Picture golf ball-sized tomatoes dressed in the most stunning tangerine skin, adorned with fine green zebra stripes that transform into brilliant yellow as they ripen. The Apricot Zebra is a relatively new heirloom variety that caught attention in 2018 trials for its exceptional disease resistance and prolific production. These slightly oblong fruits mature in about 85 days on vigorous indeterminate plants that can reach 5 feet tall. What truly sets this variety apart is its dense, juicy flesh with distinctive papaya-like tropical notes that make it one of the most flavorful cherry tomatoes you can grow.
Full Sun
Moderate
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60in H x 24in W
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High
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The Apricot Zebra creates a visual feast in the garden with its richly tangerine skin marked by lime-green shoulders and delicate striping that morphs through brilliant yellow as fruits reach peak ripeness. These firm-fleshed, golf ball-sized tomatoes offer an extraordinary flavor experience with sweet, tropical notes reminiscent of papaya that sets them apart from typical cherry varieties. Plants demonstrate remarkable vigor and disease resistance while producing abundant harvests of these unique striped beauties that are perfect for both fresh snacking and elegant salads.
These striking tomatoes excel as fresh snacking fruits, their golf ball size making them perfect for popping straight from the vine. Their firm flesh and sweet tropical flavor make them ideal for salads where their unique tangerine and yellow striping creates visual interest. The dense texture also holds up well in fresh preparations where you want the tomatoes to maintain their shape and striking appearance.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 10 weeks before the last expected frost date. Sow seeds 1/8 inch deep in quality seed-starting mix and maintain soil temperature at 80°F for optimal germination, which occurs in 7-14 days. Keep seedlings in warm conditions but not hot to prevent damping off, and provide plenty of light to prevent legginess.
Transplant outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures consistently remain above 60°F. Bury the stem several inches deep when transplanting to encourage strong root development, and space plants 24 inches apart.
Harvest when fruits reach full color maturity, displaying their characteristic brilliant tangerine skin with yellow striping. The lime-green shoulders and fine green striping of unripe fruit will have completely transformed to vibrant yellow tones when ready. Pick when fully ripe for the best tropical flavor development and optimal sweetness.
Remove lower leaves to prevent soil contact and reduce disease risk. Prune suckers regularly to focus the plant's energy on fruit production rather than excessive foliage growth, which also improves air circulation and light penetration to developing fruits.
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“The Apricot Zebra emerged as a standout performer in Hudson Valley Seed's 2018 trials, where it quickly became a favorite among their test varieties. This relatively new addition to the heirloom tomato world represents the ongoing development of distinctive zebra-striped varieties, combining the visual appeal of striped tomatoes with exceptional flavor and disease resistance that impressed growers from its first season.”