Tomato San Marzano - organic seeds

Tomato San Marzano

The San Marzano tomato is an Italian variety from the classic Roma type. Known for its strength and excellent flavor, the fruits are elongated, with a pointed top and firm flesh. They grow in clusters and have a sweet taste, making them ideal for canning, tomato sauces, and purees. It is a late-season variety characterized by indeterminate growth.

Cultivation and Care for San Marzano Tomato

Sowing Instructions
Sow seeds indoors at a constant temperature of at least 20°C, but ideally 24°C, from mid-February to late March or early April. This gives you about 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting into the soil. Ensure a warm, moist environment with plenty of light and water regularly to optimally germinate the seeds.

Transplanting and Planting
Once the seedlings have 2 to 4 leaves, carefully transplant them into pots and place them in a warm location (between 15°C and 20°C). After April 15, under glass or after the last frost outside, the seedlings can be planted in their final outdoor location with a spacing of 50 x 80 cm. In areas north of the Loire, it is ideal to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse. Growing them outdoors is possible, but only in well-lit and ventilated spots.

Growth and Pruning
For indeterminate varieties like San Marzano, it is important to prune the shoots growing from the leaf axils. This promotes the formation of high-quality fruits rather than quantity. For determinate varieties or bush tomatoes, no pruning is necessary; instead, use mulching and training.

Care and Disease Prevention

San Marzano Tomato Care
San Marzano tomatoes require lots of warmth and organic matter, especially potassium. When planting, bury a large portion of the stem in the soil to promote root development.

In cooler regions, it may be helpful to lightly prune the plants to prevent the leaves from touching the ground. Ensure you water the plants regularly without wetting the leaves, as tomatoes are susceptible to powdery mildew.

Fungal and Disease Prevention
For disease prevention, regularly spray the plants with horsetail extract or nettle brew, which strengthens the plant against fungal diseases. You can also use seaweed powder (Lithothamnium).

The Pur'Mel 3 plant food is a powerful formula because of the combination of three plants: horsetail, nettle, and comfrey. Dilute it with 10% water for prevention and spray the leaves every two weeks. In case of mildew outbreaks, dilute it with 30% water and spray the leaves twice a week until the disease disappears.

Harvesting and Collecting

The San Marzano tomato is characterized by how easily the ripe fruits fall from the plant.

• Early varieties are harvested about 2 months after planting.
• Mid-season varieties are harvested about 2.5 months after planting.
• Late varieties are harvested about 3 months after planting.

Health Benefits of San Marzano Tomatoes

A high-quality tomato from your own garden offers many benefits. In addition to its delicious taste, it is packed with essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that support good health. Tomatoes contain lycopene, which helps protect the body from harmful UV rays. They also contain vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and aids in better absorption of iron and calcium.

Thanks to their high concentration of potassium, tomatoes can help lower high blood pressure and promote a healthy heart. Furthermore, they are an excellent vegetable for a slimmer figure, as they contain few calories and are rich in fiber, which helps the body eliminate bad fats.