Quick facts
- Everlasting, or winter tomato
- Italian heirloom
- Pointy tips
Solanum lycopersicum
Amazing for sauces, this Italian treasure of a tomato is great for pasting because it has such a low water content. Large clusters of cherry tomatoes are also great for drying or eating fresh. Flavor is robust and tomato-y, getting more and more flavorful overtime as they dry. We love to broil or grill them once they've dried down a little bit, and then add them to homemade Mediterranean pizza. Its so comforting to have themhanging in the kitchen in winter, like bright red edible ornaments.
Ramallet tomatoes (as they are called in Spain), also known as winter tomatoes and piennolo tomatoes (in Italy), refers to a class of Mediterranean heirloom tomatoes that grow in clusters or tresses. Fruit tresses are strung up at the end of the season and stored at room temperature for fresh eating, ripe and unripe fruit alike. Fruits have thicker skins than ordinary tomatoes and ripen progressively. As they dry off the vine like this, their flavor becomes concentrated. Fruits are great for fresh eating, drying further to sundried tomatoes, and/or saucing. If you're into self-sufficiency and eating well in all four seasons, this is the tomato for you. A great choice for short season climates with long winters! Read about this traditional Mediterranean method for storing tomatoes here.
Ramallet tomato varieties are considered culturally significant and by the Slow Food Ark of Taste. Read a super fascinating history of ramallet tomatoes from the food historians at Slow Foods here!
How to grow it:
|
Germ Temp |
Indoor Start |
Germ Days |
Frost Tolerant |
Sun |
Seed Depth |
Plant/Row Spacing |
|
65-85 |
4-6 w. |
6-9 d. |
No |
Full |
1/8” |
24”/36” |
|
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before average last frost date. Plant seeds in sterile potting soil and provide 7-10 hours of direct light each day. Transplant 24”-36” apart in full sun, while trellising is not necessary it is beneficial for easy of harvest and continued productivity in fall. Seed specs: Packet size- 30 seeds min.
|