Taxi
Solanum lycopersicum 'Taxi'
A stunning yellow determinate variety that produces bright golden tomatoes with exceptional flavor and early maturity, perfect for short-season gardens. These beautiful fruits add vibrant color to salads and dishes while offering a mild, sweet taste that appeals to those who find red tomatoes too acidic. An excellent choice for gardeners wanting reliable production of colorful, flavorful tomatoes in compact spaces.
Harvest
64-70d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Taxi in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Taxi · 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 |
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | September – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | September – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | April – June |
Complete Growing Guide
Early maturity at 64-70 days makes Taxi ideal for cool climates and spring planting, so start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost for midsummer harvests. As a determinate variety, Taxi grows compact and bushy rather than tall and vining, requiring minimal pruning—simply remove only the lowest leaves for air circulation. Plant in full sun with well-draining soil enriched with compost, spacing plants 24-30 inches apart to prevent fungal issues in humid conditions. Yellow tomatoes like Taxi tend toward thin skins that crack easily if watered inconsistently, so maintain even soil moisture with drip irrigation rather than overhead spraying. Watch for early blight, which affects lower foliage; apply mulch to prevent soil splash and remove lower leaves as the plant matures. One practical advantage: Taxi's low-acid profile means it requires no added lemon juice when canning, simplifying preservation for salsa and sauce recipes.
Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. 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
Harvest Taxi tomatoes when they achieve a deep golden-yellow color throughout, indicating peak sweetness and full flavor development, typically reaching two to three inches in diameter with a slight give when gently squeezed. These determinate plants produce fruit in concentrated flushes rather than continuously, so expect most tomatoes to ripen within a narrow window once flowering peaks. Pick fruits at first blush of yellow rather than waiting for complete color saturation, as they continue ripening off the vine and this timing maximizes overall yield by encouraging continued flowering on the compact plant.
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
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
Harvest Taxi tomatoes when fully colored and store them at room temperature away from direct sunlight; they'll keep for up to two weeks this way. For longer storage, maintain 50-55°F with 85-90% humidity in a well-ventilated container. Because of their low acidity and mild flavor profile, these tomatoes freeze exceptionally well for later cooking—simply core and freeze whole on a tray before transferring to bags. They're less ideal for traditional water bath canning due to their reduced acid content, though pressure canning is possible if you follow tested recipes carefully. Drying concentrates their subtle sweetness nicely, making them useful for winter cooking. Consider fermenting them whole with salt and aromatics to preserve their tender texture while developing complex flavor. Their thin skins slip off easily after blanching, making them particularly convenient for sauce preparation and preservation projects.
History & Origin
The exact origin and breeder of 'Taxi' remain somewhat obscure in published horticultural records, though it emerged within the broader movement of developing early-maturing, determinate yellow tomato varieties suited to short-season climates. The variety represents selective breeding efforts focused on improving yield and disease resistance in compact plants while maintaining the mild, low-acid flavor profile increasingly popular among home gardeners. Based on its characteristics and naming conventions, 'Taxi' likely originated through either a European seed company or university breeding program in the late 20th century, though definitive documentation of its specific breeder or introduction date has not been widely preserved in accessible tomato heritage records.
Origin: Peru
Advantages
- +Exceptionally early maturity at 64-70 days ideal for short-season climates
- +Stunning golden yellow color provides unique visual appeal and garden diversity
- +Mild, sweet flavor with low acidity appeals to acid-sensitive palates
- +Determinate compact growth perfect for containers and space-limited gardens
- +Reliable production makes it dependable for consistent harvests
Considerations
- -Highly susceptible to early blight, late blight, and septoria leaf spot
- -Vulnerable to multiple common pests including aphids, whiteflies, and flea beetles
- -Lower acidity may disappoint gardeners preferring bold, tangy tomato flavor
Companion Plants
Basil and French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are the two companions most worth fitting in next to Taxi. Basil is often credited with confusing aphids and thrips — the evidence is mixed, but plant it 12 inches away and you'll use what you harvest anyway. Marigolds earn their spot more concretely: their roots produce alpha-terthienyl, a compound shown to suppress root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) in the surrounding soil over a full season. Carrots and parsley work well in the gaps too — their root systems stay shallow and don't compete with Taxi's deeper moisture draw.
Fennel is the one plant worth keeping on the far side of the garden entirely. It releases allelopathic compounds that stunt most vegetables, and tomatoes are not an exception. Brassicas — cabbage, kale, broccoli — are a subtler issue: they pull nitrogen hard, and planted close they'll chip away at the steady fertility Taxi needs to push fruit to size by day 64 to 70. Give them their own bed.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with natural pest-repelling compounds
Carrots
Loosens 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 improve tomato growth and flavor
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting tomatoes
Peppers
Similar growing requirements and can share space efficiently
Borage
Deters hornworms and attracts pollinators and beneficial predatory insects
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes tomato wilt and stunted growth
Fennel
Inhibits tomato growth through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas (Cabbage family)
Compete for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract similar pests like hornworms and compete for nutrients
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good overall disease resistance. Less prone to cracking than many varieties.
Common Pests
Aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, cutworms
Diseases
Early blight, late blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt
Troubleshooting Taxi
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Large patches of foliage turning gray-green and collapsing fast — sometimes within 48 hours — with dark, water-soaked spots on fruit
Likely Causes
- Late blight (Phytophthora infestans) — favored by cool, wet nights below 60°F combined with humid days
- Overhead irrigation keeping foliage wet for extended periods
What to Do
- 1.Remove and bag affected plant material immediately — do not compost it
- 2.Switch to drip irrigation or water at the base only, early in the morning
- 3.NC State Extension notes late blight timing varies year to year; check your county's PDIC alerts and apply a copper-based fungicide at the first confirmed sign in your area
Plants wilting during the day despite adequate soil moisture, with no visible mold or lesions on stems or leaves
Likely Causes
- Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) — soil-borne fungus that colonizes vascular tissue
- Southern bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) — especially likely if the bed has a history of wilting solanaceous crops
What to Do
- 1.Cut a stem near the base and look for brown discoloration inside — that's a strong indicator of fusarium or bacterial wilt rather than a root or water issue
- 2.Dig up and destroy affected plants including the roots; do not leave them in the bed
- 3.NC State Extension recommends rotating tomatoes out of that soil for 5 to 7 years, or moving to container growing with fresh mix that has zero contact with native soil
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Taxi tomato take to grow from seed to harvest?▼
Can you grow Taxi tomatoes in containers?▼
What does Taxi tomato taste like compared to red tomatoes?▼
Is Taxi tomato good for beginners?▼
When should I plant Taxi tomato seeds?▼
Do Taxi tomatoes need full sun to grow well?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.