If you love growing unusual tomatoes that look just as good on the plate as they taste, the Pixie Stripe Tomato deserves a spot in your garden. This attractive medium-sized slicing tomato produces beautiful soft pink fruit decorated with faint contrasting stripes.
But appearance isn’t the only reason to grow Pixie Stripe tomatoes. The fruit has a mild, sweet flavor and smooth texture, making it especially good for slicing, sandwiches, salads, and colorful tomato platters.
Pixie Stripe is an indeterminate tomato variety, meaning the vines continue growing and producing throughout the season rather than ripening one large crop all at once. With approximately 75–80 days to maturity, gardeners can enjoy an extended harvest when growing conditions cooperate.
For Texas gardeners, where tomato-growing conditions can change quickly from pleasant spring weather to intense summer heat, understanding when and how to plant indeterminate tomatoes can make a tremendous difference.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about growing Pixie Stripe tomatoes, including:
- What makes Pixie Stripe unique
- When to plant tomatoes
- Starting tomatoes from seed
- Soil preparation
- Sun requirements
- Plant spacing
- Watering
- Fertilizing
- Supporting indeterminate vines
- Pruning
- Common tomato pests and diseases
- Harvesting
- Kitchen uses
- Saving tomato seeds
Let’s take a closer look at this beautiful striped tomato.
What Is a Pixie Stripe Tomato?
Pixie Stripe Tomato is an attractive medium slicing tomato known primarily for its unusual coloring.
The tomatoes develop soft pink flesh with faint contrasting stripes, giving them an elegant appearance when sliced.
The basic characteristics of Pixie Stripe Tomato are:
Type: Medium slicer
Color: Pink with subtle striping
Flavor: Mild and sweet
Texture: Smooth
Growth Habit: Indeterminate
Days to Maturity: Approximately 75–80 days
Its combination of color, sweetness, and smooth texture makes Pixie Stripe particularly appealing for dishes where the tomato is served fresh.
Rather than hiding these beautiful tomatoes inside a heavily seasoned sauce, I would save many of them for sandwiches, salads, burgers, and fresh tomato plates.
Why Grow Pixie Stripe Tomatoes?
There are hundreds of tomato varieties available to home gardeners, so choosing which ones deserve valuable garden space isn’t always easy.
Pixie Stripe has several characteristics that make it interesting.
Beautiful Pink Striped Fruit
The obvious attraction is appearance.
Traditional garden tomatoes are usually solid red, pink, yellow, or orange.
Pixie Stripe offers something different.
Its soft pink coloring combined with faint striping creates tomatoes that stand out when sliced.
Combine them with yellow, orange, purple, and traditional red tomatoes, and you can create a beautiful homegrown tomato platter without doing anything fancy.
Mild, Sweet Flavor
Not everyone wants an intensely acidic tomato.
Pixie Stripe tomatoes have a mild, sweet flavor, making them especially appealing for fresh eating.
They’re an excellent option for people who enjoy letting the natural tomato flavor shine.
Excellent Slicing Tomato
Pixie Stripe is categorized as a medium slicer.
That makes the fruit particularly useful for:
- Sandwiches
- Hamburgers
- BLTs
- Salads
- Tomato platters
- Fresh salsa
- Tomato and cucumber salad
- Eating fresh with salt and pepper
Extended Production
Pixie Stripe has an indeterminate growth habit.
Unlike determinate tomatoes that tend to produce most of their crop during a relatively concentrated period, indeterminate plants continue producing new growth, flowers, and fruit throughout favorable growing conditions.
That can provide fresh tomatoes over a longer portion of the gardening season.
Determinate vs. Indeterminate Tomatoes
Understanding the difference between determinate and indeterminate tomatoes is important when planning your garden.
Determinate Tomatoes
Determinate tomatoes grow to a more predictable size.
They typically:
- Stay relatively compact
- Produce fruit during a concentrated period
- Require less aggressive support
- Work well when you want a large harvest for preserving
Gardeners who want tomatoes for canning often appreciate determinate varieties because large quantities can ripen around the same time.
Indeterminate Tomatoes
Pixie Stripe is indeterminate.
Indeterminate tomatoes behave more like vines.
They continue growing throughout the season and can become surprisingly large under good conditions.
They typically:
- Grow taller
- Need substantial support
- Continue flowering
- Produce over a longer period
- Benefit from occasional pruning and training
Don’t underestimate how large an indeterminate tomato plant can become.
Give it room from the beginning.
How Long Does Pixie Stripe Tomato Take to Grow?
Pixie Stripe tomatoes are listed at approximately 75–80 days to maturity.
