VegetableTomato
Marglobe Tomato
Marglobe is a storied heirloom tomato that traces its roots to early 20th-century breeding efforts focused on disease resistance, yet it never sacrificed flavor or reliability. The plant produces deep red, round fruits weighing 6 to 9 ounces with smooth skin, ideal for slicing, canning, and cooking. Reaching just 18 to 36 inches tall with a compact, determinate growth habit, it thrives in small gardens and containers alike, reaching harvest in 70 to 79 days. Hardy across zones 3 to 10 and naturally tolerant of heat and drought, Marglobe rewards gardeners with dependable yields and exceptional disease resistance that still impresses a century later.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-10
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeDeterminate
Spacing
24
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
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Highlights
Marglobe earned its reputation as one of the first tomatoes bred specifically to resist the twin scourges of fusarium and verticillium wilt, a distinction that still matters today. The compact, determinate plants stay manageable without extensive pruning, making this variety accessible to gardeners with limited space or those new to tomato growing. Its balanced, rich flavor combined with smooth, uniform fruits explains why it remains equally at home in a canning kitchen, a fresh salad, or a pot of sauce.
Common Uses
Marglobe's balanced flavor and meaty texture make it exceptional for slicing fresh, though its heritage runs deepest in the kitchen for canning and cooking. Home canners prize it for sauce and paste production, while its uniform fruits and reliable yields have earned it a steady place in both market gardens and preservation-focused households.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep seedlings under bright light once they emerge to prevent legging.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off transplants over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors once soil temperature reaches at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit and all danger of frost has passed. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Marglobe fruits reach harvest readiness in 70 to 79 days from transplant. Pick tomatoes when fully colored deep red but still slightly firm to the touch; they will continue to ripen off the vine. Harvest regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruit set. In cool climates, pick fruits at the breaker stage (just beginning to show color) and finish ripening indoors.
Pruning
As a determinate variety, Marglobe requires minimal pruning. Remove lower leaves once the plant is established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but avoid excessive leaf removal that exposes developing fruit to sunscald. Pruning suckers is optional; light sucker removal encourages larger individual fruits, while leaving them promotes higher overall yield.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Determinate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Developed in the early 20th century, Marglobe stands as one of the pioneering varieties in tomato breeding for disease resistance. At a time when wilt diseases devastated gardens, breeders specifically selected for plants that could withstand fusarium and verticillium wilt, creating a variety that proved transformative for home and market gardeners alike. More than a century later, it persists as an open-pollinated heirloom, preserved and passed along by gardeners who value its stability and performance.”