Tomato (cherry) 'Zebrino' Solanum lycopersicum 'Zebrino' (PBR)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Not blooming

🍪 Edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

A cordon tomato grown as an annual either in an unheated greenhouse or outside. The small, round fruits produced by this cultivar mature to a deep red with dark green striping

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Solanaceae.
- Synonyms
  Zebra Tomato, Striped Tomato, Zebrino Tomato.
- Common names
  Solanum lycopersicum 'Zebrino' (PBR)
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Annuals
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Yellow
- Height
  3-5 feet (0.91-1.52 meters)
- Spread
  2-3 feet (0.61-0.91 meters)
- Plant type
  Herb
- Hardiness zones
  9
- Native area
  Americas

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: Solanum lycopersicum 'Zebrino' flowers can attract bees and other beneficial insects, supporting local ecosystems.
- Provides Fresh Produce: As a variety of tomato plant, it offers fresh, home-grown produce for salads, cooking, or direct consumption.
- Enhances Garden Aesthetics: Known for its striped fruit, it can add visual interest to a garden with its unique pattern and color.
- Edible Landscaping: It can be incorporated into ornamental gardens while still providing edible fruits.
- Encourages Healthy Eating: Growing your tomatoes can inspire a healthier diet with fresh and nutritious ingredients.
- Nutrient Recycling: When composted, tomato plant waste contributes to soil health by recycling nutrients back into the garden.
- Vertical Growth: The plant can be trained to grow upwards on trellises or stakes, saving space in smaller gardens.
- Seasonal Interest: As an annual plant that goes through a growth cycle, it provides seasonal interest from growth to harvest.
Medical Properties
- Lycopene content: Tomato 'Zebrino' contains lycopene, an antioxidant linked to reduced risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
- Vitamin C: As a source of Vitamin C, it contributes to immune system support, wound healing, and collagen synthesis.
- Potassium: Potassium in tomatoes can help in regulating blood pressure and promoting cardiovascular health.
- Folate: Folate present in tomatoes supports cell function and tissue growth, and is particularly important during pregnancy.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Photography Prop: The distinctive stripes of tomato 'Zebrino' can serve as an interesting and unique subject for macro photography projects.
- Natural Dye: The skins of 'Zebrino' tomatoes may be used in dying fabrics to provide a light, natural coloration due to their peculiar striping.
- Education: This variety of tomato can be used in educational settings, such as schools or community gardens, to teach about plant genetics and hybridization.
- Art Supplies: Crushed or pureed 'Zebrino' tomatoes can be used as a base for eco-friendly paint or pigment for art projects.
- Companion Planting: 'Zebrino' can be planted with basil and other herbs to improve growth and flavor while deterring certain pests.
- Seed Harvesting: Gardeners may collect seeds from 'Zebrino' tomatoes to participate in seed exchanges or for personal use in future planting seasons.
- Garden Decor: Unripe or overripe 'Zebrino' tomatoes can adorn a garden, adding to its aesthetic with their unique striped pattern before they decompose and enrich the soil.
- Cooking Workshops: This plant can be featured in cooking classes to introduce participants to different tomato varieties and inspire culinary creativity.
- Juicing: Although not typically classified as unusual, 'Zebrino' tomatoes can be juiced for a concoction that has a distinct appearance due to its striping.
- Bio Art: Artists working with living organisms can incorporate 'Zebrino' tomatoes into their bio art projects, utilizing their interesting pattern for visual effects.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Tomato is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Tomato is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Love and Passion: Commonly known as the tomato, it's often associated with love and passion due to its rich red color and history of being considered an aphrodisiac.
- Nourishment and Health: Tomatoes are known for their nutritional value and are often seen as a symbol of physical health and well-being.
- Vitality and Joy: The bright colors and refreshing taste of tomatoes can signify joy and the vibrancy of life.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

10000 - 20000 Lux

Light

💦️

60%

Humidity

🪴

Every year

Repotting

🌱️

Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Zebra Tomato should be watered regularly to maintain consistent soil moisture, particularly during the fruiting period. Generally, this plant requires watering once or twice a week, with adjustments made for rainfall or high temperatures. It's recommended to provide about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water per plant during each watering session. It's best to water early in the morning, using a method that directs water to the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to diseases.
Light
Zebra Tomatoes thrive best in full sunlight, meaning they should receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. The ideal spot for this plant is an area that has unobstructed exposure to the sun throughout the day, such as a south-facing garden or a balcony that gets plenty of sunlight.
Temperature
Zebra Tomatoes grow best in warm conditions, with ideal temperatures ranging between 65 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate minimum temperatures down to around 50 degrees Fahrenheit and maximum temperatures up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. However, it's important to shelter the plants from extreme cold and heat to prevent damage or slowed growth.
Pruning
Pruning Zebra Tomatoes is important to improve air circulation and reduce disease risk. Remove any suckers that develop in the joints of branches to focus the plant's energy on growing fruit. Prune lightly throughout the growing season, but be cautious not to remove too many leaves, as they provide shade for the fruit. The best time for pruning is typically in the morning when the plant is dry.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Tomato 'Zebrino' is well-draining, fertile soil with compost and perlite. pH should be mildly acidic to neutral, around 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Tomato 'Zebrino' typically does not require repotting as it is an annual plant; start with an appropriately sized pot for full growth.
Humidity & Misting
Tomato 'Zebrino' thrives in moderate humidity levels; ideal range is about 40-70% but can tolerate lower humidity.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Use pots with drainage, place in full sunlight.
- Outdoor
  Plant in warm soil, full sun, after last frost.
- Hardiness zone
  3-9 USDA
Life cycle
The common name for Solanum lycopersicum 'Zebrino' (PBR) is 'Zebrino' tomato. The life cycle of this plant starts with seed germination, which occurs when soil temperatures and moisture levels are favorable, typically in spring or early summer. Following germination, the seedling grows and develops true leaves, at which point it enters the vegetative stage, focusing on establishing a strong root system and foliage. As the plant matures, it enters the flowering stage, producing yellow flowers that are pollinated by insects or manually by gardeners, which leads to fruit set. The 'Zebrino' tomatoes then develop from the pollinated flowers, featuring distinctive stripes, and they mature over time, changing color as they ripen. Once the fruit is harvested, the plant will eventually senesce and die, completing its annual life cycle, unless it is grown in a climate-controlled environment where it can sometimes behave as a perennial.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The most popular method of propagating the 'Zebrino' tomato plant is through seed sowing. This particular cultivar, being a genetically stable variety, will typically breed true from seed. Seeds should be started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date to ensure a longer growing season, especially in cooler climates. The seeds can be sown in small pots or trays with seed starting mix, barely covered with soil and kept consistently moist at about 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-27°C). Once the seedlings have sprouted and developed their first set of true leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots to grow stronger before being transplanted outside after the danger of frost has passed.