Illustration of Opalka tomato
Illustration based on known variety traits. Appearance varies by growing conditions.

No. 026 · heirloom

Opalka

Opalka is an indeterminate heirloom paste tomato with red, long pointed bull's horn shape fruit. It ripens in about 82 days.

Typepaste tomato
Habitindeterminate
Days to maturity82
Fruit size4 to 6 oz
Colorred, long pointed bull's horn shape
Difficultymoderate

Flavor

Described by Fedco tasters as round and mellow, full-bodied with a pleasing texture and lingering good aftertaste. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

Origin

Polish heirloom dating to at least 1900, brought by the Opalka family to Amsterdam, New York around 1900.

What it does well

  • Meaty dry flesh with very few seeds, ideal for sauce and paste
  • Produces consistently even in hot, dry spells
  • Dries well and yields copiously

Where it frustrates

  • A shy seed producer, which limited commercial use
  • Crinkly foliage that can look alarming though it is normal
  • Long indeterminate vines need staking

Like Opalka, but...

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

San Marzanobut San Marzano is a smaller blockier paste rather than a long bull's hornAmish Pastebut Amish Paste is plumper and not as elongated or pointed

Where to buy seed

Sources