• Heirloom Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. showcasing large, dark green and purple-striped vegetables on a vendor&
  • Fresh Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co., showcasing its large, dark purple-black heirloom vegetable on the vine.
  • Heirloom Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. showcasing its large, dark purple, ribbed vegetable on the vine.
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Hudson Valley Seed Co.

Paul Robeson Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

Certified Organic

Grown on Our Farm

Gorgeous red-brown fruits boast off-the-charts flavor.

Paul Robeson was a famous African-American opera singer, linguist, athlete, and civil rights champion who stood up to the infamous McCarthy committee in the 1950s. This Russian tomato was named in his honor. It is spectacular: richly colored, exquisitely flavored, a joy to savor and to share. The gardeners who selected this variety saw potential and nurtured it, with the same reverence that Black artists, activists, and gardeners use to build a bridge toward justice that spans the generations. Indeterminate.

Discover more about the art and inspiration behind the art pack created by Cbabi Bayoc in this recent profile.

Unit Price Quantity Availability
25 seeds $4.99
In Stock
25 seeds | Art Pack $5.79
In Stock
75 seeds $9.79
In Stock
225 seeds $11.99
In Stock

Price as selected: $0.00

Ships within 2-3 business days

Growing instructions
Start seeds indoors early, about 10 weeks before last frost. Seeds germinate best at 80 degrees F. Do not over water, and keep temperature warm but not hot to prevent damping off. Transplant outdoors after threat of frost has passed. Provide with proper support. A bit of pruning increases yield of fruit. Do not over water, and water at the base of the plant if possible to help reduce occurrence of disease. Harvest when the main body of the fruit is firm and red-brown, but has a slight give when squeezed. The shoulders of this variety may remain green and hard even when ripe.
Product Details
Days to Maturity 80 days from transplant
Days to Germination 5-10 days
Width at Maturity 18"
Height at Maturity 48"
Sun Conditions Full Sun (8+ Hours Sun)
Planting Depth 1/2"
Row Spacing 36"
Plant Spacing 24"
About the artist
Artist Cbabi Bayoc's art—whether illustration, murals, or contemporary paintings—is full of heart, life, bold color, phunk, and activism. His adopted name is an acronym: Creative- Black-Artist-Battling-Ignorance Blessed-African-Youth-Of-Creativity. Read here for a profile of Cbabi and his inspiration in creating the Paul Robeson Tomato Art Pack. 
    Heirloom Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. showcasing large, dark green and purple-striped vegetables on a vendor&
    Fresh Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co., showcasing its large, dark purple-black heirloom vegetable on the vine.
    Heirloom Paul Robeson tomato from Hudson Valley Seed Co. showcasing its large, dark purple, ribbed vegetable on the vine.
    • 5 stars: 6 (75%)
    • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
    • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
    • 2 stars: 2 (25%)
    • 1 star: 0 (0%)
    L
    Lydia E.

    The best fresh eating tomato out there!! These barely lasted a day in the kitchen once ripe. We used them on sandwiches, in salads, or just to eat by themselves. Such a meaty tomato, it most definitely rivaled the beefsteak. And in my opinion it is so much better. It has an almost smoky, very rich tomato flavor. The seeds were very easy to start and I ended up with way too many plants (no complaints). These guys are huge! The plants were about 5ft tall. Definitely requires staking and our tomatoes were so heavy I would even say a little netted pouch so they don’t break off. 10/10!!!

    Lydia E. review photo
    A
    Ann

    Beautiful plants, good germination

    R
    Rosemary

    I love the artwork on the packet. It’s beautiful. I haven’t yet planted the seeds but I will soon.

    G
    Gerri D.

    Every single seed I started inside grew tall, lush and sturdy. Needless to say, we had more than enough seedlings to share. The 6 we planted in our garden (4 in raised beds and 2 in large containers) have done tremendously well, with plentiful and heavy fruits. The fruits remain light green in late July, but we have had some dramatic heat the past week or two. Paul Roberson tomatoes were an exceedingly successful plant for us in Syracuse, NY. I would grow again for sure.

    M
    M.S.

    Germination was less than 50%, seedlings have yet to make true leaves. Disappointing.

    Hello, Thanks for your review! Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any problems with your seeds germinating. You can email us at mail@hudsonvalleyseed.mom or call us at 845-204-8769, and someone will take care of it by either refunding you or sending out a replacement.

    G
    Gary B.

    Paul Robeson tomatoes
    Everything you would expect from a lush, dark and complex interior. Marvelous!

    P
    Pamela

    Delicious!
    So far, out of the many varieties I planted this 2020 growing season, the Paul R's are my favorite! Large firm fruit with an incredible taste! One of the first producers in my garden. I plant about 30 tomato plants each year. Definitely a keeper and highly recommended!

    S
    Stephanie A.

    Paul Robeson tomatoes
    I started indoors then moved to pots outdoors. Growing well, except several small green tomatoes are starting to rot and discolor on the bottom of the tomato. What is this?