Indigo Blue Chocolate Tomato is a striking heirloom from Wild Boar Farms in California that brings deep purple-black fruit and genuine flavor to the garden. Brad Gates developed this indeterminate variety specifically for its sweet, juicy character and remarkable resilience against sunburn and cracking, two problems that plague many tomato growers. The small fruits, averaging 1 to 2 ounces, mature in just 80 days and grow on vigorous plants that reach 7 to 8 feet tall, loaded with abundant harvests. Hardy in zones 3 through 11, it thrives on full sun and moderate water, adapting well to both cool and warm climates.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
96in H x ?in W
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High
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The anthocyanin-rich black skin is striking enough to stop you mid-season, but what really matters is the flavor packed into each marble-sized fruit. These tomatoes are genuinely sweet and juicy, and their outstanding crack and sunburn resistance means you won't lose harvests to weather stress the way you might with other delicate varieties. Whether you're eating them straight off the vine or scattering them across a salad, they deliver the complex taste you'd expect from a carefully stewarded heirloom.
These small slicing tomatoes shine in fresh applications where their size and appearance make them memorable. Scatter them across salads where their deep purple-black color creates visual drama, or eat them straight from the garden as a snack. They work equally well in light cooking, where their sweetness and juiciness contribute to sauces and fresh preparations that benefit from their compact, concentrated fruit.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date at soil temperatures of 68 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant once soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed, spacing plants 18 inches apart in full sun.
Pick fruits when they achieve their deep purple-black color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Since these are small tomatoes averaging 1 to 2 ounces, individual fruits mature quickly once they reach full size. Harvest regularly throughout the season to encourage continued production on these generous plants. The excellent shelf life means you don't need to rush them to your kitchen immediately after picking.
As an indeterminate variety that reaches 7 to 8 feet tall, regular pruning of suckers (shoots that grow between the main stem and branches) will help direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage. Remove lower leaves as the plant grows to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but maintain enough canopy to prevent sunscald on the developing fruit.
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“This variety emerged from Wild Boar Farms in California through the careful breeding work of Brad Gates, who recognized an opportunity to combine the striking appearance and health benefits of anthocyanin-rich tomatoes with the practical traits gardeners actually need. Rather than chasing novelty for its own sake, Gates focused on sunburn and crack resistance, traits that matter in real gardens where heat and irregular watering are constant challenges. The result was an heirloom that stands as a bridge between botanical interest and horticultural reliability, making indigo tomatoes accessible to gardeners who want both beauty and dependability.”