- Heirloom
- Beefsteak
- 85 days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Pink
Stump of the World
Heirloom beefsteak from USA. Large irregular pink potato-leaf beefsteak from Ben Quisenberry's collection, sweet with a small core. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 8, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 10–24 oz (280–680 g) · Flattened globe
Irregular, often lobed shoulders.
- Leaf type
- Potato leaf
- Days to harvest
- 85 days from transplant · Mid-late
- Plant height
- 4–6 ft (120–180 cm) Medium height
- 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
-
- Pink
- Interior
-
- Pink
Plant size and habit
Medium height · Indeterminate
4–6 ft (120–180 cm) · Potato leaf
Stump of the World 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 4–6 ft (120–180 cm).
Flavor
“Large irregular pink potato-leaf beefsteak from Ben Quisenberry's collection, sweet with a small core.”
Growing calendar
85 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
- Slicing
- Fresh & salads
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
Origin
Introduced by Ben Quisenberry of Ohio, the seed saver who also preserved the pink potato-leaf Brandywine. According to Quisenberry's grandson the original Stump of the World was a regular-leaf tomato that Ben renamed because he disliked its previous name, so the potato-leaf plant grown under this name today may not be the same tomato Quisenberry held. One theory has the name referring to the stump or root of Jesse in the Bible, Quisenberry being a devout man.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyAll photos
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Stump of the World tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Stump of the World tomatoes -
Stump of the World tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Stump of the World tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Stump of the World tomatoes -
Stump of the World tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How do you grow a Stump of the World plant?
A Stump of the World plant grows 4–6 ft (120–180 cm) tall. 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 Stump of the World take to mature?
Stump of the World is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Stump of the World need staking?
Stump of the World 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 4–6 ft (120–180 cm).
Can Stump of the World be grown in a container?
Stump of the World is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Stump of the World resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Stump of the World.
