Beef Tomato San Marzano [Solanum lycopersicum]

The perennial beefsteak tomato 'San Marzano' is a late, robust, old and traditional small-growing stake tomato variety. The taste is legendary, fruity and aromatic and is ideal for making tomato paste. Ideal for pre-cultivation, pot culture possible, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the fruit.

 Description 
The beefsteak tomato 'San Marzano' is a perennial, old and traditional tomato variety from Campania in Italy. This particularly tasty late stake tomato variety is ideal for soups, sauces and for making tomato paste. The elongated oval red fruits have a low water content and firm flesh. The taste is legendary, fruity and aromatic. The disease-tolerant tomato variety is particularly characterized by its extremely robust growth and harvest yield. The San Marzano is a variety that was finally removed from the official variety catalog in 1991, replaced by more resistant and easier-to-care-for varieties. Thanks to an initiative by the Campania region, the gourmet variety was preserved in home gardens and can now be distributed further by Benjis seeds.

 General information 
Plant family: Solanaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 150 days
Plant height approx.: 180 cm
Root type: Deep and shallow rooter
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: High
Winter hardiness: Up to 3°C
Location: Sunny until semi shady
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 6 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 22-28 °C
Germination time: 5-10 days
Plant and row spacing: 50x70 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 8-9 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Basil, Nasturtium, Garlic, Onion, Cabbage, New Zealand Spinach, Parsley, Celery, Radish, Marigold, Lettuce
Unfavorable mixed culture: Pepper, Eggplant, Physalis, Potato

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Pre-cultivation from January to April is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is warm and sunny.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Pre-cultivation from March to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be located in a place protected from rain, warm and sunny.

 General recommendations 
The best time to germinate tomatoes is the first warm summer week in spring. After the seeds have germinated in warm temperatures, the seedlings need cooler temperatures. For pre-cultivation, sow the seeds in a small bowl and let the seedlings grow until the first visible tomato leaves appear, then transplant them into the desired containers. After transplanting, let the seedlings grow at moderate temperatures until they are ready to be planted out as seedlings. Plant the seedlings in the bed from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
The beefsteak tomato 'San Marzano' does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Beef tomato plants are generally cultivated with 1 or 2 shoots. A framework for tying the tomato shoots with tomato hooks is recommended. In order to stimulate root growth and thus plant growth, the seedlings are planted deeper into the soil when pricked out, up to the leaf axis of the cotyledons. Sufficient and even watering has a positive effect on fruit quality. At temperatures below 5°C, the plant reduces its growth. Regular harvesting increases yield. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds and cuttings.

 Plant care 
Loosened, nutrient-rich and constantly moist soil is fundamentally important for growth and quality fruit formation. Depending on the condition of the soil, fertilization is recommended after 10 weeks.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Solanum lycopersicum
English names: Beef tomato, Meat tomato
German names: Fleischtomate, Flaschentomate
Portuguese names: Tomate
Spanish names: Tomate
French names: Tomate

 Origin 
Country: Portugal