Tigerella

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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

Savory-sweet and vividly aromatic, Tigerella slices open to reveal a radiant striped interior—warm scarlet brushed with golden tiger bands—set against a juicy, seed-speckled gel.

The flesh is firm yet tender, with a classic slicing balance of bright acidity and rich tomato depth that shines in fresh salads and hearty sandwiches, and holds beautifully in robust sauces and quick simmered salsas. Grow Tigerella for a garden-to-table showpiece that tastes as bold as it looks, with the steady, reliable performance home gardeners love at about 85 days to maturity.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 85 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

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Tigerella 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

Tigerella brings a showman’s slice—firm, tender flesh with an acid edge that keeps the tomato from tasting flat when raw. It also cooks up cleanly: the juice and gel simmer into a sauce that’s bright and tomato-forward without turning jammy or watery.

Best Uses

thick slices for sourdough sandwiches (won’t fully collapse, stays juicy)
fresh salads where the tiger-striped interior makes the cut surface pop
robust sauce reduction for a clean tomato-forward finish
quick simmered salsa for juicy spoonability and brisk tang

Flavor Profile

vivid, aromatic tomato flavor bright, slicing acidity savory-sweet balance firm-yet-tender juicy bite with seed-speckled gel

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic mozzarella balsamic vinegar black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prevent and treat early blight (Alternaria) on Solanum lycopersicum (Tigerella tomatoes)?

Early blight often shows as brown, target-like spots on older leaves, which can spread quickly in warm, humid conditions. Remove and discard infected lower leaves, avoid wetting foliage, and rotate away from tomato/other Solanaceae beds each season. If problems start early, use a labeled fungicide strategy for tomatoes (follow label intervals) and keep mulch and spacing to improve airflow.

How often should I water Tigerella tomatoes during the main growing phase to avoid problems?

During active fruiting, water deeply about 1–2 times per week, aiming for consistently moist (not soggy) soil. Let the top 1–2 inches dry slightly between waterings, then soak thoroughly so moisture reaches deeper roots and reduces blossom-end rot and cracking. In hot weather or containers, you may need more frequent watering, but always water at the base rather than overhead.

What signs tell me Tigerella tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for Tigerella (yellow/orange with clear dark red/tan striping), feel firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure, and the shoulders are no longer green. Pick before they become over-soft or split; doing so helps prevent fruit rots and encourages continued ripening on the plant. If frost is forecast and fruit is near-ripe, you can harvest and finish ripening indoors in a single layer.