The Mr. Stripey Tomato is known to authorities as a quick-change artist with several aliases—Mr. Streaky, Mr. Mottled, and one time, when someone got a look inside, Mr. Marbled. Witness statements create a composite sketch. One says it’s “yellow with jaggedy reddish-orange stripes,” another says the fruit is “big and beefy, and just the sweetest,” and another, a poet, describes juicy flesh “gilded to the core of its being.” One thing they all agree on is that Mr. Stripey is fun to grow because you never know who is going to show up. And he’ll probably be late.

• Sweet flavor
• Low acidity
• Slow to ripen
• Not armed or dangerous

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum
• Growth type: Indeterminate, trellis support, regular pruning 
• Tomato size: Large
• Depth to plant seeds: .25" deep
• Spacing between plants: 36"-48" apart
• Spacing between rows: 48"-60" apart
• Days to germinate (sprout): 7-14 days
• Germination soil temps: 75F-95F
• Soil needs: 6.0-6.5 pH
• Sun needs: Full sun
• Frost hardy: No
• Planting season: Spring, summer
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 1 plant per 2 sq. ft.
• Days to maturity: 85-95 days

Click here to view our full Tomato grow guide

Good companion plants: Basil, Borage, Onion, Parsley, Pepper