




Indigo Blue Beauty Heirloom Tomatoes
Inventory, lb : 0
Food Buzz: History of Tomatoes |
Description/Taste
The Indigo Blue Beauty tomato is a large beefsteaks-type tomato, characterized by its dense and meaty texture. They are overall round in shape with a slightly flattened figure, averaging four to eight ounces in size. Their interior flesh is orange-pink with small seed pockets, and their skin is a deep red color with the signature indigo-blushed highlights on their shoulders, or wherever the fruits receive maximum sun exposure. They are a sweet and richly flavorful tomato with low to moderate acid levels. The indeterminate Indigo Blue Beauty tomato plants continue to grow, flower, set fruit, and ripen throughout the growing season on long vines, which often require caging or staking. This productive variety is sunburn and crack resistant, and the fruits are known to hold well on the vine for an extended period of time.
Seasons/Availability
Indigo Blue Beauty tomatoes are available in the summer and fall.
Current Facts
Indigo Blue Beauty tomatoes are the largest of tomatoes in the Indigo series. “Indigo” was originally trademarked by Oregon State University, however the application was suspended and the trademark is now considered dead. Tomatoes, originally termed Solanum lycopersicum, are botanically referred to as Lycopersicon esculentum, although modern studies support a return to their original classification. Like the potato and eggplant, the tomato is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade, family.
Nutritional Value
Not only are Indigo Blue Beauty tomatoes extraordinarily colorful and tasty, but they are also very nutritious. They have high levels of anthocyanin, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in blueberries, which is reported to combat disease. Anthocyanin reveals itself in the tomato’s vibrant indigo pigmentation. Tomatoes are rich in vitamin C, and they also contain vitamins B and A. They are a good source of calcium and iron, and have decent amounts of phosphorus, sulfur, and potassium.
Applications
The aromatic and flavorful Indigo Blue Beauty tomato is a favorite of home gardeners for its taste, and chefs in the UK and the United States reportedly love to cook with any tomato of the Indigo series because of their added nutritional value and wide range of shapes and unique coloring. Partner tomatoes with any leafy vegetable like lettuce or spinach for a tasty and colorful salad, or cook tomatoes with shallots, garlic, basil, oregano and chili. Fresh tomatoes can be enhanced when paired with herbs like parsley, chives, and celery leaf, or they can also be used with more dessert-type herbs, such as mint, lemon balm, and the fruity sages. Store Indigo Blue Beauty tomatoes at room temperature until ripe, after which refrigeration can slow the process of decay.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
The Indigo series is a class of open-pollinated and hybrid tomatoes that have great taste are bred to include high levels of anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant with disease fighting properties. Dr. Jim Myers of Oregon State University pioneered this class of tomato with the Indigo Rose, introduced to the market in 2011. Oregon State University and other independent breeders, notably Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms, who is known in the California Bay Area as “the tomato guy”, have since developed other cultivars in the Indigo series using conventional breeding techniques. The focus of this breeding work has been to combine unusual and attractive color, traditional beloved heirloom tomato flavor, and antioxidant properties, which all in all has made tomatoes in this series unique and popular in the market place.
Geography/History
The Indigo Blue Beauty tomato was developed by Brad Gates of Wild Boar Farms, and was a selection of a cross between a beauty king and a blue tomato. Tomatoes are not at all hardy cultivars. They need warm weather to grow well, and they cannot stand any frost, so it is important that they be planted only after the danger of frost is gone.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Indigo Blue Beauty Heirloom Tomatoes. One

Taste and Tell |
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Tomato Tart with Bacon and Gruyere |
Recently Shared
People have shared Indigo Blue Beauty Heirloom Tomatoes using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
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Xai Cha's Farm
Near Seattle, Washington, United StatesSnohomish, WA About 399 days ago, 8/20/22 ![]() ![]()
Nest Farms
Near Joshua Tree, California, United StatesHemet, CA About 532 days ago, 4/09/22 |