The Indigo Apple is an open-pollinated, indeterminate tomato variety known for its stunning dark purple-to-black color, which comes from high levels of healthy antioxidants, and its pleasant sweet-tart flavor.
Key Characteristics
Appearance: The fruit has unique coloring, with parts exposed to the sun developing a deep blue-purple to black color, while the shaded areas ripen to a mahogany or apple red. It is a medium-sized tomato, typically weighing between 60-120 grams (2-4 oz).
Flavor: Reviewers often describe the flavor as a good, sweet-tart or fruity taste that improves with full ripening on the vine. The anthocyanin richness provides an "antho-richness of a black tomato" flavor profile.
Health Benefits: The distinctive color is due to a high concentration of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants also found in blueberries, making it a nutritious choice.
Growing Habit: It is an indeterminate (vining) variety, meaning the plant will continue to grow, flower, and set fruit throughout the entire growing season until frost. It requires staking or support and benefits from having its side shoots (suckers) "pinched out".
Resilience: The fruit is noted for its resistance to cracking and sunscald. The plants also show some disease tolerance.
Uses: Its firm, meaty texture and good shelf life make it a versatile option, suitable for fresh eating, slicing, salsa, and sauces.
Cultivation Tips
Sunlight: Requires a sunny, sheltered spot, as ample direct sunlight is crucial for the development of its signature dark color and best flavor.
Harvesting: The tomatoes are fully ripe when they feel soft to the touch and the red/orange color is visible on the non-sun-exposed parts of the fruit.
Soil: Thrives in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with a preferred pH range of 6.0-6.8.
Watering and Feeding: Requires consistent, even moisture and weekly feeding with a high-potassium tomato fertilizer once the fruit begins to set.
