When we think about green tomatoes, most of us think about picking unripe tomatoes early, while they are still green. Unripe green tomatoes are used in several ways. The most popular is in making fried green tomatoes, green tomato chutneys, and salsa verdes.
People often use unripe red tomatoes for these dishes, but there are varieties of tomatoes that are green when they are fully ripe. These varieties are not supposed to turn color. Or, some may have a slight blush of color, but green is their main color.
They have less lycopene than the more typical red tomato varieties, and they keep their chlorophyll when they are fully ripe, which is how they keep that nice, green color.
Jump to:
- Why Green Tomatoes?
- 12 Top Tomato Varieties that are Green When Ripe
- 1. Green Zebra
- 2. Aunt Ruby’s German Green
- 3. Berkeley Tie Dye Green
- 4. Atomic Grape
- 5. Cherokee Green
- 6. Big Green Dwarf Tomato
- 7. Blue Sun Tomato
- 8. Green Doctors/Green Doctors Frosted
- 9. Green Giant
- 10. Spears Tennessee
- 11. Malachite Box (Malakhitovaya Shkatulka)
- 12. Cherokee Lime Green (aka Cherokee Lime Stripes)
- How to Tell When Green Tomato Varieties are Ripe
- More to Do with Green Tomatoes
Why Green Tomatoes?
There are a few reasons why people love their green-when-ripe-tomatoes (sometimes referred to as GWR).
First, they are another interesting, attractive option to add visual and aesthetic flare to your salads and dishes.
Many green-when-ripe tomatoes are heirlooms, so you get that fabulous, rich heirloom flavor.
Some of the varieties are nicely firm even when fully ripe, and they are good to use for unripe green tomato dishes like fried green tomatoes and Salsa Verde, but their flavor is more developed and so more appreciated than using unripe red tomatoes.
The flavor of green ripe tomatoes tends to be tangy and acidic but balanced, and sometimes with notes of fruitiness – something a bit different than your typical red tomato and richer and fuller in flavor than underripe red tomatoes. They are often described as bright and zippy in flavor.
If you’ve never grown green tomatoes before, this may be your year. And we’ve brought you 12 of our favorite green when ripe varieties to grow.
12 Top Tomato Varieties that are Green When Ripe
1. Green Zebra
| Flavor: | Very good; sweet, tangy |
| Type: | Salad/saladette |
| Color: | Green when ripe with an apricot tinge |
| Size: | 4 to 5 ounces |
| Uses: | Fresh eating, salads |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to growing in all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Very good; Late Blight, variable reports regarding Septoria leaf spot resistance |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 80 days |
| Yield: | High |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Green Zebra Tomato Seeds:
With a nice green color blushing with apricot orange when ripe, Green Zebra makes a pretty presentation in salads and fresh dishes. It is known for its smooth, blemish-free skin and firm meatiness. The tomatoes are medium-small saladettes, and the flavor is sweet and tangy. This is a good performer in almost any location, and Green Zebra is resistant to late blight.
2. Aunt Ruby’s German Green
| Flavor: | Very good; spicy, sweet |
| Type: | Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green |
| Size: | 12 to 16 ounces |
| Uses: | Fresh eating, slicing, sandwiches, Salsa Verde, fried green tomatoes |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Fair; not well noted |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 80 to 85 days |
| Yield: | High |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Aunt Ruby’s German Green Tomato Seeds:
Aunt Ruby’s German Green is a beloved heirloom green-when-ripe tomato. It’s a large beefsteak tomato with excellent flavor. The taste is described as sweet and a little spicy. It is perfect for fresh eating, sauces, and Salsa Verde. The fruits grow up to one pound in size!
3. Berkeley Tie Dye Green
| Flavor: | Excellent, complex |
| Type: | Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green with red and yellow stripes |
| Size: | 8 to 16 ounces |
| Uses: | Slicing, fresh eating |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Fair; not well noted |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 70 days |
| Yield: | Fair to good |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Berkeley Tie Dye Green Tomato Seeds:
Berkeley Tie Dye Green is an early ripening, medium-large beefsteak. It is green with two-toned red and yellow stripes. The different colors each lend something to its flavor profile, which is described as sweet, tangy, spicy, and bright. One nice advantage of this tomato is that it is ready in just 70 days after transplanting and will continue to bear until frost kills the plant. It does bear a little less heavily than typical beefsteak varieties, though. Note: there are other color varieties of Tie Dye, including pink.
