Italian storage tomatoes, or "pomodoro d'inverno", are a class of tomatoes we are increasingly excited about. If you are not yet familiar with them, they tend to be saladette sized with firm thick flesh even when ripe. Picked ripe (or just slightly under-ripe) by the truss during the usual tomato season of late summer to early fall they are often then hung up with twine in large clusters, or alternatively laid in single layers in wooden boxes with good ventilation where they can store for up to 6 months to be used through the fall and winter. While they lack some of the depth of flavor of prime tomato season fruit, they bring bright acidity and fresh tomato presence to dishes long after it seems that season has past, providing a welcome diversification of tomato uses for the winter pantry. Perhaps what we miss the most at the end of tomato season is a quick and easy Pico de Gallo and this variety stretches that season several more months in our kitchen.
Many of these pomodoro d'inverno have their roots in the Italian south (perhaps the best known being 'Piennolo' from the volcanic soils of Vesuvius). 'Annarita' comes to us from our Italian friend and breeder Andrea as part of our 'Gusto Italiano' collaboration with Smarties.bio and the Culinary Breeding Network. He was given the seed by Annarita, the tomato's namesake, whose father drove trains for a living and brought the seeds from Puglia 50 years ago when he moved north to Padova. Indeterminate. 75 days. UO
Transplant out after danger offrost (50+F nighttime temps).
Note: Don't start too early or plants will be leggy and root-bound! Tomatoes do well in clay to loam soils.
PLANTING DEPTH:
1/8-1/4"
SPACING:
18" spacing in rows 5' apart.
EMERGENCE:
10-14 days @ soil temp 70-85F
LIGHT:
Full sun
FERTILITY:
Medium-Heavy. Prefers well-drained, well-balanced fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-7.5. Note that excess Nitrogen will encourage foliage, not fruit! Low calcium and irregular watering will result in blossom end rot.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Row cover may be used for extra warmth and possible earlier fruit set.
Irregular watering can result in blossom end rot.
Plant deeply to encourage healthy root structure.
Indeterminate varieties may benefit from pruning suckers to encourage air flow, plant health, and energy towards plant top and fruit.
Trellis! We really like the Florida weave.
Culinary
Pomodoro d'Inverno are all about bright acidic flavor and fresh tomato textures in the fall and winter months. Annarita is most often consumed raw, on friselle (a special dry bread from Puglia) with a drizzle of oil and oregano- similar to bruscetta; or cooked to flavor dishes such as fish soup or sauces. Italians say it is not used to make passata or tomato puree, so don't even think about it.
In addition to the above ideas, we use it for simple Pico de Gallo or wedged and tossed with pasta.