Keep in mind that “days to maturity” for tomatoes generally refers to the approximate time from transplanting a healthy young plant into the garden until the first mature fruit.
It doesn’t normally include the weeks spent starting seedlings indoors.
Actual harvest timing can also vary considerably depending on:
- Temperature
- Sunlight
- Soil fertility
- Water
- Transplant size
- Plant stress
- Pest pressure
- Weather
Texas weather can make those estimates particularly interesting.
A tomato might grow beautifully during mild spring weather and then slow down once temperatures become extreme.
Think of 75–80 days as a useful estimate rather than an exact countdown.
When to Plant Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
Tomatoes love warm weather, but extreme heat can interfere with fruit production.
That’s one reason timing is so important.
Tomatoes should generally be transplanted outside after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
However, gardeners in warm regions don’t want to wait unnecessarily long.
The goal is to establish strong plants early enough that they can flower and begin setting tomatoes before intense summer temperatures arrive.
Your exact planting date depends on your location and local frost dates.
If a late cold snap threatens after planting, young tomatoes can sometimes be protected temporarily with frost cloth or another appropriate garden covering.
Starting Pixie Stripe Tomato Seeds Indoors
If you’re growing Pixie Stripe from seed, starting indoors gives the plants a head start.
Tomato seeds are usually started several weeks before the expected outdoor transplanting date.
You’ll need:
- Pixie Stripe Tomato seeds
- Seed-starting mix
- Seed trays or small containers
- Water
- Strong light
- Warm growing conditions
Planting Tomato Seeds
Fill your containers with moist seed-starting mix.
Plant the tomato seeds approximately 1/4 inch deep and gently cover them.
Keep the growing medium consistently moist but not soaking wet.
Warm conditions encourage germination.
Once seedlings emerge, strong light becomes extremely important.
Weak lighting creates tall, thin seedlings that stretch toward the light.
A good grow light positioned properly above the seedlings can produce stronger, stockier plants.
Potting Up Tomato Seedlings
Tomatoes have an interesting ability to produce roots along portions of their buried stems.
That makes them particularly forgiving when transplanting.
Once seedlings outgrow their starter cells, move them into larger containers.
You can plant them somewhat deeper than they were originally growing.
Continue providing plenty of light and don’t keep the potting soil constantly saturated.
The goal is to develop sturdy plants with healthy roots before they ever reach the garden.
Harden Off Tomato Plants Before Transplanting
Don’t move tender indoor seedlings directly into full outdoor sun.
Plants raised indoors need time to adjust to:
- Direct sunlight
- Wind
- Outdoor temperature fluctuations
This process is called hardening off.
Gradually expose seedlings to outdoor conditions over approximately a week or longer, increasing their exposure each day.
Protect young plants from harsh midday sun and strong wind during the early stages.
Once properly acclimated, they’re ready for the garden.
Choosing the Best Location
Pixie Stripe tomatoes should be grown where they receive plenty of sunlight.
Aim for approximately 6–8 or more hours of direct sunlight per day.
Tomatoes grown with inadequate sunlight often become:
- Leggy
- Less productive
- Slower to ripen
Good airflow around the plants is also important.
Crowded tomato plants remain wet longer after rain or watering, potentially creating favorable conditions for disease.
Preparing Soil for Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
Tomatoes appreciate fertile, well-draining soil.
Before planting, improve garden soil with good-quality compost or other well-decomposed organic matter when needed.
Good soil should hold enough moisture to support the plant without remaining waterlogged.
Raised garden beds can be particularly useful when native soil drains poorly.
Tomatoes generally perform well in slightly acidic soil, roughly around pH 6.0–6.8.
A soil test is the best way to determine your actual soil pH and nutrient needs.
Avoid blindly adding large quantities of fertilizer.
More fertilizer doesn’t necessarily mean more tomatoes.
How Deep Should You Plant Tomatoes?
One of my favorite things about planting tomatoes is that you can bury part of the stem.
Remove some of the lower leaves and plant the transplant deeper than it was growing in its container.
Roots can develop along the buried portion of the stem.
This can help establish a larger root system.
If you have an unusually tall or leggy transplant, another option is planting a portion of the stem horizontally in a shallow trench while leaving the upper growing tip above ground.
Handle stems carefully because they can break.
Pixie Stripe Tomato Spacing
Because Pixie Stripe is indeterminate, don’t crowd the plants.
A practical starting point is approximately 24–36 inches between plants, depending on your support and pruning system.
Plants trained vertically can sometimes be managed more closely than sprawling plants.
Remember that airflow matters.
