- Heirloom
- Beefsteak
- 80 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Black
Paul Robeson
Heirloom beefsteak from Russia. Russian dark heirloom with greenish red-brown fruit, rated very good for flavour by growers. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 7–12 oz (200–340 g) · Flattened globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 80 days (estimated) from transplant · Mid-late
- Plant height
- 5–7 ft (150–210 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
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Black
- Interior
-
- Red
- Green
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–7 ft (150–210 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Paul Robeson 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 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Flavor
“Russian dark heirloom with greenish red-brown fruit, rated very good for flavour by growers.”
Growing calendar
80 (estimated) days from transplant Mid-late
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Fresh & salads
- Slicing
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
Origin
This Russian heirloom was made available by Marina Danilenko, a Moscow seedswoman. It is named for Paul Robeson, the American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, whose sympathies with Communism made him popular with the Soviet government during the Cold War.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
Questions
How do you grow a Paul Robeson plant?
A Paul Robeson plant grows 5–7 ft (150–210 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 24 in (60 cm) apart in rows 35 in (90 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does Paul Robeson take to mature?
Paul Robeson is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Does Paul Robeson need staking?
Paul Robeson 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 5–7 ft (150–210 cm).
Can Paul Robeson be grown in a container?
Paul Robeson is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Paul Robeson resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Paul Robeson.
