Green Giant

Described as very sweet and fragrant with fruit aromas, a complex sweet-and-spicy character that growers call rich and well-balanced. As with every flavor note here, this is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

A German heirloom discovered and stabilized by collector Reinhard Kraft, who shared seed with North Carolina gardener Craig LeHoullier around 2004.

• 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.
• Late to ripen, past 80 days, so it wants a long warm season or a head start indoors.
• A moderate grow, no special tricks but worth steady attention.
• Wants real summer warmth and is slow to set when nights stay cool.
• Skins resist cracking, even after a heavy rain.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Cherokee Greenbut a German-derived heirloom rather than a Cherokee Purple selectionAunt Ruby's German Greenbut reported as sweeter and more spicy than tart

• Semences des Artisans
• Tomato Growers Supply Company

• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes
• Slicer vs Beefsteak Tomatoes

Is Green Giant determinate or indeterminate?

Green Giant 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 Green Giant take to ripen?

Green Giant ripens in about 87 days from transplant. Late to ripen, past 80 days, so it wants a long warm season or a head start indoors.

Is Green Giant an heirloom or a hybrid?

Green Giant is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Green Giant?

A close swap is Cherokee Green, but a German-derived heirloom rather than a Cherokee Purple selection.