Aubry's Special Pinks is a large beefsteak tomato with rose-colored skin and a remarkable family history that stretches back generations. This indeterminate variety reaches full maturity in about 80 days and grows to a sturdy 6 feet tall, demanding full sun and moderate water to thrive. The tomato carries the name of Aubry, the groundskeeper at the American Horticultural Society River Farm, who gifted the original seeds to Mike Dwyer two decades ago. For gardeners seeking a tomato with genuine provenance and proven taste, this variety delivers both flavor and story.
Full Sun
Moderate
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72in H x ?in W
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High
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This rose-colored beefsteak came through an unexpected chain of generosity: Aubry, a groundskeeper at a prestigious Virginia farm, had grown only this single tomato variety for generations before sharing seeds with Mike Dwyer. That gift eventually made its way to Hudson Valley Seed, where it's now preserved for home gardeners. The indeterminate growth habit means you'll have tomatoes coming steadily throughout the season once they begin, and the large beefsteak form makes these fruits substantial enough for slicing, saucing, or canning. Growing it connects you directly to a keeper of seeds and a living piece of American horticultural generosity.
As a large beefsteak variety, Aubry's Special Pinks excels at slicing for fresh eating, whether on sandwiches or in summer salads where its size and meaty structure shine. The substantial fruit also lends itself well to sauce-making and canning, traditional uses for beefsteak tomatoes that produce a rich, concentrated product when cooked down. Home canners and preservationists particularly value indeterminate varieties for their extended harvest window, allowing for large batches to be processed at once.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature between 68°F and 82°F for reliable germination. Once seedlings have developed true leaves, provide bright light and continue warm conditions.
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all threat of frost has passed and soil has warmed sufficiently. Space plants 24 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, planting deep enough that buried stem sections develop additional roots for a stronger plant.
Harvest when fruits reach full size and have deepened to their characteristic rose color; ripe beefsteaks feel slightly soft to gentle pressure but are not mushy. Fruits can be picked at the mature-green stage if needed and ripened indoors at room temperature, though vine-ripened fruit offers superior flavor. Because this is an indeterminate variety, fruits will continue to mature and ripen progressively throughout the season, providing a steady supply from mid-summer until the first frost.
Since Aubry's Special Pinks is indeterminate, it will grow continuously throughout the season. Many gardeners remove suckers (shoots that sprout between the main stem and branches) to direct energy toward fruit production and improve air circulation, though this is optional. Regular pruning of lower leaves as the plant matures can also reduce disease pressure by improving airflow around the lower canopy.
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“Aubry's Special Pinks began as a family secret. For generations, Aubry, the groundskeeper at the American Horticultural Society River Farm in Virginia, cultivated only this single tomato variety on the grounds. When Mike Dwyer, a friend of Stu (Hudson Valley Seed's former farm manager), met Aubry, the groundskeeper shared seeds with him as a gift. Twenty years later, those seeds found their way to Hudson Valley Seed, where the variety was named in Aubry's honor and preserved for a wider gardening community. This tomato represents the quiet work of seed keepers who maintain heirloom varieties without fanfare, simply because they matter.”