How to Grow Striped German
Solanum lycopersicum
Striped German is a beloved heirloom tomato prized for its distinctive striped skin and rich flavor. Gardeners cultivate this variety to enjoy classic taste profiles while supporting traditional seed-saving practices.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Striped German: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Striped German is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors; plant seedlings directly outdoors only after the last frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.2 and 6.8 before planting. As a warm-season crop, start seeds indoors only after the last spring frost date or direct sow outdoors once soil is warm. Sow seeds about 1/4 inch deep; germination typically takes seven to fourteen days.
Space plants 36 to 48 inches apart and provide sturdy support like cages or trellises as they grow up to ten feet tall. Water consistently to maintain high moisture levels, avoiding irregular watering that causes cracking. Apply mulch around the base to retain soil moisture and feed regularly during the season.
Monitor for tomato hornworms, aphids, whiteflies, and stink bugs; use hand-picking or organic sprays for control. Watch closely for late blight, early blight, fusarium wilt, and fruit cracking caused by uneven water. Harvest ripe fruit approximately 78 days after transplanting when colors fully develop.
When to Plant Striped German
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | May | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | — | September |
| Zone 3 | April | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January | — | May – July |
| Zone 11 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January | — | April – June |
Companion Plants for Striped German
✓ Good companions
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve tomato flavor
Helps break up soil for tomato roots, doesn't compete for nutrients
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Deters nematodes and aphids with natural compounds
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Repels various insects and provides ground cover to retain soil moisture
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Similar growing requirements and may help confuse pest insects
✗ Keep away from
Releases juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Compete heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Both attract corn earworm, increasing pest pressure on tomatoes
Inhibits growth through allelopathic compounds that stunt tomato development
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
