Packet Content (approx.): 40

San Marzano is a classic plum/paste type of tomato from Italy. Borne on  intermediate vines, this variety produces clusters of delicious, elongated fruit  and performs best if staked.
It is a compact and prolific producer of bright-red, slim, 5 to 7cm (2 to 3in),  plum-type which fruit over a long season. It is crack resistant with heavy walls  and little juice.
It has a bittersweet taste. The fruit have the characteristic elongated "plum"  shape, firm flesh and a low number of seeds. The skin is an intense bright red  colour and peels off easily.
It is fragrant and fleshy, rich in flavour (which enhances traditional dishes of  Italian cuisine, the world's best for pasta sauce) and rich in nutrients.


Sowing:
Plant about 3mm (1/8in) deep, in small pots using seed starting compost. Water  lightly and keep consistently moist until germination occurs. Tomato seeds  usually germinate within 5 -10 days when kept in the optimum temperature range  of 21-27°C (70-80°F). As soon as they emerge, place them in a location that  receives a lot of light and a cooler temperature (60-70°F); a south-facing  window should work.

Timing:
As they cannot tolerate any degree of frost the timing for sowing and planting  outside is key to successfully growing tomatoes. Where the seeds are sown under  cover or indoors, aim to sow the seeds so that they reach the stage to be  transplanted outside three weeks after the last frost date. Tomato plants take  roughly seven weeks from sowing to reach the transplanting stage. For example,  if your last frost date is early May, the seeds should be planted in early April  to allow transplanting at the end of May.

Position:
Tomatoes require a full sun position. Two or three weeks before planting, dig  the soil over and incorporate as much organic matter as possible.
The best soil used for containers is half potting compost and half a soil-based  type loam: this gives some weight to the soil.


Transplanting:
When the plants develop their first true leaves, and before they become root  bound, they should be transplanted into larger into 4 inch pots.
Young plants are very tender and susceptible to frost damage, as well as  sunburn. I protect my young plants by placing a large plastic milk jug, with the  bottom removed, to form a miniature greenhouse.
Depending on the components of your compost, you may need to begin fertilising.  If you do fertilise, do it very, very sparingly with a weak dilution.
Transplant into their final positions when they are about 15cm (6in) high. Two  to three weeks prior to this, the plants should be hardened off.

Planting:
Just before transplanting the tomato plants to their final position drive a  strong stake into the ground 5cm (2in) from the planting position. The stake  should be at least 30cm (1ft) deep in the ground and 1.2m (4ft) above ground  level - the further into the ground the better the support. As the plant grows,  tie in the main stem to the support stake - check previous ties to ensure that  they do not cut into the stem as the plant grows.

Dig a hole 45cm (18in) apart in the bed to the same depth as the pot and water  if conditions are at all dry. Ease the plant out of the pot, keeping the root  ball as undisturbed as far as possible. Place it in the hole and fill around the  plant with soil. The soil should be a little higher than it was in the pot.  Loosely tie the plant's stem to the support stake using soft garden twine ?allow  some slack for future growth.

Cultivation:
A constant supply of moisture is essential, dry periods significantly increase  the risk of the fruit splitting. Feed with a liquid tomato fertiliser (high in  potash) starting when the first fruits start to form, and every two or three  weeks up to the end of August. In September, feed with a general fertiliser  (higher in nitrogen) in order to help the plant support it's foliage.
Over watering may help to produce larger fruit, but flavour may be reduced.  Additionally, splitting and cracking can result from uneven and excessive  watering.

Harvesting:
Pick as soon as the fruits are ripe, this also encourages the production of more  fruit. Harvest all the fruit as soon as frost threatens and ripen on a window sill.

Suitable for the vegetable garden, allotments and containers.
Be prepared to water well and supplement feed with high-potash feed during  season. Regular feeding is recommended.