Opalka Tomato

Opalka is a Polish heirloom indeterminate paste tomato producing large, pointed, pepper-shaped fruits weighing 5 to 8 ounces. With very few seeds and little jelly, it is a go-to for authentic tomato paste, pasta, pizza, and spaghetti sauces, or any recipe needing a meaty, flavorful tomato.

At a glance

• Variety: Opalka tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
• Type: Indeterminate paste, open-pollinated, non-GMO
• Fruit: Pointed, pepper-shaped, 5 to 8 oz
• Sun: Full sun
• Traits: Meaty, few seeds and little jelly
• Use: Paste, sauce, canning

Best for

• Authentic tomato paste and sauce
• Pizza and spaghetti sauces
• Home canning
• Concentrated, low-moisture cooking
• Gardeners wanting a meaty paste type

How to grow

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost and transplant after frost has passed. Stake or cage the indeterminate vines and space about 36 inches apart in full sun with well-drained soil. Water consistently and harvest when fruit is firm and fully red.

Flavor profile

Savory with a bright acidic zip and fruity undertones, concentrated in dense, meaty flesh.

About MIgardener

MIgardener is a Michigan-based family company offering affordable, non-GMO heirloom seeds and gardening supplies, with a mission to make growing your own food simple and accessible.