Trying to squeeze an extra tomato plant into a small space isn’t necessarily worthwhile if overcrowding contributes to disease problems later.
Supporting Pixie Stripe Tomato Plants
This is one step I wouldn’t skip.
Because Pixie Stripe is indeterminate, you’ll need a sturdy support system.
Options include:
- Heavy-duty tomato cages
- Cattle panels
- Garden trellises
- Stakes
- String trellising systems
Small inexpensive tomato cages may work temporarily, but vigorous indeterminate tomatoes can overwhelm them.
I prefer starting with something sturdy enough to handle a mature plant loaded with fruit.
Install your support when planting or shortly afterward.
Trying to force a large tomato plant into a cage halfway through the season is much more difficult.
Watering Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
Consistent watering is one of the keys to growing healthy tomatoes.
Large fluctuations between extremely dry soil and saturated soil can stress plants and contribute to fruit-quality problems.
Instead, water deeply enough to encourage roots to grow down into the soil.
How frequently you’ll need to water depends on:
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Soil type
- Raised beds versus in-ground gardens
- Mulch
- Plant size
Don’t follow an arbitrary schedule without checking the soil.
During hot Texas summers, raised beds and containers can dry surprisingly quickly.
Water the Soil, Not the Leaves
Whenever practical, direct irrigation toward the root zone instead of routinely soaking the foliage.
Options include:
- Drip irrigation
- Soaker hoses
- Carefully placed garden hoses
Watering near the soil also reduces unnecessary moisture on foliage.
If possible, watering earlier in the day gives any wet foliage time to dry.
Mulching Tomato Plants
Mulch can make tomato growing much easier.
A layer of organic mulch around your Pixie Stripe plants can help:
- Conserve soil moisture
- Moderate soil temperature
- Reduce weeds
- Reduce soil splashing onto lower leaves
Possible materials include:
- Straw
- Shredded leaves
- Grass clippings that haven’t been treated with inappropriate herbicides
- Other suitable organic mulch
Keep heavy mulch from being packed tightly against the tomato stem.
Fertilizing Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
Tomatoes are productive plants, but fertilizer should be used intelligently.
One common mistake is providing too much nitrogen.
The result can be an enormous green tomato plant with relatively little fruit.
That’s not what we want.
When planting, compost and appropriate soil amendments can help establish the plant.
Once flowering and fruiting begin, fertilizer designed for fruiting vegetables may be useful depending on your soil conditions.
Follow product directions and, ideally, use soil-test results to guide fertilization.
Should You Prune Pixie Stripe Tomatoes?
Because Pixie Stripe is indeterminate, some gardeners choose to prune the vines.
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You’ll notice small shoots called suckers developing where leaves meet the main stem.
You don’t necessarily need to remove every sucker.
In fact, aggressively stripping a tomato plant can reduce its leaf canopy.
A moderate approach is often easier.
You can remove:
- Growth touching the ground
- Damaged leaves
- Diseased foliage
- Excessively crowded growth
- Selected suckers when training vertically
The goal is a manageable plant with good airflow, not a bare tomato stem.
Protecting Tomatoes From Extreme Texas Heat
Texas gardeners have a challenge that gardeners in cooler climates don’t experience to the same degree.
Summer can become brutally hot.
Tomato plants may continue growing while fruit set slows considerably during periods of extreme heat.
That’s another reason early planting is valuable.
Get the plants established and producing during favorable weather.
During intense heat:
- Maintain consistent moisture.
- Keep roots mulched.
- Watch plants carefully for stress.
- Harvest ripening tomatoes before animals or sun damage gets them.
- Consider afternoon shade protection where appropriate.
Don’t assume a healthy green plant without new tomatoes has permanently stopped producing.
Conditions may simply be temporarily unfavorable.
Tomato Flowers But No Fruit
Few things frustrate gardeners more than a tomato plant covered in flowers that don’t become tomatoes.
Several conditions can interfere with fruit set, including:
- Extreme daytime heat
- Warm nighttime temperatures
- Cold temperatures
- Humidity extremes
- Plant stress
- Inadequate pollination
If plants are otherwise healthy, weather may be the culprit.
Once conditions improve, fruit production can resume.
Common Tomato Pests
Pixie Stripe tomatoes can face many of the same pests as other garden tomatoes.
Tomato Hornworms
Hornworms are large green caterpillars capable of removing a surprising amount of foliage quickly.
Check plants regularly.
Their droppings can sometimes reveal their presence before you find the caterpillar itself.
Hand-picking is an easy control method for a small home garden.
Aphids
Aphids are tiny sap-sucking insects that often gather on tender new growth.
