No. 053 · open-pollinated
Pork Chop
Pork Chop is an indeterminate open-pollinated beefsteak with true yellow fruit. It ripens in about 80 days.
Flavor
Described as intense, sweet tomato flavor with just a hint of citrus. As with every flavor note here, this is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.
Origin
An open-pollinated yellow beefsteak with green-to-gold stripes bred by Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms.
What it does well
- A true yellow color, distinct from the orange tomatoes often sold as yellow
- Sweet flavor with a citrus note
- Striped fruit that is showy on the plate
Where it frustrates
- Indeterminate vines need staking or caging
- Slightly flattened beefsteak fruit can be prone to cracking like many large slicers
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.
- 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 Pork Chop determinate or indeterminate?
- Pork Chop 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 Pork Chop take to ripen?
- Pork Chop ripens in about 80 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
- Is Pork Chop an heirloom or a hybrid?
- Pork Chop is open-pollinated, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.
- What can I grow instead of Pork Chop?
- A close swap is Kellogg's Breakfast, but a true yellow with green stripes rather than solid orange.
Sources
- Pork Chop Tomato · Nichols Garden Nursery
- Tomato: Pork Chop · Vintage Seed Co.
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