The Ivan Tomato is an heirloom variety with a remarkable rescue story. Cultivated for years by a Missouri family before they stepped away from farming, this tomato was saved from extinction by a dedicated group of seed preservers. It grows tall and indeterminate, reaching up to 10 feet with substantial support, and produces meaty fruits with old-fashioned flavor in 80-90 days. Plant it in full sun with moderate water, and you'll understand why this variety deserves a place in the history books.
6
Full Sun
Moderate
?-?
?in H x ?in W
—
High
Hover over chart points for details
This Missouri heirloom produces harvests that justify the effort of growing a 10-foot-tall plant. The fruits are genuinely meaty with authentic old-fashioned flavor, not the watery taste of commercial tomatoes. Because it's been preserved by passionate seed savers rather than bred for shelf life or shipping, you're growing something real, something a family chose to keep alive for generations. The vigorous indeterminate growth means consistent production throughout the season if you give it the support it demands.
As a meaty heirloom tomato, Ivan shines in applications where texture and flavor matter most. Use it for slicing and eating fresh, where its old-fashioned taste and substantial flesh truly stand out. It also works beautifully in sauces, soups, and cooked preparations where the sweetness develops and the meatiness creates body and depth. The vigorous production throughout the season makes it suitable for preserving as well.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last spring frost in soil kept between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.
Transplant seedlings outdoors once all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Harden off seedlings gradually over a week before moving them to the garden. Plant at the same depth they were growing in containers, or slightly deeper; burying part of the stem encourages additional root development.
Pick fruits when they reach full size and have developed their deep color, typically 80-90 days from transplanting. Ivan tomatoes will continue to ripen off the vine, so you can harvest at full color or wait for peak ripeness on the plant. For best flavor, allow fruits to mature fully on the plant. Continue harvesting throughout the season as the indeterminate plant produces new flowers and fruit.
Because Ivan is indeterminate, it will grow continuously throughout the season. Prune lower leaves as the plant grows to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Remove suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fruit production and make the plant easier to manage on its support system. Stop pruning by late summer to allow the plant to focus on ripening remaining fruit before frost.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“The Ivan Tomato was cultivated by a Missouri family for years until they could no longer continue farming. When the family stepped away, this heirloom faced extinction, but a dedicated group determined to rescue it from disappearing took up the responsibility of preserving and propagating the variety. Today it survives through seed saving networks and heirloom-focused growers who recognize its value not just as food, but as a living connection to the family's agricultural legacy and a broader history of American home gardening.”