Darby Red & Yellow

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Darby Red & Yellow to a garden.

Sun-warmed stripes of Darby Red & Yellow burst with a sweet, balanced tomato tang—vivid red shoulders melting into golden yellow highlights for a flavor that feels bright and juicy.

The flesh is firm yet tender, with a classic slicing texture that holds its shape beautifully from garden to platter, making it a standout for fresh showcases and vibrant sauces. Grow this 75-day slicing favorite for a striking, high-contrast harvest that tastes as good as it looks.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of Darby Red & Yellow

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Darby Red & Yellow 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 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – 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	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	8

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This is a slicing tomato built for presentation: the firm yet tender flesh holds its shape, while the sweet-balanced tang stays vivid instead of going flat. Use it where you can taste contrast—hot salt on warm bread, or a quick pan sauce that grabs onto the pulp without thinning it out.

Best Uses

thick slices on sourdough with flaky salt so the stripes stay intact
short-stewed pan sauce that keeps the pulp chunky rather than watery
fresh tomato-and-feta salad where it won’t collapse under vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

sweet, bright tomato tang firm-meets-tender slicing flesh high-juiciness with clean acidity

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil aged balsamic vinegar feta mozzarella whitefish

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes) and how can I treat it at home?

Early blight (Alternaria) and Septoria leaf spot are common on tomatoes, showing as brown spots on older leaves that spread and can cause leaf drop. Remove affected leaves immediately, keep foliage dry by watering at the soil line, and spray a labeled fungicide such as chlorothalonil or mancozeb if the weather stays humid. If you see stems or fruits with gray, fuzzy rot, improve airflow and remove infected fruits to stop spread.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase?

During active fruit growth, aim for evenly moist soil with about 1–2 inches of water per week, adjusted for heat and container size. Water deeply 1–2 times weekly rather than light daily watering, so the root zone stays consistently wet but not soggy. If blossoms drop or leaves curl, check for uneven moisture and mulch to reduce fast drying.

How can I tell when Darby Red & Yellow tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach full size and the skin shows a uniform ripe color for your variety, with a slight give when gently squeezed. Avoid waiting for over-soft fruit; tomatoes can crack if rains or irregular watering follow dry spells. For best flavor, pick in the cool part of the day and let them finish ripening indoors if they picked slightly early.