Tomato Costoluto Genovese Seeds

Costoluto Genovese is a deeply ribbed Italian tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) from Genoa, with flattened deep red fruit of 200–300 g used mainly for sauce. The packet holds 10 seeds.

Also known as: Tomato, Tamatar (Hindi), Thakkali (Tamil, Malayalam), Tamata (Telugu), Tomate (Spanish, French, German, Portuguese), Pomodoro (Italian), Domates (Turkish), Pomidor (Polish), Fanqie (Chinese).

Ribbed fruit for sauce

• Habit: indeterminate, needs a stake or cage
• Fruit: 200–300 g, ribbed and slightly flattened
• Colour: deep red, firm texture
• Flavour: old-fashioned tomato taste, sweet with a slight tang

Sow 3–6 mm deep in soil at 16–29 °C

Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost. Cover it with 3–6 mm of seed-starting mix and keep the soil at 16–29 °C. At 20–30 °C seedlings usually appear in 6–8 days (figure measured with seed sown about 12 mm deep). These are typical values for tomatoes as a species, not a test of this packet.

Planting out and support

Move plants outside after the last frost. Space them 60–90 cm apart in well-drained soil at pH 6.0–6.8 and at least 6–8 hours of direct sun. As an indeterminate variety it keeps growing and fruiting all season, so set a stake or cage at planting. The first ripe fruit comes about 75–85 days after transplanting, counted from planting out rather than from sowing.

What you get

The packet holds 10 seeds of Costoluto Genovese. Tomato seed typically stays usable for 4 years or more when kept cool, dark and dry. We do not state a germination percentage for this packet.

FAQ

What is it mainly used for?

Mainly sauces, salsas and soups; the fruit is also roasted or sliced fresh.

How long from sowing to the first ripe fruit?

Roughly 6–8 weeks of indoor growing before transplanting, then about 75–85 days after planting out.