Green Zebra is a fairly new tomato variety that was introduced in 1983 by Tom Wagner. He bred the variety as a product of the idea to have green tomatoes that can be eaten and he did a perfect job. Not only is this tomato very unusually colored, but also its taste is something that can’t be easily forgotten, and once tried it usually stays as a regular resident of the gardens around the world.

This round, dark green, and yellow striped tomato might not be as big as some of the popular varieties since it usually comes up to 5cm (2in) in size, but its sweet and tangy taste will make up for its size. It will be perfect for salads and meals that need a touch of green color.Its indeterminate size will require a big support pole, but from some experience in growing this variety, I can safely say that Green Zebra will never grow over 1.8m(5.9ft). Its size will depend on the conditions it will have in May and June. If May is colder it will be smaller and reach up to 1.5m but if it gets perfect conditions with average temperatures below 30°C it can grow taller. Of course, I’m talking about the open garden height. In greenhouses and controlled conditions, it can grow as tall as you allow it and produce fruits on many “floors”.

When it comes to diseases, this open-pollinated tomato is one of the least difficult ones that I’ve grown. It doesn’t get affected easily. It usually is one of the last varieties that get late blight and I haven’t seen any early blight or septoria infection on my tomatoes and I’ve been growing them for the past 6 years. However, it is sensitive to blossom drops caused by high temperatures. If the morning temperatures are over 22°C(72°F) and daily stay over 29°C(85°F) for too long the plant will start losing the flower heads which will start drying and this will keep you from having second or third harvest round. 

Green Zebra is a mid-season tomato that takes 75 days to ripe so the plant should be sown in early March. Seeds should be covered by 2,5cm of the good substrate and watered regularly. Germination will take from 7-14 days and after a couple weeks, the plant will be ready for transplanting which as in all tomatoes should be done after the last frost date.

One of the biggest, but sweetest problems with Green Zebra is knowing when they are ripe and knowing when to harvest them. Since this tomato stays green it’s a bit difficult to determine when it’s the right time to harvest it but there are few tips that can help:              1)Firmness- while “green” Zebra is fairly firm, but when it’s ready for harvest it becomes slightly tender when squeezed.              2)Color of the stripes- when the stripes turn yellow the tomato is ready              3)Watch the bottom of the tomato, when it turns dark yellow or slightly pinkish the tomato is ready. 
Green Zebra is also a tomato that can be eaten while it’s not fully ripe and the gardener can choose when he wants to harvest them. With the first few tries, you will determine the stage in which you prefer to harvest. Personally, I like when they are still tangy and harvest them while the stripes are still greenish but if you prefer the sweet ones then leave them longer. Still, be careful. Green Zebra can very easily turn mealy and if left too long, unlike red varieties that rot, it will turn into a ball of water covered with thin green skin, and when pressed it will just explode. Still, it’s worth the trouble. Its taste makes up for the ripe identifying trouble and I can safely say that for me this is one of the tastiest tomatoes I’ve tried.