Old German
Single source · Reviewed Sep 9, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Open-pollinated beefsteak from USA. Bicolor beefsteak heirloom, large red-and-yellow fruit. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
- Open-pollinated
- 85 days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Easy-moderate (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 10–16 oz (280–450 g) · Flattened globe
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Plant height
- 5–8 ft (150–240 cm) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 39 in (60 × 100 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Skin
-
- Bicolor
- Interior
- Not recorded
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–8 ft (150–240 cm) · Regular leaf
Old German 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 5–8 ft (150–240 cm).
Flavor
“Bicolor beefsteak heirloom, large red-and-yellow fruit.”
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
Origin
A bicolor beefsteak heirloom with large red-and-yellow marbled fruit, from the German-American heirloom tradition.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
All photos
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Old German tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Old German tomatoes -
Old German tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Old German tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Old German tomatoes -
Old German tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Old German take to mature?
Old German is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Old German need staking?
Old German 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 5–8 ft (150–240 cm).
Can Old German be grown in a container?
Old German is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Old German resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Old German.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
