Mr Stripey Tomato

If you’re looking for a tomato that’s both beautiful and packed with flavor, you need to meet the mr stripey tomato. This heirloom variety is famous for being deliciously sweet and juicy, making it a favorite for gardeners and food lovers alike. Its unique red and yellow stripes make it a standout in any garden or on any plate.

Growing your own food is rewarding, and mr stripey is a perfect choice. It offers a taste that’s hard to find in store-bought tomatoes. Let’s look at how you can grow this fantastic plant successfully.

This tomato is an heirloom beefsteak type. It’s known for its large, bi-colored fruit. The skin has beautiful red and orange-yellow streaks. The inside flesh is just as pretty, often with the same marbled effect.

The flavor is where it truly shines. It has a notably low acidity, which lets its natural sugars take center stage. The result is a taste that’s remarkably sweet and mild. Each bite is juicy and tender, perfect for fresh eating.

Key Characteristics of the Plant

Understanding the plant’s habits helps you give it the best care. Here’s what you can expect.

Growth Type: It’s an indeterminate plant. This means it will keep growing and producing fruit all season until frost kills it.
Plant Size: These are vigorous vines. They can easily reach 6 to 8 feet tall or even more. Strong support is non-negotiable.
Days to Maturity: It’s a mid-to-late season tomato. You’ll typically wait about 80 to 85 days after transplanting to get ripe fruit.
Fruit Size: The tomatoes are large, often weighing between 1 and 2 pounds each. Some giants can get even bigger.
Disease Resistance: It’s an heirloom, so it doesn’t have modern hybrid disease resistance. Keep a close eye for common tomato issues.

Starting from Seed

Many gardeners start mr stripey from seed. This is the best way to ensure you get the true variety. It’s also very satisfying.

Start your seeds indoors about 6 to 8 weeks before your last expected spring frost date. This gives the seedlings a strong head start. Use a clean seed-starting mix, not garden soil.

Fill small pots or trays with moist seed mix.
Plant seeds about 1/4 inch deep. You can put two seeds per cell in case one doesn’t sprout.
Cover the trays with a plastic dome or plastic wrap to keep humidity high.
Place them in a warm spot (70-80°F). A top of the refrigerator often works well. They don’t need light until they sprout.
Check daily. As soon as you see green sprouts, remove the cover and move them to the brightest light you have. A south-facing window is good, but grow lights are better.
Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. When seedlings get their first set of true leaves, you can thin to one per cell.

Transplanting Seedlings

Before moving plants outside, they need to toughen up. This process is called hardening off. It prevents shock from sun and wind.

Start about 7-10 days before transplanting. Place seedlings outside in a sheltered, shady spot for just a few hours the first day. Gradually increase their time outside and their exposure to direct sun over the week. Bring them in at night if it’s chilly.

Choosing the Perfect Garden Spot

Tomatoes are sun worshippers. Your mr stripey plant will need the sunniest spot in your garden. Aim for at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. More is even better.

The soil should be well-draining but rich in organic matter. Tomatoes are heavy feeders. If your soil is poor, don’t worry. You can fix it.

Test your soil pH. Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic pH of 6.2 to 6.8.
Work in lots of compost or well-rotted manure a few weeks before planting. This improves texture and fertility.
You can also add a balanced, slow-release organic fertilizer into the planting hole.

Planting in the Ground

Wait until all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Cold soil will stunt your plants growth.

Dig a hole that’s deeper than the seedling’s pot. For tomatoes, it’s smart to bury part of the stem.
Gently remove the plant from its container. If the roots are circling, gently tease them apart.
Place the seedling in the hole, burying it up to the first set of true leaves. The buried stem will grow extra roots, making a stronger plant.
Space your mr stripey plants at least 3 feet apart. They get huge and need good air circulation.
Water the plant in thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
Install your support system right now. A heavy-duty cage or a tall stake is essential. Putting it in later can damage roots.

Essential Care Through the Season

Consistent care is the secret to a big harvest of those deliciously sweet and juicy tomatoes.

Watering the Right Way

Tomatoes need consistent moisture, especially when fruiting. Inconsistent watering leads to problems like blossom end rot or cracked fruit.

Water deeply and slowly at the base of the plant. Avoid wetting the leaves to prevent disease.
Aim for about 1 to 2 inches of water per week, including rainfall.
Using a soaker hose or drip irrigation is the best method. Mulching heavily with straw or shredded leaves helps retain soil moisture and keeps weeds down.

Feeding Your Plants

Because they produce so much fruit, mr stripey tomatoes need regular feeding. A imbalance can cause lots of leaves but few tomatoes.

