No. 042 · open-pollinated
Berkeley Tie-Dye
Berkeley Tie-Dye is an indeterminate open-pollinated beefsteak with port wine red fruit. It ripens in about 75 days.
Flavor
Described as sweet with a noticeable tanginess and a spiced quality, a flavor catalogs say beat Cherokee Purple in farmers market taste tests. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.
Origin
Bred by Brad Gates at Wild Boar Farms in Citrus Heights, California, as part of his open-pollinated Boar Series.
What it does well
- Striking port wine and green striped fruit
- Sweet, complex flavor praised in taste tests
- Compact for an indeterminate, productive across climates
- Earlier than most beefsteaks
Where it frustrates
- Heirloom type with little built in disease resistance
- Prone to cracking from uneven watering
- Can show blossom end rot or catfacing on early fruit
Growing it
- Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
- Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
- A moderate grow, no special tricks but worth steady attention.
- Will set in cooler conditions, though warmth still helps it along.
- Prone to cracking and splitting after wet spells.
- One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.
Disease resistance
An open-pollinated variety, sold without formal disease-resistance codes.
Why no hardiness zone?
Tomatoes are warm-season annuals, so variety choice comes down to days to maturity and your local frost dates.
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Where to buy seed
Related reading
Common questions
- Is Berkeley Tie-Dye determinate or indeterminate?
- Berkeley Tie-Dye is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
- How long does Berkeley Tie-Dye take to ripen?
- Berkeley Tie-Dye ripens in about 75 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
- Is Berkeley Tie-Dye an heirloom or a hybrid?
- Berkeley Tie-Dye is open-pollinated, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.
- What can I grow instead of Berkeley Tie-Dye?
- A close swap is Cherokee Purple, but Berkeley Tie-Dye adds bold green striping and a tangier, spiced edge.
Sources
- How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Berkeley Tie Dye Tomatoes · Epic Gardening
- Organic Pink Berkeley Tie Dye Tomato · Annie's Heirloom Seeds
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