Aunt Ruby's German Green
Single source · Reviewed Sep 13, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom beefsteak from USA. The largest green-when-ripe beefsteak, and the usual argument that green beats red. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 85 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Challenging (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 12–20 oz (340–570 g) · Flattened globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Green
- Interior
-
- Green
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Aunt Ruby's German Green is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Flavor
“The largest green-when-ripe beefsteak, and the usual argument that green beats red.”
Growing calendar
- Sow indoors
- Transplant out
- Harvest
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost date.
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
- Novelty color
- Rare collector
Origin
Aunt Ruby's German Green is the largest of the green-when-ripe beefsteaks and the one most often cited when people argue that green tomatoes have more flavour than red. Ripeness shows as a faint amber blush at the blossom end, not as a colour change.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
| Shop | Offer | Price | Packet | Stock | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| True Leaf Market | Seeds | $1.99Checked Sep 16, 2026 | 1 Gram Packet | Check availability | Buy |
| Tomato Growers Supply Company | Seeds | $2.95Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Pack (30 seeds) | Check availability | Buy |
| Eden Brothers | Seeds | $5.49Checked Sep 16, 2026 | Packet | Check availability | Buy |
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Sep 16, 2026; not live.
All photos
-
Aunt Ruby's German Green tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Aunt Ruby's German Green tomatoes -
Aunt Ruby's German Green tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Aunt Ruby's German Green tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Aunt Ruby's German Green tomatoes -
Aunt Ruby's German Green tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Aunt Ruby's German Green take to mature?
Aunt Ruby's German Green is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Aunt Ruby's German Green need staking?
Aunt Ruby's German Green is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 6–8 ft (180–240 cm).
Can Aunt Ruby's German Green be grown in a container?
Aunt Ruby's German Green is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Aunt Ruby's German Green resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Aunt Ruby's German Green.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
