Big Rainbow

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Sink your senses into Big Rainbow’s richly layered, sun-warmed beauty—its flesh tastes like a bright, juicy tapestry with sweet, tangy depth and a distinctly beefsteak, meaty bite.

Expect a substantial, irregularly lobed fruit with a tender, succulent texture that shines in bold slices and hearty centerpiece salads, and holds its own for vibrant sauces and slow-simmered preserves. For home gardeners, Big Rainbow delivers show-stopping color and a satisfying, garden-to-plate presence from the first blush of ripening through the final harvest.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Big Rainbow 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 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 27th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 24th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 18th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 13th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 3rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – 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	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Big Rainbow is built like a proper beefsteak—meaty, irregularly lobed flesh with a sweet-tang profile that stays coherent in a heavy slice. Give it heat briefly or treat it like a centerpiece salad tomato: the juice spreads where you want it, without turning the whole plate into watery clutter.

Best Uses

thick sandwich slices that won’t collapse into mush
centerpiece salads with cut-core irregular lobes for juicy texture
vibrant quick sauces (brief simmer to keep color and tang)
slow-simmered preserves or chunky relish for sweet-acid balance

Flavor Profile

sweet-forward fruitiness bright, tangy bite meaty beefsteak density tender, juicy slice texture

Kitchen Pairings

red onion garlic aged balsamic vinegar extra-virgin olive oil mozzarella black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage aphids and leaf curling on Big Rainbow during warm weather?

Check the underside of leaves and new growth at least twice a week; clusters of soft-bodied aphids and distorted, curled leaves are the giveaway. Spray plants with a strong jet of water, then apply insecticidal soap (especially undersides) and repeat every 5–7 days until you stop seeing new colonies. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding during outbreaks because it encourages more tender growth for aphids.

How often should I water Big Rainbow during peak growth to keep the right soil moisture?

During the main 6–8 weeks of growth, water deeply about 1–2 times per week so the top 2–3 inches of soil stay evenly moist but never soggy. If the soil feels dry 1 inch down, water until excess drains; if it’s still wet or cool, wait—Big Rainbow dislikes waterlogged roots. Use mulch to reduce evaporation and keep moisture consistent, which helps prevent stress-related leaf issues.

When is Big Rainbow ready to harvest, and how can I tell?

Harvest at about 90 days from sowing when the plants’ heads/fruit have reached full color and the surface looks firm and fully developed (no pale, under-sized areas). For the most reliable timing, do a test harvest of one plant: it should feel filled out and hold shape after picking. If you see fading color or softening, pick promptly to avoid quality decline.