Big Zebra is a tomato worth cutting open at the table. The large fruits have green and red stripes on their skin, and inside they surprise with a combination of greenish gel and pinkish-red flesh. Weighing about 250–450 g, they yield wide, impressive slices.
The flavor is mild and slightly sweet, making this variety a good fit for salads, sandwiches, and colorful platters. A green patch may remain on the skin even when the fruit is ripe—it’s best to judge ripeness by the fruit’s overall coloration and slight softening, rather than by waiting for it to turn uniformly red.
The plant is tall and requires staking. It’s best to plant it in a warm location, as you’ll have to wait until later in the season for large fruits. If you like multicolored cross-sections, check out Copia, which combines a golden background with red streaks.
According to Tatiana’s TOMATObase records, “Big Zebra” was discovered among plants of the “Copia” variety and was introduced to the market by Linda and Vince Sapp of Tomato Growers Supply in 2005. This fits its character well: a familiar large-fruited tomato whose interior surprises with a different color scheme.
