Merveille des Marchés - Tomato
Characteristics of the Merveille des Marchés tomato
The Merveille des Marchés tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is an old mid-season variety from France. It is mentioned in Vilmorin-Andrieux's 1885 book Les Plantes Potagères. Its round, smooth, red fruits, weighing 130 to 180 g and resistant to shattering, contain pink, fragrant flesh ideal for stuffed vegetable recipes. With its smooth, very thin skin, this variety is also ideal for making sauces and coulis.
Merveille des Marchés tomato seedlings
Merveille des Marchés tomatoes can be sown from the end of February under glass until April, in pots or in trays, under a very bright shelter and at a temperature between 16 and 20°C.
- Bury seeds 5-7 mm deep in potting soil;
- Water the seedlings, but do not over-water;
- Grow tomatoes indoors under a light source or in a nursery;
- Transplant into pots when the tomato reaches the stage of 2 to 4 true leaves. Bury the stem up to the two cotyledons to encourage root development and keep the plants protected from the cold;
- For 4 to 7 days before planting, take the tomato plants outside during the day to acclimatize them to outdoor conditions;
- As soon as the tomatoes are strong, transplant the whole clod into the vegetable garden, in full sun, after the last frosts. Greenhouse plants can be transplanted when indoor temperatures no longer fall below 10°C;
- Keep a minimum distance of 50 cm between plants, burying the stem up to the first leaves;
- Water tomatoes abundantly when planting in the vegetable garden.
Tomato plant care
The Merveille des Marchés tomato has an indeterminate growth habit. The stem will continue to lengthen and form numerous lateral branches, all of which produce flowers. Pruning is not recommended. Pruning can cause open wounds to the tomatoes and encourage the spread of disease. For staking, these bulky plants can be kept in cages or on ladders.
To avoid fungal diseases such as mildew or apical necrosis, we recommend regular, but not excessive, watering of tomato plants, without wetting the leaves or flowers. You can also mulch the soil to conserve moisture, and use organic preventive treatments such as nettle purin and comfrey.
Tomato companion plants
In the vegetable garden, tomatoes enjoy the company of cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, tagetes and basil, which repel pests and improve yields. However, we advise against combining potatoes and eggplants with tomato plants.
Harvesting Merveille des Marchés tomatoes
These tomatoes are harvested from June to October. This is a crop that offers an abundance of fruit per plant in one season. Raw or cooked, this variety lends itself to both salads and stuffed dishes. Its pink, fragrant flesh goes well with sunny vegetables, meats and fish.
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Sow in pots at a temperature of between 16 and 20°C, under a well-lit shelter, 5 weeks before planting. After the last frosts, transplant the whole clump into the ground at a minimum distance of 50 cm, burying the stem up to the first leaves. Water abundantly at the time of planting.
Solanaceae need light and heat to produce. In cool climates, it's best to grow them under cover and, depending on the soil, water them regularly.
Solanum lycopersicum
From 130 to 180 g
35 seeds
France
1885
"Vilmorin-Andrieux "Les Plantes Potagères
This ancient variety is native to France. It is mentioned in Vilmorin-Andrieux's 1885 book "Les Plantes Potagères".