All About the Bloody Butcher Tomato

Though its name may sound gruesome, the Bloody Butcher Tomato is a popular, early-growing tomato that’s gaining notoriety all the time. Read on to learn about this delicious tomato, including how to grow and enjoy it.

Looking to buy Bloody Butcher Tomato seeds? Check availability.

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Characteristics of Bloody Butcher Tomatoes

The key characteristic and most defining draw of the Bloody Butcher Tomato variety lies in its early harvest season. This is an incredibly fast-producing, heirloom tomato variety, with its very first harvest typically coming ripe as little as eight weeks after transplant.

This fast-growing trait actually makes Bloody Butcher Tomatoes ideal for growing in cooler climates since they ripen quickly. They will continue to produce from after the first eight weeks until the first frost of the cold season.

The fruit of this prolific tomato plant is on the smaller side, with each cluster producing between five and nine tomatoes. These fruits are generally about two inches in diameter and weigh three to four ounces.

The Bloody Butcher also has a very classic tomato appearance and taste. It’s a deep, rich red color on both the inside and outside and has a robust, classic heirloom tomato flavor.

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Fast Facts About The Bloody Butcher Tomato

Eating Them

Bloody Butcher Tomatoes can be enjoyed in a number of ways. They make a great raw snack and can be enjoyed with your favorite veggie dip or as part of a fruit and vegetable tray. They can also be used to garnish whole or cut-up salads.

These are great tomatoes for use in dishes like salsa, pico de gallo, homemade pasta sauce, or diced on top of a dish of your choosing. Use them in a Caprese salad alongside mozzarella, basil, and balsamic, or add a pop of color to a presentation dish at a holiday meal.

Due to their size, color, flavor profile, and prolific plants, this tomato variety is also an ideal canning tomato. They also will do well in most tomato grinders for making juices, sauces, and more.

For more ideas on how to enjoy Bloody Butcher Tomatoes and other varieties, check out our tomatoes in the kitchen page.

Health Benefits

Like all tomato varieties, there are many powerful nutrients that can be found in the Bloody Butcher Tomato. One of the most prevalent and fantastic for your body is this bright red tomato’s high concentration of lycopene.

Lycopene is an antioxidant that helps fight free radicals throughout your body. The reduction of these free radicals limits inflammation in the overall system. This can, in turn, help reduce ailments like joint pain, headaches, heavy menstrual symptoms, mood issues, and general feelings of malaise.

Lycopene is what gives tomatoes, and many other fruits, their deep red shade. So at just a glance, you can see that this antioxidant is abundant in Bloody Butcher Tomatoes. This makes them a great, healthy source of bioavailable lycopene.

In addition, each of these little tomatoes packs a punch of dietary fiber, potassium, Vitamins A and K, and other key vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals help regulate digestion, boost heart and eye health, and more.

Learn more about the health benefits of eating tomatoes on our dedicated page.

Growing Bloody Butcher Tomatoes At Home

Bloody Butcher Tomatoes are a fantastic variety for growing at home. They are easy to plant and maintain, and their early harvest time makes them a great contender for the garden. You can enjoy these fast-growing tomatoes while waiting for the rest of your plants to ripen.

Check out these planters, containers, cages, and more to use in growing and enjoying your Bloody Butcher Tomatoes.

Preparing and Planting

As with all tomato varieties, Bloody Butcher seeds are best started indoors, about 6 to 8 weeks before the final threat of frost has passed in your area. Sow them ¼ inch deep in seed starting trays and keep them in moist soil.

Once the seedlings sprout, ensure they have access to sunlight or a grow light for 16 hours a day. After 3 to 4 weeks, fertilize them with a tomato starter solution. In the last week before transplanting, harden the seedlings off by placing them outdoors in a sheltered space for several hours a day.

While your tomato seedlings are growing indoors, you can select and prepare a spot for them in the garden. Ensure they have access to at least 6 hours of full sunlight per day. The soil should be turned, freed of rocks or weeds, and composted to make it nutrient-rich.

Once the last spring frost has passed, transplant your Bloody Butcher plants into holes large enough to accommodate the root ball. Ensure that the plants have three to four feet of space between them, with rows spaced about four feet apart as well.

Water your plants thoroughly once they are in the ground, then place a stake or tomato cage around them. This will help support them in their rapid growth and production.

Caring and Maintaining

Continue to water your Bloody Butcher plants regularly, but be careful not to oversaturate them. Mulching after watering will also help the soil retain the moisture it needs. Weed your garden regularly and keep an eye out for any signs of pests or tomato diseases.

After about 8 weeks, you should be ready to harvest your first batch of tomatoes! Continue to harvest regularly in order to keep your plants from becoming overburdened. You can also prune your tomato plants throughout the season to help divert the plant’s energy and maximize its growth potential.

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Wrapping up the Bloody Butcher Tomato

Excited to grow the early-harvest Bloody Butcher Tomato in your home garden? Before you get started, be sure to read up on everything tomato care over on our Tomato Plants page. This is your one-stop resource for growing, tending, and enjoying tomatoes.