These are the classic go to Italian variety of sauce tomatoes. These plants produce small meaty fruits with few small seeds. They have a sweet flavor that intensifies with cooking. This is a determinate variety where all tomatoes on the vine should ripen within two weeks. This is very convenient for preparing sauces! Their meaty flesh makes these tomatoes well suited for making tomato paste.
Planting/Harvesting Notes
- Transplant 3-4 ft apart in full sun once chance of frost has passed
- Contain with traditional tomato cage
- Matures in 75-80 days
Seed Saving
To save tomato seeds, slice the top off the ripe tomato and scoop out the seeds into a small container. Be sure to label the container with your variety. Once all seeds are in the container, fill the container with water so that the seeds are floating (approximately 1/4-1/2 cup water) and cover the container. Allow the container to sit in a cool, dark place for 3-5 days. It is ok if a moldy film develops on top. After 3-5 days, carefully remove the film and stir. Allow seeds to settle for 1-2 minutes. Any seeds that sink are viable. Carefully pour off any floating seeds and pulp and then strain the sunken seeds. Rinse the remaining gel off the seeds while they are in the strainer. Then spread the seed in a single layer on a drying screen, paper plate, etc. If saving multiple varieties, be sure to label all seeds. After all seeds are dry, store in a labeled paper envelope in a cool dry place.