At planting, you added compost and slow-release fertilizer. Once the first fruits are about the size of a golf ball, start with a supplemental feed. Use a fertilizer that’s higher in phosphorus and potassium (the second and third numbers on the bag) to promote flowering and fruiting. You can apply a liquid fertilizer every 2-3 weeks according to package directions.

Pruning and Supporting

As an indeterminate vine, your plant will get bushy. Some pruning helps.

Many gardeners remove the “suckers.” These are the small shoots that grow in the V between the main stem and a branch. Removing some suckers improves air flow and directs energy to fruit production. But you don’t have to be too agressive. Leaving some creates a bushier plant with more, but potentially smaller, fruit.

The most important task is tying the main stems to your support. Use soft cloth strips or tomato ties. Check and adjust ties every week or so as the plant grows rapidly.

Common Pests and Problems

Keep a watchful eye on your plants. Catching issues early makes them easier to manage.

Hornworms: Large green caterpillars that can strip leaves overnight. Hand-pick them off.
Aphids: Small bugs on new growth. A strong spray of water often knocks them off.
Early Blight & Septoria Leaf Spot: Fungal diseases causing spots on leaves. Water at the base, ensure good spacing, and remove affected leaves. Fungicides can help if applied early.
Blossom End Rot: A dark, leathery spot on the bottom of the fruit. It’s usually caused by calcium uptake issues linked to irregular watering. Maintain consistent soil moisture.

Harvesting Your Sweet Reward

Knowing when to pick is key for the best flavor. The fruit will start to show its stripes as it matures.

Wait until the tomato has developed its full red and yellow color and feels slightly soft when gently squeezed. It should come off the vine with a gentle twist. If you’re worried about pests, you can pick them when they’re mostly colored and let them finish ripening indoors on a counter out of direct sunlight.

The taste of a fully vine-ripened mr stripey tomato is incredible. It’s the payoff for all your hard work.

Saving Seeds for Next Year

Since mr stripey is an heirloom, you can save seeds from your best fruit. This ensures you can grow it again next season.

Choose a perfect, fully ripe tomato from your healthiest plant.
Scoop out the seed pulp and put it in a small jar with a little water.
Let this mixture ferment for 2-4 days at room temperature. This process removes the gel coating around the seeds that inhibits germination.
After a mold forms on top, add more water, swirl, and pour off the floating debris and bad seeds. Good seeds will sink.
Rinse the good seeds thoroughly in a fine strainer.
Spread them on a paper plate or coffee filter to dry completely. Store in a cool, dry, dark place in a labeled envelope.

Best Ways to Enjoy Your Harvest

The flavor of a mr stripey is so good, you’ll want to eat them simply. Here are a few ideas.

Fresh Sliced: A little salt and pepper is all you need. Maybe a drizzle of good olive oil.
Caprese Salad: Layer thick slices with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves.
Sandwiches & Burgers: A thick slice elevates any sandwich with its sweet juiciness.
Simple Salsa: Chop with onion, cilantro, lime juice, and a bit of jalapeño.
Canning/Sauce: While they are great fresh, their low acidity means you must add lemon juice or citric acid for safe water-bath canning according to tested recipes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mr Stripey tomato easy to grow?
It’s no more difficult than other heirloom beefsteaks. It needs good support, consistent watering, and attention to disease prevention. For a beginner, a hybrid might be slightly easier, but many first-timers have great success with mr stripey.

Why are my mr stripey tomatoes not turning red?
Patience is key. It’s a late-season tomato. If temperatures are consistently above 90°F or below 50°F, ripening can pause. Also, ensure the plant is getting enough sun and you’re not over-fertilizing with nitrogen, which promotes leaves over fruit.

Are mr stripey tomatoes good for containers?
You can grow them in a very large container (at least 20 gallons), but it’s a challenge. Their huge size and water needs are easier to manage in the ground. A determinate variety is often a better patio choice.

How do you tell when a striped tomato is ripe?
Look for the yellow stripes to become a deep, golden color and the red to become rich and vibrant. The fruit should give slightly to gentle pressure and have a sweet smell at the stem end.

What’s the difference between mr stripey and tigerella tomatoes?
They are often confused! Tigerella is smaller (like a golf ball), ripens much earlier, and has more pronounced stripes. Mr stripey is a large, late-season beefsteak with a sweeter, milder flavor due to its lower acidity.

Growing the mr stripey tomato is a testiment to the joys of gardening. The sight of its striped fruit and the taste of its sweet, juicy flesh make the effort completely worth it. With the right location, consistent care, and a little patience, you’ll be harvesting these beautiful heirlooms from your own garden. Give them a try this season—you won’t be disapointed.