Big Green Zebra

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Big Green Zebra to a garden.

Sun-warmed and strikingly patterned, Big Green Zebra tomatoes bring a cool, smoky sweetness wrapped in dramatic green-and-cream striping.

At maturity, the fruit is large and slice-ready, with a juicy, tender flesh and a balanced, lightly tangy bite that shines in fresh salads and vibrant salsas. Grow this 85-day standout for its showy, zebra-striped presence in the garden and its satisfying, garden-fresh flavor in everyday slicing favorites.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Big Green Zebra

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Big Green Zebra Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 13th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 7th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 3rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 1st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 26th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 22nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 19th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 13th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 8th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 29th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 20th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 11th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 25th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 30th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	85
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Big Green Zebra’s green-leaning, lightly tangy profile makes it ideal for fresh, no-fuss slicing where the juices stay lively rather than going flat. Its smoky-sweet “zebra” character also holds up in chunky salsas and fast sears—bright enough for raw, bold enough to meet smoke.

Best Uses

thick slices on sourdough with flaky salt (won’t gum up the bread)
salad slices dressed with lime or sherry vinaigrette for a clean tangy finish
zebra-striped salsa for charred corn + onion—keeps its color while staying juicy
quick pan-sear in wedges for a caramelized, still-juicy exterior

Flavor Profile

cool smoky sweetness lightly tangy, juicy bite tender sliceable flesh with a watery lift green tomato edge that stays bright, not sharp

Kitchen Pairings

lime charred corn red onion cotija cheese black pepper smoked salt

Frequently Asked Questions

Big Green Zebra tomato leaves have yellow spots with a dusty gray fuzz—what pest/disease is it and what should I do?

That pattern is most consistent with gray mold (Botrytis) or early fungal leaf/fruit rot, which flares in humid conditions and on dense foliage. Remove and trash affected leaves immediately, thin the plant so air can circulate, and water at the soil line (not over the canopy). If it keeps spreading, spray a labeled tomato fungicide at first signs and repeat according to the product label.

How often should I water Big Green Zebra during the main growing phase to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot?

From when plants start flowering through fruit fill, aim for evenly moist soil: about 1–1.5 inches of water per week, split into 2–3 deep waterings if it’s hot or windy. Check by digging 1 inch down—water when that layer starts to dry, but don’t let the soil swing from very dry to very wet. Mulch around the stems to stabilize moisture and reduce tomato cracking.

When is Big Green Zebra ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is fully sized and develops strong green stripes with a creamy-to-green base (the “green” should dominate—avoid waiting for a fully red fruit). In practice for this variety, start checking around 75–85 days after transplanting and pick once the skin color is clearly striped and the fruit is slightly soft when gently squeezed. If you see the fruit turning mostly red, it’s overripe for the best flavor and look.