Description
Solanum lycopersicum ‘Principe Borghese’ is a traditional Italian heirloom tomato variety historically grown for sun-drying. The plants are determinate to semi-determinate, compact, and productive, typically reaching 90 to 120 cm in height. Fruits are small to medium, oval to plum-shaped, with bright red skin, thick walls, and low moisture content. The flavor is rich and concentrated, intensifying further when dried, making this variety especially suitable for sun-dried tomatoes, sauces, roasting, and fresh use.
This cultivar performs best in full sun and well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is drought tolerant once established and valued for its uniform fruiting and excellent keeping qualities.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Transplant outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and when soil temperatures are consistently above 16°C to 18°C. In warm, dry climates, planting in late spring allows fruits to mature under optimal conditions for drying.
Germination Guide
🌍 Italy (Puglia region)
Easy
Solanum lycopersicum 'Principe Borghese' is a classic Italian heirloom tomato from the Puglia region, prized for sun-drying due to its meaty texture, few seeds, and low juice content. Seeds germinate readily at warm temperatures (75-85°F), typically within 5-14 days with bottom heat and consistent moisture, requiring no pre-treatment. This vigorous, determinate variety is straightforward to propagate from seed and produces abundant small clusters of plum-shaped fruits ideal for drying, sauces, and fresh consumption.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
5 – 14 days
Temperature
Min 60°C
Ideal 75°C
Max 85°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Sterile seed-starting mix, well-draining potting soil
Recommended container
Seed trays or small containers with drainage holes
Growing Tips
Use a heating mat to maintain soil temperatures of 75-85°F for fastest germination (5-7 days). Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Cover seeds with a humidity dome until germination occurs, then remove immediately to prevent fungal diseases. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep and press lightly into soil for good contact. Once seedlings emerge, provide bright light (14-16 hours daily) and maintain cooler temperatures (60-70°F) to prevent legginess. Remove humidity dome as soon as seedlings appear to reduce damping-off disease risk. Water from below rather than overhead to reduce disease pressure. Transplant into larger containers when the third set of true leaves develops (around 4-6 weeks after germination). Before transplanting outdoors, harden off seedlings by reducing temperature to 60-65°F and decreasing water for 2-3 days.
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