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Evergreen Tomato is a striking heirloom that defies expectation: it produces large 10, 14 ounce fruits that remain green even after harvest, a trait so unusual it earned the variety its name. Developed in Ohio during the 1950s, this open-pollinated indeterminate tomato reaches maturity in 70, 79 days from transplant and grows tall enough to require staking, reaching 3, 8 feet. Plant it in full sun with moderate water and slightly acidic soil, spacing plants 24 inches apart, and you'll harvest a steady supply of these unique slicing tomatoes throughout the season.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-11
96in H x ?in W
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High
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The true magic of Evergreen Tomato lies in its refusal to turn red. Even when fully ripe and picked, the fruits stay a deep, mottled green with golden-yellow undertones, giving each tomato an exotic, almost otherworldly appearance on the plate. Large, meaty fruits weighing 10, 14 ounces slice beautifully for fresh eating or cooking, and the variety's open-pollinated nature means you can save seeds from your best plants year after year. Its resistance to Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt, Late Blight, Tobacco Mosaic Virus, and Powdery Mildew makes it a sturdy choice in challenging growing conditions.
Evergreen Tomato functions as a slicing tomato, equally at home on a plate of fresh summer salads or roasted whole for sauce and soup. The unusual green color makes it a striking choice for heirloom tomato platters, where its deep green skin creates visual contrast against red and yellow varieties. Its large fruit size and meaty texture suit both raw applications and cooking applications where you need substantial, flavorful flesh.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6, 8 weeks before your last frost date. Sow seeds in trays with light, well-draining seed-starting mix, keeping soil warm at 68, 82°F for reliable germination. Seeds should sprout in 5, 10 days. Provide bright light via grow lights or south-facing windows to prevent seedlings from becoming leggy.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7, 10 days. Transplant outdoors after the last frost date when soil is warm (60, 65°F minimum) and all danger of frost has passed. Bury the stem deeper than it grew in its pot, as Evergreen Tomato will root along the buried stem for a stronger base.
Harvest Evergreen Tomato when fruits reach full size (10, 14 ounces) and give slightly to gentle pressure, typically 70, 79 days after transplanting. The key visual cue is a golden-yellow undertone appearing beneath the green skin; fully ripe fruits will feel tender at the blossom end. Since these tomatoes don't change color as dramatically as red varieties, rely on feel and the slight color shift rather than a color change. Pick regularly to encourage continued flowering and fruiting throughout the season.
As an indeterminate variety, Evergreen Tomato grows continuously throughout the season and benefits from selective pruning. Remove suckers (shoots that emerge in the fork between the main stem and branches) on the lower half of the plant to improve air circulation and direct energy toward fruit production. Pinch off lower leaves once fruits begin ripening to boost disease resistance and focus resources upward.
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“Born in Ohio during the 1950s, Evergreen Tomato emerged from the creative breeding work of regional gardeners and seed savers who recognized something extraordinary in this green-fruited line. The variety was preserved and passed down as an open-pollinated heirloom, kept alive by gardeners captivated by its unusual appearance and the practical advantage of easy identification on the plant. Its survival into the modern seed catalog reflects a broader movement to safeguard distinctive cultivars that offer visual and culinary interest beyond the conventional red tomato.”