Stupice
Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice'
This Czechoslovakian heirloom is prized as one of the earliest full-flavored tomatoes, often ripening weeks before other varieties. Despite its early maturity, it delivers complex, rich flavor that rivals the best season tomatoes. Perfect for short-season gardeners who don't want to sacrifice taste for earliness.
Harvest
60-65d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Stupice in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Stupice · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Stupice tomatoes at room temperature for 3-5 days to maintain their complex flavor profile. Refrigeration dulls the taste, so only refrigerate if you need to extend storage beyond a week, where they'll keep for up to 10 days.
For preservation, Stupice's balanced sweet-tart flavor makes it exceptional for sauce-making and canning. The smaller size is perfect for whole canning – blanch for 30 seconds, peel, and pack in jars with lemon juice. Their robust flavor concentrates beautifully when slow-roasted and frozen in portions.
Dehydrating works well due to their meaty texture and intense flavor – slice into rounds and dry until leathery. The concentrated flavor of dried Stupice rivals expensive imported tomatoes. For quick preservation, core and freeze whole in freezer bags – the skins slip off easily when thawed, perfect for winter soups and sauces.
History & Origin
Stupice (pronounced 'STOO-peet-say') originated in Czechoslovakia, specifically developed for the challenging climate of the former Czechoslovakian region now part of the Czech Republic. This heirloom was bred by traditional selection methods to combine earliness, cold tolerance, and exceptional flavor – traits essential for tomato cultivation in Central European climates with short, cool summers.
The variety gained popularity among Czech gardeners for its reliability in unpredictable weather and its ability to produce flavorful tomatoes when other varieties failed. It was introduced to North American gardeners in the 1970s through seed exchanges and quickly became prized by northern gardeners and those seeking to extend their growing seasons.
The name 'Stupice' refers to the town where it was developed, and this variety represents the practical breeding philosophy of Eastern European gardeners who prioritized dependability and flavor over size. Today, it's considered one of the finest early-season heirlooms available, maintaining its original characteristics through careful seed saving by dedicated gardeners worldwide.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural compounds
Carrots
Helps break up soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Lettuce
Provides ground cover and efficient use of space without competing for resources
Borage
Repels hornworms and attracts pollinators, may improve tomato growth
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including tomatoes through allelopathy
Brassicas
Competes heavily for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good cold tolerance, moderate disease resistance for an heirloom
Common Pests
Aphids, spider mites, tomato hornworm
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, but generally more resistant than many heirlooms