Tomato 'Rocco's' (Organic)

Product Information

Rocco Roy Violi immigrated to Australia from Italy in 1969, bringing with him a few cherished tomatoes from his hometown of Plati. In his garden, Rocco took great pride in cultivating these tomatoes, meticulously saving seeds from the best ones each year to ensure the quality and continuity of his prized plants. Ash has been growing Rocco’s tomato since his passing at 95. He encourages people to save and share the seeds, which have become well adapted to the Canberra climate after 50 years of growing. Seeds kindly donated by Ashley Violi.

Sow seed 6-8 weeks before you want to plant out your tomatoes. Never plant tomatoes in the same bed two years running as you risk infection from a build up of pests and diseases. Tomatoes need an open, sunny position, with plenty of air circulation to thrive. Tomatoes are best in a bed which has been heavily manured for a previous crop such as broccoli. A soil that is too rich in nutrients will produce prolific, but soft, sappy growth which is prone to disease. Long, leggy tomato seedlings can be planted very deeply or even on their sides, as the stem is able to grow roots when covered with soil, and a large, healthy root system will develop.