VegetableTomato
Coustralee Tomato
Coustralee is a sprawling indeterminate heirloom tomato that demands patience and rewards it generously. These true monsters grow massive amounts of foliage before producing stunning 2 to 3 pound ribbed fruits packed with intense tomato flavor. Ready to harvest in 80 to 89 days from transplant, this open-pollinated variety thrives in hardiness zones 3 through 10 and handles humidity remarkably well, making it reliable even in challenging climates.
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
96 in
Height
TypeIndeterminate
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-10
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Coustralee tomatoes are genuinely massive, with individual fruits weighing 2 to 3 pounds and displaying prominent ribbing that signals their old-world pedigree. The variety's remarkable humidity tolerance sets it apart from many heirlooms, which tend to struggle in damp conditions, while its indeterminate growth habit means you'll be harvesting into fall. Don't mistake the prolific foliage for slowness; it's a strategic investment the plant makes before producing fruits of genuine intensity.
Common Uses
Coustralee tomatoes excel as slicing tomatoes, their substantial size and rich flavor making them ideal for fresh eating straight off the vine, in salads, or on sandwiches where their meaty texture and intense taste shine. The large fruits also work well for making tomato sauce, paste, or juice, where their concentrated flavor translates directly into the finished product.
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, sowing seeds 1/4 inch deep in seed-starting mix kept at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seeds germinate in 5 to 10 days under consistent warmth and moisture.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days, then transplant outdoors once the soil reaches 60 degrees Fahrenheit and all frost risk has passed. Space plants 18 inches apart with 36 inches between rows, planting deeply so the lowest leaves are just above soil level to encourage a stronger root system.
Harvesting
Harvest fruits when they reach full color (typically red at maturity) and yield slightly to gentle pressure, usually 80 to 89 days after transplanting. The large ribbed fruits are ready to pick when firm yet slightly soft at the stem end. Continue harvesting throughout the season as flowers develop into mature fruits; indeterminate plants produce until frost.
Pruning
As an indeterminate variety, Coustralee will continue growing tall throughout the season. Remove only the lowest leaves once the plant is established to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure, but leave the abundant upper foliage intact to power the heavy fruit production this variety is known for. Avoid aggressive pruning, which can stress the plant and reduce yield.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Solanum lycopersicum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Solanum
Growth Habit
Indeterminate
Native Status
L48 (I)AK (I)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Coustralee represents the heirloom tradition of open-pollinated tomatoes saved and shared by gardeners across generations. As an heirloom variety, it carries the genetic legacy of careful seed-saving practices, preserved because gardeners recognized something exceptional in its flavor and productivity worth passing forward to the next season.”