Saint Pierre - Tomato
This old-fashioned tomato variety produces large, round fruits weighing between 200 and 400 g, with firm, juicy, flavorful flesh. Its abundant production and excellent taste make it a favorite with gardeners.
What are the characteristics of the Saint Pierre red tomato?
The Saint Pierre tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, is a mid-season variety developed by Vilmorin & Cie in France in 1880. This indeterminate plant with regular foliage adapts to all types of soil. Very vigorous, this variety produces large, round, red fruits with firm, juicy flesh that can be enjoyed in sauces, salads or baked.
How to grow Saint Pierre tomatoes in the vegetable garden?
Saint Pierre red tomatoes can be sown from the end of February under glass until April, in pots or honeycombed trays, under a very bright shelter and at a temperature of between 16 and 20°C.
- Bury seeds 5-7 mm deep in potting soil;
- Water seedlings thoroughly;
- Plant tomatoes indoors under a light source or in a nursery;
- Transplant into pots when plants reach the stage of 2 to 4 true leaves. Bury the stem up to the two cotyledons to encourage root development and keep the plants out of the cold;
- For 4 to 7 days before planting, take the plants outside during the day to acclimatize them to the outdoors;
- As soon as the plants are strong, transplant the whole clump into the ground in full sunlight, after the last frosts (ice saints in May). Greenhouse plants can be transplanted when indoor temperatures no longer fall below 10°C;
- Maintain a minimum distance of 50 cm between plants, burying the stem up to the first leaves;
Water Saint Pierre tomatoes abundantly when planting in the vegetable garden.
It's a good idea to plant companion plants between tomatoes, such as Oregon tagetes or Cinnamon basil, to repel pests.
How often should I water Saint Pierre tomato plants?
To avoid fungal diseases such as mildew or apical necrosis, it's important to follow our cultivation advice:
- Water Saint Pierre tomato plants regularly, but not excessively;
- Water at the base of the plants, avoiding wetting the foliage and flowers;
- Mulch the soil to retain moisture.
Is it necessary to prune tomato plants?
Saint Pierre mid-season red tomatoes have an indeterminate growth habit. The stem will therefore continue to lengthen and form numerous lateral branches, all of which produce flowers.
We advise against pruning the plants. This can cause open wounds to the tomatoes and lead to disease. However, it is possible to keep these bulky plants in cages or on ladders.
When to harvest Saint Pierre tomatoes
Saint Pierre red tomatoes are harvested from June to October. This highly productive crop can produce several kilos of fruit per plant in a single season.
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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 200 to 400 g
35 seeds
France
1880
"Vilmorin-Andrieux "Les Plantes Potagères
This ancient French variety was cited in Vilmorin-Andrieux's "Les Plantes Potagères" of 1880.