Lycopersicon cheesemanii |
Origin: Galapagos Islands
Zone Range: all
Preferred Situation: Full sun; well draining humus rich soil.
Description:
A species tomato from the Galapagos islands! Compact bushy plant that is loaded with small glowing orange oval fruit arranged in loose fan like racemes. Of all the tomatoes that have passed through my hands, these are unique...the skin is thin but does not blemish easily. Haven't tried it yet, but I bet you can pickle these things whole! Being used in breeding programs for its salt tolerance and disease resistance.
Known as Solanum cheesmannii by some folks.
Notes:
Open pollinated. Bigger the roots at transplant (mid May) bigger the harvest. Prune sparingly. Protect from rain; water at plant base never foliage except foliar feeds. Heavy feeder; use balanced organic fertilizer. Excess nitrogen= leaves no fruit; no calcium=blossom end rot; extreme heat=blossom drop.
Cultivation:
Sow 5 mm deep. Keep moist; plastic cover improves success. Opt. germination temp: 18-25 C. Days to germ: 5-10. All tomatoes drop their blooms when temperatures reach 85 F or greater, so make sure your tomatoes don't get over heated. Blossom end rot is a nutritional disorder where a lack of calcium causes the fruit to rot from the blossom end so be sure you use something like rock phosphate (22% calcium) when amending your tomato beds/growing medium. Use mulch to retain moisture or prevent water from splashing up on your plants as tomatoes hate having their foliage wet...NEVER WATER FROM ABOVE...its like someone splashing a cold bucket of water on you! See our tomato article under 'Confessions of a Mad Gardener' for growing information.
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