4. Atomic Grape
| Flavor: | Very good; sweet, tangy |
| Type: | Elongated cherry reaching plum size |
| Color: | Changeable color ranging from green with blue, purple, and red/brown stripes to red with green stripes |
| Size: | 2 to 3 inches |
| Uses: | Salads, fresh eating, snacking |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates; noted as rugged and hardy |
| Disease Resistance: | Very good; hardy plants, crack resistant |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 75 days |
| Yield: | Very high |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Atomic Grape Tomato Seeds:
Brad’s Atomic Grape is another basically green tomato with striking secondary colors. It is something of a “color changing” variety, starting out with lavender purple stripes and turning to a bright green with red, brown, and blue when mature. The taste is tangy and sweet. Plants are prolific producers of elongated large cherry to plum sized tomatoes, which grow in clusters and hold well until harvesting (helping to prolong the harvest and reach full ripening).
5. Cherokee Green
| Flavor: | Excellent; sweet and tart |
| Type: | Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green with amber blush |
| Size: | 8 to 16 ounces each |
| Uses: | Slicing, salads, fresh eating, sauces |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 80 days |
| Yield: | Very high |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Cherokee Green Tomato Seeds:
Cherokee Green is a selection developed from the Cherokee Purple tomato, a popular multi-purpose heirloom. It carries many of the features of the original purple variety, including bold flavor and high yields. The tomato is green with an amber-yellow-red blush over the skin. The interior is completely green.
6. Big Green Dwarf Tomato
| Flavor: | Very good; rich, balanced, notes of melon |
| Type: | Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green with amber blush |
| Size: | 6 to 16 ounces each |
| Uses: | Fresh eating, salads, slicing, sauces |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, 4 feet tall, benefits from support, grows well in containers |
| Days to Harvest: | 75 to 80 days |
| Yield: | High |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Determinate (possibly semi- or indeterminate) |
Where to Buy Big Green Dwarf Tomato Seeds:
Big Green Dwarf was developed from a crossing that included the reliable Cherokee tomato. It was specifically bred for short stature and is an excellent container tomato variety. The color is green with amber blush, with interiors showing amber coloration when mature. This is generally considered a determinate tomato variety, though some listings say it is indeterminate.
7. Blue Sun Tomato
| Flavor: | Good, mild, sweet |
| Type: | Small slicer |
| Color: | Green with blue |
| Size: | 4 ounces |
| Uses: | Salads, fresh eating, slicing |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 75 days |
| Yield: | Good |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Blue Sun Tomato Seeds:
Blue Sun might sound like it belongs on another color list, but it is a green tomato. Where the tomato is hit by sunlight, it turns a dark blue. This is due to its anthocyanin content. The tomato is juicy with a mild and sweet flavor. It is a small slicing tomato with an all-green interior.
8. Green Doctors/Green Doctors Frosted
| Flavor: | Excellent, sweet, fruity |
| Type: | Cherry |
| Color: | Lime green |
| Size: | ¾ to 1 ounce each |
| Uses: | Snacking, fresh eating, salads |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 75 to 80 |
| Yield: | High |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Green Doctors Tomato Seeds:
Green Doctors and Green Doctors Frosted are varieties of green cherry tomato. It is a sweet, fruity tomato that grows on trusses. The plant ripens on the earlier side and continues to produce throughout the season. Said to be an excellent snacking and fresh eating tomato.
9. Green Giant
| Flavor: | Excellent; complex, sweet |
| Type: | Giant beefsteak |
| Color: | Green |
| Size: | 18 to 32 ounces each |
| Uses: | Slicing, saucing, juicing, fresh eating, sandwiches, toppings |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Very good; crack resistant; fair blight resistance |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 85 days |
| Yield: | Very high |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Green Giant Tomato Seeds:
Green Giant is a truly green-when-ripe tomato. It stays green all over and all the way through (though you may get a slightly yellowish shine on the blossom at maturity, which just tells you it’s ripe). These tomatoes are HUGE, and they are a high-production plant. The flavor is one of the best: nicely complex, sweeter than you’d imagine a green tomato could be, and full of juice. Very meaty tomatoes with few seeds.
