Mushroom Basket
Single source · Reviewed Aug 30, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom beefsteak from Russia. Deeply pleated Russian heirloom in watermelon-pink, firm-fleshed and nearly seedless. Ready in about 75 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 75 days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 10–16 oz (280–450 g) · Pleated
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 6–8 ft (180–240 cm) 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
-
- Pink
- Interior
-
- Pink
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) · Regular leaf
Mushroom Basket 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
“Deeply pleated Russian heirloom in watermelon-pink, firm-fleshed and nearly seedless.”
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
- Juicing
- Stuffing
- Rare collector
- Novelty color
- Gift worthy
- High yield
Origin
Mushroom Basket is a Russian heirloom whose fruit is deeply ribbed and pleated, closer to a squash in outline than a tomato, with watermelon-pink skin flecked in cream. The plant sets its crop in a dense cluster at the centre rather than spreading it along the vine. The flesh is firm and nearly seedless, which makes it a natural for stuffing.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
We're adding trusted seed sources for this variety.
All photos
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Mushroom Basket tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Mushroom Basket tomatoes -
Mushroom Basket tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Mushroom Basket tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Mushroom Basket tomatoes -
Mushroom Basket tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Mushroom Basket take to mature?
Mushroom Basket is ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Does Mushroom Basket need staking?
Mushroom Basket 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 Mushroom Basket be grown in a container?
Mushroom Basket is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Mushroom Basket resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Mushroom Basket.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, midseason, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
