'German Gold' Beefsteak Tomato - Solanum lycopersicum

'German Gold' Beefsteak Tomato – historic rarity with a delicate, spicy-sweet aroma. 

This variety is a golden-yellow beefsteak tomato with an exceptional, delicately spicy-sweet flavor and unmistakable aroma. It ripens late and is ideally suited for cultivation in greenhouses, protected outdoor beds, and large containers. Robust, high-yielding, and perfect for self-sufficiency as well as organic growing.

  Origin & History

'German Gold' is an open-pollinated beefsteak tomato that originated in Germany in the 19th century and was brought to North America by Mennonite and Amish emigrants. It was primarily cultivated in Pennsylvania and preserved over generations. Since then, it has become an important part of the Amish communities, who live very traditionally, and is even mentioned in the American Heritage Museum in Pennsylvania. In the United States, it was also known as Mammoth German Gold and distributed through seed catalogs.

While it temporarily fell into obscurity in Germany, it was preserved by the Amish and later returned to Europe as a classic heirloom variety. Its striking red-golden marbling and open-pollinated nature make it a vivid example of the preservation of historic cultivated plants and a cherished rarity in variety gardens worldwide.

  Appearance & Characteristics

The plant grows indeterminately as a stake tomato and reaches a height of about 150–250 cm. It develops strong fruit clusters and bears robust, dark green foliage.

Fruit details:

• Size: Very large, approx. 300-700 g per fruit, sometimes up to 900 g

• Shape: Broad-round, ribbed

• Color: Golden-yellow, with increasing ripeness showing red flames or marbling inside and out

• Texture: Juicy, tender flesh

• Flavor: Delicately spicy-sweet with moderate acidity, unmistakable aroma – regarded as one of the most treasured historic beefsteak tomatoes

 Usage & Cultivation Highlights

'German Gold' fruits are excellent for fresh salads, as a flavorful snack, and for direct consumption. Their golden-yellow coloration with red marbling and distinctive aroma make them a true eye-catcher on the plate – and thanks to their juiciness, they are also ideal for purées, juices, and stuffed tomato dishes.

Thanks to their robustness, this tomato variety thrives reliably in protected outdoor beds and greenhouses, impressing with stable yields, a long harvest period, and high resistance to weather conditions. Its decorative, large-fruited tomatoes also make it a rewarding choice for self-sufficiency and organic cultivation.

Compared to other beefsteak tomatoes, 'German Gold' stands out with its late ripening and delicately spicy-sweet flavor with moderate acidity – perfect for those who value robust, open-pollinated tomatoes with a special history.