10. Spears Tennessee
| Flavor: | Very good |
| Type: | Slicer, Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green |
| Size: | 8 to 10 ounces |
| Uses: | Slicing, fresh eating, salads, sandwiches |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Fair |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 80 days |
| Yield: | Good |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Spears Tennessee Tomato Seeds:
You don’t always find Spears Tennessee Green tomato listed in the more popular seed catalogs, but you do find it talked about a lot on forums when people discuss their favorite green-when-ripe tomatoes. It is said that the seeds passed from the Spears family, who have grown it since the 1950s, to Jerre Gettle of Baker Creek Seed Company, who then released it for public sale. The fruits are emerald green, eight to ten ounces each, and slightly flattened. The flavor is sweet and only mildly tart with tropical notes.
11. Malachite Box (Malakhitovaya Shkatulka)
| Flavor: | Very good |
| Type: | Beefsteak |
| Color: | Green |
| Size: | 16 ounces |
| Uses: | Slicing, fresh eating, ketchup, sauces |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates; well acclimated for northern growing |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 80 to 85 |
| Yield: | High |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Malachite Box Tomato Seeds:
The original name of this tomato is Malakhitovaya Shkatulka, which is Russian for its translated named, Malachite Box. It hails from Russia and has even been tested in Siberia, so obviously, it is a good choice for northern locations. The flavor is a winner. The color is a bright light to olive green. It is highly productive and shows good disease resistance, too.
12. Cherokee Lime Green (aka Cherokee Lime Stripes)
| Flavor: | Very good; balanced, rich, sweet with slight acidity |
| Type: | Beefsteak, Slicer |
| Color: | Green with yellowish stripes |
| Size: | 4 to 6 ounces |
| Uses: | Fresh eating, slicing, salads |
| Climate Notes: | Suited to all climates |
| Disease Resistance: | Good |
| Growing Conditions: | Full sun, fertile soil, slightly acidic, needs support (stakes or cages) |
| Days to Harvest: | 75 |
| Yield: | Good |
| Determinate or Indeterminate? | Indeterminate |
Where to Buy Cherokee Lime Stripes Tomato Seeds:
Cherokee Lime or Cherokee Lime Stripes seems to be an up-and-comer in the green tomato variety. It is a selection derived from the Cherokee Green tomato. This is a slicer/small beefsteak that weighs around one-quarter to one-half pound. It is green with lime-yellow stripes, which appear to turn reddish in some cultivars. It is a little difficult to find, but it has good reviews and will hopefully become more available in the near future as its popularity grows.
How to Tell When Green Tomato Varieties are Ripe
It can be a little more difficult to tell when GWR tomatoes are ripe since we are accustomed to green being the color of unripe tomatoes. There are some reliable signs, though.
Here are some tips to help you decide when to pick your green-when-ripe tomatoes.
- The bottom of the tomato (blossom end) will be slightly soft with some give when gently pressed – this is one of the most reliable signs of ripeness
- The blossom end may have a slight tinge or blush of color
- If a tinge of color is expected for the green tomato you’re growing, look for that color to develop before picking; it won’t be present in young tomatoes
- Look for a change in color
- Light green or pale to darker, deeper greens and olive greens are typical
- Some green tomatoes will start out darker in color and then lighten into their ripe green color
- Look for size – the tomato should reach its full, expected size before ripening
- Compare new, young, unripe tomatoes next to the more mature tomatoes. When you see a notable color difference, the larger tomatoes are probably ripe
- Ripe tomatoes should be shiny, while unripe tomatoes will be dull and almost powdery-looking
- Keep track of the days; this isn’t an exact science, as any given growing year can cause tomatoes to speed up or slow down in ripening, but it’s a good guideline
If you’re still not sure, just do a taste test (or a few along the way). There’s no harm in eating young tomatoes. You’re looking for a taste. If you like it, eat it! If not, wait and give the tomatoes more time to ripen.
With some experience growing your favorite green when ripe tomatoes, you’ll come to learn what to look for in terms of ripeness.
More to Do with Green Tomatoes
You can use your green when ripe tomatoes just like you would use similar red varieties, but if you are looking for more recipes and ways to use your GWR tomatoes, these green tomato recipes will work well: Using and Preserving Green Tomatoes With Over 20 Recipes
Want even more color variety on your table? Check out this big list of the 20 Best-Looking Colored Tomato Varieties (Other Than Red)
