The San Marzano tomato has been grown in temperate latitudes relatively recently, this was made possible by the hardening carried out by breeders. The popularity of the variety is due, first of all, to the excellent taste of the fruit and the ability of the skin to be easily removed during cooking.
Properties of the variety
San Marzano tomatoes (and its other varieties - San Marzano 2 and San Marzano Nano) are a non-hybrid variety. Currently, hundreds of artificial hybrids have been bred.It is believed that they produce a larger harvest and better resist diseases and pests, but not all summer residents and garden lovers give them preference.
The fact is that the fruits of non-hybrid natural varieties of tomatoes are much tastier and contain significantly more vitamins and microelements. Varietal tomatoes have genetic resistance to adverse weather conditions, as generation after generation they grew in a certain area. Tomatoes produce full-fledged offspring, and even a novice gardener will not have any difficulty in obtaining the seeds themselves and sowing them next year.
Even at low temperatures, San Marzano tomatoes are able to bear fruit consistently. In light of the ongoing climatic changes in nature, this characteristic of the variety is especially valuable. San Marzano is a mid-early tomato variety. The first harvest can be obtained 110 - 115 days after sowing the seeds.
Being indeterminate, the plants have unlimited growth and are able to reach a height of 120 to 150 cm.
Description of fruits
Tomatoes have an elongated plum-shaped form called “longo”, large, dense and fleshy, collected in clusters. The fruits are approximately the same size. The weight of the fruit is approximately 120 grams and the length is 12 cm. Ripe tomatoes are intense red in color, even and smooth, with tender and juicy pulp containing a small amount of seeds.
The fruits have an excellent sweet and sour taste. Perfect for fresh consumption, in salads and vegetable slices. Good for winter wrappings, especially for canning whole fruits. Thanks to the ease of peeling, they are suitable for preparing tomato juice and paste.
Tomatoes have good shelf life and can be transported over long distances without loss of commercial quality.
Advice on agricultural technology
Growing San Marzano tomatoes is a fascinating process and not as simple as growing hybrids. Plants are demanding to care for, but the effort expended will be fully repaid with a bountiful and tasty harvest.
Forcing from seeds
Sowing seeds of this variety for seedlings must be done at the end of March, planted in the phase of 1 - 2 true leaves. At the end of May, grown tomatoes should be transplanted into a greenhouse, under film covers, or into open ground.
Transfer
For planting, it is necessary to prepare the place in advance, namely, add organic fertilizers in the fall so that they rot over the winter. In the spring, you need to additionally treat the soil with mineral fertilizers:
- potassium chloride,
- double superphosphate,
- wood ash.
During the growing season, tomatoes need to be fed 4 more times.
Stepchildren and care
A few weeks after planting in a permanent place, you need to cut off the side and weak shoots of the tomatoes, leaving only 2 to 3 strong stems. In the future, they will form a bush. Pruning is carried out in order to achieve the highest yield.
The description of plant care includes 3 components. It is necessary to systematically water the bushes at the roots, loosen the soil around the tomato and hill up 2–3 times per season. Tomatoes reach 1.5 meters in height, and therefore it is necessary to provide the bush with support and garter in a timely manner.
Harvesting
Within a couple of weeks after planting, flowering begins, and already in mid-July you can get the first tomatoes. Fruiting continues until the onset of autumn. The San Marzano variety is high-yielding.As numerous reviews indicate, the bushes are simply strewn with bunches of fruit.
Disease resistance
Representatives of this variety are quite disease-resistant and can independently resist the manifestations of verticillium and fusarium. In case of excessive air humidity, they are susceptible to crown rot and late blight.
