Zapotec Pleated
Single source · Reviewed Sep 13, 2026
Values marked like this (estimated) are model estimates, not confirmed from a source.
Heirloom beefsteak from Mexico. Oaxacan accordion-pleated heirloom, hollow inside and genuinely built for stuffing. Ready in about 85 days from transplant.
- Heirloom
- 85 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Large fruit
- Difficult (estimated)
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 6–10 oz (170–280 g) · Pleated (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
-
- Pink
- Interior
-
- Pink
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
6–8 ft (180–240 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Zapotec Pleated 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
“Oaxacan accordion-pleated heirloom, hollow inside and genuinely built for stuffing.”
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
- Stuffing
- Novelty color
- Rare collector
- Gift worthy
Origin
Zapotec Pleated comes from Oaxaca and is deeply accordion-pleated with a hollow, chambered interior, which makes it one of the few tomatoes genuinely suited to stuffing rather than merely large enough for it.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
We're adding trusted seed sources for this variety.
All photos
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Zapotec Pleated tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Zapotec Pleated tomatoes -
Zapotec Pleated tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Zapotec Pleated tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Zapotec Pleated tomatoes -
Zapotec Pleated tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How long does Zapotec Pleated take to mature?
Zapotec Pleated is ready in about 85 days from transplant.
Does Zapotec Pleated need staking?
Zapotec Pleated 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 Zapotec Pleated be grown in a container?
Zapotec Pleated is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Zapotec Pleated resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Zapotec Pleated.
See also
Other beefsteak varieties people put next to this one.
Grows like this one
Indeterminate, mid-late, full sun. Same support, same calendar.
