Orange Icicle Tomato is a stunning Ukrainian heirloom that produces glowing orange, icicle-shaped fruit bursting with sweet, citrus-forward flavor. This indeterminate variety reaches harvest in just 75 days and grows vigorously on tall vines that will need sturdy support. The elongated paste-type fruits are remarkably productive and versatile, equally at home in fresh salads, on a sandwich, or simmered into vibrant orange ketchup and salsa.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-12
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The bright, jewel-toned orange fruit is the first thing that catches your eye, but the flavor seals the deal: sweet and rich with pronounced citrus undertones that make this stand apart from standard red slicers. Baker Creek, who sells these seeds, describes the variety as some of Ukraine's finest tomato breeding, and gardeners who grow it report exceptional productivity. The paste-type shape with relatively few seeds makes it equally excellent for fresh eating and cooking.
Fresh eating showcases the striking color and bright citrus notes beautifully, whether sliced for salads or sandwiches. The paste-type shape and low seed count make it exceptional for cooking down into tomato sauce, paste, and ketchup, where the natural sweetness and citrus character deepen and concentrate. Home cooks also use it for salsas and other cooked preparations where the fruit's structure holds up well to heat and processing.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix, keep soil warm at around 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and maintain consistent moisture. Seedlings will emerge in 5 to 10 days and should be grown under bright light to prevent leggy growth.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, spacing plants 24 inches apart in full sun. Bury seedlings deeper than they grew in containers, as roots will develop along the buried stem for stronger plants.
Pick fruit when it reaches full, glowing orange color and yields slightly to gentle pressure. The elongated icicle shape and paste-type structure make visual assessment straightforward: wait until color is deep and consistent across the entire fruit. Harvest regularly throughout the season to encourage continued production, and pick fruit in the morning for the best flavor. In late season, you can pick mature green fruit and ripen it indoors before the first frost.
As an indeterminate variety that grows indefinitely throughout the season, Orange Icicle Tomato benefits from selective pruning to manage vigor and improve fruit production. Remove suckers (shoots that grow in the crotch between the main stem and branches) when they're small to direct energy into fruiting rather than excessive foliage. Once plants begin flowering heavily, you can also remove lower leaves to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, always leaving at least the upper third of the plant leafy to protect developing fruit from sunscald.
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“Orange Icicle Tomato emerges from Ukraine's rich tomato-breeding traditions, representing decades of careful selection for flavor and productivity. This heirloom carries the legacy of Eastern European seed savers who prioritized taste and utility over commercial shelf life, preserving a variety that excels in both the kitchen and the garden. The cultivar now lives on through seed companies like Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, keeping alive this testament to Ukrainian horticultural expertise.”