch. They are best enjoyed when fully ripe to ensure the mild, aromatic flavor has fully developed.
This variety is naturally resistant to cracking and sunscald, which makes it a reliable choice for home gardens. While it offers some resistance to late blight, it is still good practice to maintain consistent watering and provide adequate airflow around the plants.
Yes, because this is an open-pollinated variety, you can save the seeds from your harvest and replant them next season. The offspring will generally grow true to the parent plant.
Plant your seeds 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep in a seed-starting mix. Keep the soil temperature between 75-85°F to ensure optimal germination, and move them to a sunny location once they sprout.
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