Dancing with Smurfs selection

Dancing with Smurfs selection seeds produce a fascinating blue cherry tomato developed from breeder Tom Wagner's celebrated genepool. These small-fruited tomatoes stand out in any garden for their dramatic, two-toned skin: fruits emerge green with striking blue-purple pigmentation caused by anthocyanins — the same antioxidant compounds found in blueberries — and ripen to a deep red beneath a cloak of dark blue and purple. Each fruit is slightly different, with varying degrees of blue coverage that makes every harvest feel like a small surprise. This is an open-pollinated selection, meaning plants will show some natural variation, a hallmark of living genepool selections like this one.

Growing Guide

Dancing with Smurfs selection matures in approximately 70–80 days from transplant, making it well-suited to most temperate growing seasons. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before your last expected frost, sowing 6mm (¼ inch) deep in warm, moist seed-starting mix. Tomatoes germinate best at soil temperatures of 21–27°C (70–80°F). Transplant outdoors once nighttime temperatures consistently stay above 10°C (50°F).

Choose a site with full sun — at least 6–8 hours of direct light daily. Anthocyanin development (the blue pigmentation) is directly triggered by sun exposure, so the more light fruits receive, the richer and more vivid their coloring will be. Space plants 60–90 cm (24–36 inches) apart in well-draining, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Support with a stake or cage early — plants are indeterminate and will continue growing throughout the season. Water consistently at the base to reduce the risk of blossom end rot and cracking.

Difficulty level: beginner to intermediate. Blue tomatoes are no harder to grow than standard varieties; the key is giving them ample sunlight for best color development.

Harvest & Use

Harvest when fruits show deep red coloring at the blossom end and the blue-purple skin remains vivid — this is the hallmark of peak ripeness in anthocyanin-rich tomatoes. Avoid harvesting when fully blue-green, as the fruit will not yet be sweet. A gentle squeeze should yield slightly to pressure. Flavor is rich, sweet, and complex with a pleasing balance of acidity, typical of well-grown cherry tomatoes. The thick skins hold up well during cooking.

Use them halved in salads, grain bowls, and charcuterie boards where their jewel-like appearance can be appreciated. They roast beautifully — heat concentrates their sweetness — and work well in pasta sauces or slow-roasted with olive oil and herbs. Store at room temperature for up to a week; refrigeration dulls both flavor and texture. For longer preservation, roast and freeze, or pack into infused oils.

A genepool selection like this one rewards gardeners who save seed, as successive generations can be selected for the traits you value most — deeper color, larger fruit, or earlier maturity.