{"id":6784,"date":"2026-10-30T18:31:37","date_gmt":"2026-10-30T18:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=6784"},"modified":"2026-10-30T18:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-30T18:32:27","slug":"marshas-starfighter-beefsteak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/marshas-starfighter-beefsteak\/","title":{"rendered":"Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak Tomato Review & Photos (Star Wars Series)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\ud83c\udf45 Quick take:<\/strong> Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak<\/strong> is an elite indeterminate<\/strong> anthocyanin novelty slicer bred by Marsha Eisenberg<\/strong> of South Florida as part of her acclaimed Star Wars Project<\/em>. Vines reach 6-6.5 ft (1.8-2 m)<\/strong> with slender, wiry stems and sparse weeping foliage. It yields heavy crops of deep burgundy-brown beefsteaks weighing 10.5-14 oz (300-400 g)<\/strong>, painted with metallic olive striping and inky purple-black antho shoulders. The dark cherry flesh is rich, velvety, and intensely sweet, though its tender skin and high juice content make it a fresh-eating slicer with limited post-harvest shelf life. Full summary \u2193<\/a><\/div>\n

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Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-5 Experience)<\/h2>\n

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Sofiya 27 (Sofiya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (2,154 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak (Zvezdny Istrebitel Bifsteks Marshi).<\/p>\n

One of the lines from the Star Wars Project bred by Marsha Eisenberg in South Florida. Indeterminate, tops out around 6 ft (1.8 m) in the greenhouse. Mid-season.<\/p>\n

Extremely ornamental, iridescent, multi-colored beefsteaks weighing 10.5-14 oz (300-400 g). Excellent, well-balanced flavor with pronounced sweetness. To my palate, the taste felt very close to the heart-shaped Prime selection from this same line. Superb yield and an extended fruiting window.<\/p>\n

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Oksana Evgenyevna (Oksana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,146 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Aktobe, Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 4b\/5a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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My absolute top discovery of 2020, an easy Top 10 lock for flavor, yield, and visual beauty.<\/p>\n

It delivers the rich, velvety, concentrated flavor of an extraordinarily sweet and juicy black tomato. A coworker of mine who usually hates raw tomatoes tasted Marsha’s Beefsteak and admitted she must have simply never had a real tomato before. With my permission, she swiped the entire plate of slices!<\/p>\n

To my palate, it beats Rebel Starfighter, packing a richer complexity with a very pleasant, gentle tang. Everyone who tasted it and has a garden begged for seeds.<\/p>\n

Ran one plant in my polycarbonate greenhouse; definitely dedicating two spots for it in 2021.<\/p>\n

The only drawback is that shelf life is poor, it is simply too juicy and tender-skinned to sit around. The vine displays classic anthocyanin architecture: slender, wiry, springy stems, dark leaves, and sparse to medium leaf cover. Ripens off the vine decently well, but does not store long once ripe.<\/p>\n

Here is the slice. Took it out to the windowsill specifically under natural daylight so the true colors would show accurately.<\/p>\n

Edited December 12, 2020 by Oksana Evgenyevna<\/em><\/p>\n

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Yaroslavna (Natalya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (6,275 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd North of Yaroslavl Region, Russia (USDA Zone 3b\/4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak. One of the Star Wars Project lines bred by Marsha Eisenberg in South Florida. That is why this selection is officially known as Marsha’s Beefsteak.<\/p>\n

Seeds were sent to me directly by Marsha Eisenberg for regional field trials in my northern climate. Grew them under cover in polycarbonate high tunnels. The variety proved to be a vigorous indeterminate with regular, weeping foliage. Plants were stout and strong, with thick main stems.<\/p>\n

Fruit have classic oblate beefsteak form, showing prominent metallic green-gold striping on the green fruit. At full ripeness, the shoulders develop an inky, dark anthocyanin cap that makes them look striking.<\/p>\n

Slicing it open reveals dense, rich dark-cherry meat, thick and juicy. Flavor is completely balanced with a slight, pleasant savory bite. A fascinating variety with high yields that has already earned high praise from growers across the country.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Svetikk (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (29,625 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Moscow \/ Stupinsky District, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak. Truly gorgeous and delicious variety! \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n

Ran one in the greenhouse pruned to two stems, and kept another in a patio pot by the gazebo. High yielder. Fruit are oblate beefsteaks up to 10.5 oz (300 g), decorated with intricate multicolored striping.<\/p>\n

Heavy anthocyanin splash over the shoulders. Deep burgundy interior, sweet, with a flavor profile very similar to Marsha’s Heart.<\/p>\n

Edited September 29, 2021 by Svetikk<\/em><\/p>\n

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Inn@ (Inna) \u2b50 Pro Grower (6,399 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Arti, Sverdlovsk Region, Urals, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Outstanding flavor, outstanding yield. Beautiful fruit in mixed sizes, ranging from smaller slicers up to genuinely large beefsteaks. Extended harvest window.<\/p>\n

Seeds came from Sveta (@Lana_s_Kavkaza), thanks!<\/p>\n

P.S. If you compare this Beefsteak to the Heart version, it is tough to pick a winner. Both are top tier.<\/p>\n

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Svetikk (Svetlana) \u2b50 Pro Grower (29,625 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Moscow \/ Stupinsky District, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Inn@: If you compare this Beefsteak to the Heart version, it is tough to pick a winner. Both are top tier.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Agreed! Both varieties are productive, gorgeous, and share that same rich flavor profile. They are direct family after all \ud83d\ude01<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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OlyaSashina (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (5,355 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Bor, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Seconding the praise. Great, dependable variety. Really liked the juiciness and well-balanced flavor.<\/p>\n

Vines climbed to around 6.5 ft (2 m). Despite being planted in a partially shaded spot, it kept setting fruit for a very long stretch. Beautiful dark brown fruit with stripes.<\/p>\n

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neLENtyayka (Elena) \u2b50 Pro Grower (2,799 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kemerovo, Siberia, Russia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Marsha’s Starfighter Beefsteak.<\/p>\n

Grew it in 2021 under greenhouse plastic. Completely loved it: eye candy, delicious, and heavy yielding!<\/p>\n

Seeds came from Lena (@Mama Anfisa). Thank you! \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n

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Lyolikovna (Olya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4b\/5a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Count me in as a huge fan too. Marsha’s Beefsteak ripens fairly early in open ground beds, yields great, and is gorgeous and flavorful. Growing it for the third year in a row now. Only managed to snap photos this season!<\/p>\n

Edited August 1, 2023 by Lyolikovna<\/em><\/p>\n

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Lyolikovna (Olya) \u2b50 Pro Grower (14,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Samara Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4b\/5a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Vines were ridiculously loaded this summer, strong winds even snapped clusters clean off the main stems under the fruit weight.<\/p>\n

Curiously, fruit on the lower clusters were somewhat smaller, but the ones higher up sized up much larger, strange, never noticed that before. Absolute treat to eat!<\/p>\n

Edited August 25, 2023 by Lyolikovna<\/em><\/p>\n

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Olgazve (Olga) \u2b50 Pro Grower (1,614 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n
\ud83d\udccd Kostroma Region, Russia (USDA Zone 3b\/4a)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Unfortunately, this was a complete flop in my garden this year. Planted three vines. Fruit set was poor, fruit stayed small, got hit with blossom end rot, and flavor was nothing special, pretty sour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Full Summary: Growth Habit, Aesthetics, Taste & Shelf Life<\/h2>\n