Surely you have already tried a pizza that has a different flavor and that is largely due to a type of tomato with which it is made. This type of tomato is known as San Marzano Tomato. It is one of the tomatoes whose variety is one of the most recognized in the world for the creation of Italian sauces, especially for pizzas.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to tell you about the main characteristics, uses and care that the San Marzano tomato needs.
Contents
main Features
The San Marzano tomato is a specific variety of tomato ideal for making sauces and preserves. It has been cultivated in different regions of Italy since 1770, when the seeds were offered to the Kingdom of Naples by the Viceroyalty of Peru (the origin of the seeds). Traditional Neapolitan pasta is made with tomatoes which has incredible flavor and balanced sugar and acidity. The San Marzano tomato is a variety of tomato that It has the shape of an elongated pear, similar to a bell pepper. This tomato has nothing to do with the round tomatoes we are used to.
It is not a bushy plant like many hybrid varieties grown for commercial production. San Marzano tomato it is usually grown in a greenhouse or outdoors and needs support to stand upright. This tomato can produce up to 10 fruits per branch, over a long growing season, which can amount to several kilos of tomatoes per square meter.
It is highly valued for its preservative and preservative properties, due to its perfect acidity and sugar content. It is mainly used as an accompaniment to pizzas and pasta, as it is the most popular of its similar varieties. The tomato grows best when planted in a garden because the plant grows upright and needs support to stand upright.
Plantation of San Marzano tomatoes
Cultivation in greenhouses makes it possible to lengthen and advance the cultivation cycle. We are talking about the ability to produce San Marzano tomatoes continuously with a cycle of more than 8 months.
The ideal temperature for growing San Marzano tomatoes is between 20°C and 30°C. The range can be extended down to 5ºC, the plants continue to grow, but the yield is limited. Growth and pollination problems can occur at temperatures below 15°C. Above 35 ºC, pollination is affected and pollen quality decreases considerably.
Tomatoes are solanaceous plants that require a lot of light. Photosynthesis is essentially obtaining energy from light and is very necessary to promote the correct growth and ripening of fruits. In summer, however, direct sunlight on the fruit can cause spotting and uneven coloring.
Tomatoes of all varieties have high soil nutrient requirements. It requires a deep substrate with good drainage. It is important to cover at least 2% organic matter, although it can be less if we provide continuous chemical fertilization.
Prefers slightly acidic soils, between 6 and 7.5as it guarantees maximum absorption and availability of all nutrients, including trace elements.
Tips for growing San Marzano tomatoes
Growing San Marzano Tomatoes it’s a fun process and not as easy as hybrid varieties. Plants need care, but the effort will be rewarded with a bountiful and delicious harvest. Planting seedlings of this variety should be done at the end of March, with 1-2 true leaves at the stage. At the end of May, grown tomatoes should be transplanted into a greenhouse, under shelters with films or open ground.
Planting should prepare the ground in advance, that is, apply organic compost in the fall so that it rots during the winter. In the spring, you need to additionally treat the earth with mineral fertilizers:
- Potassium chloride
- double superphosphate
- wood ash
During the growing season, tomatoes need to be fed 4 times more. After a few weeks of permanent planting, you will need to cut off the weak side shoots of the tomatoes, leaving only 2-3 strong stems. In the future, they will form bushes. Grazing is for the highest yield.
The description of plant care consists of 3 elements. It is necessary to systematically water the bush at the root, loosen the soil around the tomatoes and cultivate 2-3 times per season. Tomatoes reach a height of 1.5 meters, so it is necessary to provide support and garter belts for the bush in time.
A few weeks after planting, flowering begins and by mid-July you will be able to get your first tomatoes. The results continued into the fall. The San Marzano tomato is a high yielding variety. As many reviews have shown, the bushes are simply covered with a fruit brush.
Plagues and diseases
Chlorosis, or the appearance of yellow leaves on tomatoes, is a very common symptom once the plant begins to grow and release its first floral aromas. However, this is not always caused by a single cause, but by multiple variables such as nutrient deficiencies, pest and disease activity or atmospheric conditions (cold, water stress or lack of light).
Nitrogen deficiency presents a general lack of growth and germination problems. Yellow tomato leaves are found throughout the plant, both young and adult. Rickets in plants indicates nitrogen deficiency relative to other elemental deficiencies.
magnesium deficiency manifests itself as a yellowish color on older leaves, keeping the nerves green. Common in acidic sandy soils, especially when high potassium is applied and during cool, wet periods.
Sulfur deficiency is usually rare, since it is found in the composition of many fertilizers. It starts from the yellow leaves of young tomato leaves and is processed very similarly to nitrogen, and occurs in very heavy soils and low oxygen environments.
Potassium deficiency too can cause yellow tomato leaves, adult leaves, on the margins. As the deficiency progresses, necrotic spots form which form the wound. It can occur in soils with acidic pH and sandy texture, high magnesium content and high fruit load.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about the San Marzano tomato and its characteristics.