Beneficial insects frequently help keep them under control.
A strong stream of water can sometimes remove small infestations.
Whiteflies
Whiteflies may gather underneath leaves and fly away when plants are disturbed.
Monitor plants regularly so infestations don’t become severe before they’re noticed.
Stink Bugs and Leaf-Footed Bugs
These insects can damage developing tomatoes by piercing the fruit.
They can become particularly troublesome as the season progresses.
Common Tomato Diseases
Warm temperatures and humidity can create ideal conditions for several tomato diseases.
Possible problems include various:
- Leaf spots
- Blights
- Wilts
- Fungal diseases
Good garden practices can help reduce disease pressure.
These include:
- Rotating tomato-family crops when practical
- Providing good airflow
- Keeping leaves off the soil
- Mulching
- Removing badly diseased plant material
- Avoiding unnecessary overhead watering
If disease appears, identifying the actual problem before treating it is important.
Different tomato diseases require different management strategies.
Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot causes a dark, sunken area at the blossom end of tomatoes.
It’s associated with calcium availability within the developing fruit, often connected to inconsistent soil moisture and the plant’s ability to take up and move calcium.
Simply adding calcium isn’t always the solution.
Maintaining more consistent soil moisture can be an important part of prevention.
Cracking Tomatoes
Tomatoes sometimes split after receiving a large amount of water following dry conditions.
Consistent irrigation can help reduce severe fluctuations in soil moisture.
Harvest tomatoes promptly when they’re approaching maturity, particularly when heavy rain is expected.
When to Harvest Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
Pixie Stripe tomatoes should develop their characteristic pink coloring and subtle striping as they mature.
Look at more than just the calendar.
A mature tomato should show its expected color and feel appropriate for fresh eating.
Don’t wait until fruit becomes excessively soft.
Tomatoes can also finish ripening after being picked once they have reached the proper stage of maturity.
That can be useful if you’re dealing with:
- Birds
- Squirrels
- Insects
- Heavy rain
- Cracking
- Extreme weather
Sometimes bringing a nearly ripe tomato inside is better than discovering somebody else ate it overnight!
What Does Pixie Stripe Tomato Taste Like?
Pixie Stripe is described as having a mild, sweet flavor with a smooth texture.
That combination makes it especially appealing as a fresh-eating tomato.
Some tomato varieties have a strong acidic bite.
Pixie Stripe’s description suggests a gentler flavor profile where sweetness is more noticeable.
Flavor can still vary depending on growing conditions and ripeness.
Letting tomatoes mature properly before eating usually provides the best experience.
More Texas Homesteader Gardening Guides: If you enjoy growing unique tomatoes like the Pixie Stripe Tomato, be sure to explore more of our garden favorites. Learn how to grow okra plants for a productive summer harvest, add fresh herbs to your garden with our guides to growing a basil plant and oregano plant, or add dramatic foliage to your landscape with our complete guide to growing elephant ears. You can also discover 20 fig tree varieties that are perfect for adding another delicious homegrown harvest to your Texas homestead.
Best Ways to Use Pixie Stripe Tomatoes
These tomatoes deserve to be shown off.
Fresh Tomato Slices
Sometimes the simplest preparation is the best.
Slice a ripe Pixie Stripe tomato and add:
- Salt
- Black pepper
That’s it.
A good homegrown tomato doesn’t need much help.
BLT Sandwiches
The medium slicer size makes Pixie Stripe a natural choice for BLTs.
Layer toasted bread with:
- Bacon
- Lettuce
- Pixie Stripe tomato
- Mayonnaise
Tomato and Cucumber Salad
Combine sliced tomatoes with fresh cucumbers and onions for an easy garden side dish.
Fresh Garden Salad
Cut Pixie Stripe tomatoes into wedges and add them to lettuce, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and other garden vegetables.
Caprese-Style Tomato Plate
Layer slices with fresh mozzarella and basil.
Add a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite seasonings.
The pink striped tomatoes make an especially attractive presentation.
Easy Pixie Stripe Tomato & Cucumber Salad
When the summer garden starts producing tomatoes and cucumbers at the same time, this simple salad is hard to beat.
Ingredients
- 3 medium Pixie Stripe tomatoes, sliced or cut into wedges
- 1 large cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 small onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or oregano, optional
Instructions
- Add the tomatoes, cucumber, and onion to a large bowl.
- Drizzle with olive oil and vinegar.
- Season with salt and black pepper.
- Add fresh herbs if desired.
- Toss gently.
- Refrigerate briefly or serve immediately.
