The tall San Marzano tomato is the legendary Italian variety, developed near Naples on the fertile volcanic soils of Vesuvius. Mid-late, indeterminate home garden variety, with long cylindrical fruits (100–130 g) that contain few seeds and have a deep red colour. Grows up to 2 metres tall, so it needs staking or a trellis.
Growing and use
Sowing time: March in seed trays. Transplanting: May. Spacing: 80×60 cm. Staking or trellising is essential, and regular side-shoot removal is required.
The fruits can be picked continuously from August until the first autumn frost. The classic use of San Marzano is tomato sauce — its low water and seed content, dense flesh and rich flavour make it the gold standard for pizza and pasta sauce. Also wonderful peeled and canned whole.