Tomato San Marzano is a heritage variety considered by many to be the best Italian plum tomato for making pasta/pizza sauce & passata. It is full of flavour & contains only a few seeds so makes an ideal cooked tomato.
Its reputation has led to it gaining EU recognition (DOP status) and only canned San Marzano tomatoes are authorized to be called 'Pomodoro San Marzano' when grown in the region surrounding Valle del Sarno near Naples.
Tomato San Marzano was first recorded in 1927. Tomato San Marzano is an indeterminate (cordon) variety so will require staking and pinching out. The tomatoes are elongated plum-shaped and measure about 7cm long. What a pedigree, well worth a try! (and recommended in River Cottage Handbook No. 4).
Read our guide on how to make a Comfrey Liquid Feed/Fertiliser to help boost your Tomato crops
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If you want to boost your harvests then intersow with ...why?
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Tomato San Marzano Vegetable Seed Information
| Seed Quantity: | Approx 30 seeds per pack. |
| Site: | Sunny, fertile but sheltered spot or in greenhouse/polytunnel. |
| When to Sow | February to April under cover. |
| How to Sow: | Sow seeds thinly in seed trays of seed & potting compost or 2-3 seeds in small pots and cover lightly with a little compost. Firm compost gently and water carefully. Keep in heated greenhouse / propagator at about 15-20C. Transplant into larger individual pots when 10cm tall. 'Harden off' plants for 3-4 days before finally planting them outside from May to June, at a spacing of 45cm between plants. It is best to plant deeply to a depth of 0.5cm below the seed leaves - this helps to give a nice sturdy plant. This variety can also be grown in a greenhouse in a large pot/greenhouse soil or grow bags. |
| Care: | Keep protected if frost is forecast with a fleece or a cloche. They require daily watering and feeding with a high potassium, tomato fertiliser once a week when the fruit has begun to set. 'San Marzano' is a cordon plant that will require staking and support as it produces a heavy crop of tomatoes over a long period. Will require side shoots 'pinching out'. |
| Harvest: | June to September. |
When to Sow Tomato San Marzano Vegetable Seeds
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