This is exactly the kind of recipe where an attractive slicing tomato can shine.
Can You Grow Pixie Stripe Tomatoes in Containers?
Indeterminate tomatoes can be grown in containers, but don’t try growing one in a tiny flowerpot.
The larger the mature plant, the more root space, water, and support it requires.
Use a large container with excellent drainage.
You’ll also need a substantial cage or trellis.
Container tomatoes can dry much faster than plants growing directly in garden soil, particularly during hot weather.
Check soil moisture frequently.
Can Pixie Stripe Tomatoes Grow in Raised Beds?
Absolutely.
Raised beds can be excellent for tomatoes because you have more control over:
- Soil quality
- Drainage
- Compost
- Irrigation
- Mulching
Just remember that an indeterminate tomato can occupy a substantial amount of space.
Position plants where their mature vines won’t shade smaller crops unnecessarily.
A trellis along the back or north side of a raised bed can be particularly useful.
Companion Plants for Tomatoes
Tomatoes can share garden space with numerous herbs, flowers, and vegetables.
Popular companions include:
- Basil
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Marigolds
- Onions
- Garlic
- Lettuce
Rather than expecting companion planting to magically eliminate pests, I like using mixed plantings to increase garden diversity and make better use of available space.
Herbs and flowers can also attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
Saving Pixie Stripe Tomato Seeds
If your Pixie Stripe tomatoes are grown from an open-pollinated variety and you want to preserve the variety, seed saving may be possible.
Choose tomatoes from:
- Healthy plants
- Productive plants
- Fruit displaying the characteristics you want to preserve
Tomato seeds are commonly fermented before storage.
Basic Tomato Seed-Saving Method
- Choose a fully ripe tomato.
- Cut it open.
- Scoop the seeds and surrounding gel into a small container.
- Add a small amount of water if necessary.
- Allow the mixture to ferment briefly.
- Rinse the seeds thoroughly.
- Spread them out to dry completely.
- Store dry seeds in a labeled envelope or container.
Always label saved seeds with the variety and year.
If you’re growing several tomato varieties close together and seed purity is important, take precautions to prevent unintended cross-pollination.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pixie Stripe Tomato
Is Pixie Stripe Tomato determinate or indeterminate?
Pixie Stripe Tomato is an indeterminate tomato. The vines continue growing and producing throughout favorable growing conditions.
How long does Pixie Stripe Tomato take to mature?
Pixie Stripe is listed at approximately 75–80 days to maturity.
What color are Pixie Stripe tomatoes?
The fruit is pink with subtle contrasting striping.
What does Pixie Stripe Tomato taste like?
It has a mild, sweet flavor and smooth texture.
Is Pixie Stripe a slicing tomato?
Yes. Pixie Stripe is considered a medium slicer, making it excellent for sandwiches, salads, burgers, and fresh tomato plates.
Does Pixie Stripe Tomato need a cage?
Because it is indeterminate, it should have substantial support. A heavy-duty tomato cage, stake, cattle-panel trellis, or another sturdy support system works well.
Can Pixie Stripe Tomato grow in a raised garden bed?
Yes. Raised beds are excellent for tomatoes when they provide adequate soil depth, fertility, drainage, water, and room for the plant.
Can Pixie Stripe tomatoes grow in containers?
Yes, but use a large container with good drainage and provide substantial support for the indeterminate vines.
How much sunlight does Pixie Stripe Tomato need?
Provide a sunny location with approximately 6–8 or more hours of direct sunlight daily when possible.
What are Pixie Stripe tomatoes best used for?
Their attractive pink striped appearance, smooth texture, and mild sweetness make them especially well suited for fresh slicing, salads, sandwiches, BLTs, burgers, and tomato platters.
Is Pixie Stripe Tomato Worth Growing?
For gardeners who enjoy unusual tomatoes, Pixie Stripe Tomato offers an appealing combination of beauty and fresh-eating quality.
The soft pink fruit and subtle stripes make it different from the ordinary red tomatoes found at most grocery stores, while its mild sweetness and smooth texture make it useful in the kitchen.
Because Pixie Stripe is indeterminate, give it plenty of growing space and sturdy support from the beginning. Keep moisture reasonably consistent, mulch around the roots, watch for common tomato pests and diseases, and take advantage of favorable spring and early-summer growing conditions.
With approximately 75–80 days to maturity, a well-established Pixie Stripe plant can reward you with beautiful slicing tomatoes that deserve a prominent place on the summer dinner table.
And that’s one of the best reasons to grow unusual tomato varieties at home—you get to harvest tomatoes you may never find at the local grocery store.
