Tomato 'ES 58'

ES 58 is a heirloom tomato variety that has a dull name but an amazing sweet flavour with low acidity. Produces medium sized slightly flattened red tomatoes with firm, juicy flesh. Good keeper. Resistant to bacterial wilt, sunburn and splitting. Grows well in warm climates. Determinate. 12 to 14 weeks to harvest. 50 seeds per packet.
Tomato 'ES 58'
Tomato 'ES 58'
Price Per Packet: $ 2.50

Growing Advice

Scientific Name: Solanum lycopersicum

Common Names: Tomato 'ES 58'

Family: Solanaceae

Origin

ES 58 is an Australian bred heirloom tomato that is well adapted to our climate and growing conditions.

Culinary Uses

ES 58 is an one of the best heirloom slicing tomatoes for use in sandwiches with firm, sweet flesh that has low acidity.  It can also be diced to use raw in salads or cooked as a topping for pizzas or omelettes.  Excellent when cut in half and grilled topped with a slice of cheese.  

Growing Tips

ES 58 tomatoes will grow and produce best when grown in a location that receives full sun.  Gardeners in warmer climates may prefer to grow ES 58 tomatoes in a lightly shaded position to reduce heat stress on plants during the hottest parts of the day, they'll still grow well but fruit production will be reduced and ripening will take longer.  Tomatoes grow and produce best when planted in a free-draining, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter.  If your garden soil is sandy, heavy with clay or pale in colour and lacking in organic matter you can improve it by placing down a layer of compost or well-rotted manure prior to planting tomatoes.  Worms and soil micro-organisms will help to incorporate the organic matter through your soil, improving its structure and increasing its fertility.  Top dress around tomato plants with a complete organic fertiliser several times throughout the growing season.  ES 58 is a determinate variety with a bush-like growth habit, it doesn't require trellising or caging but should still be supported by tying the main stem onto a sturdy garden stake.  ES 58 grows about half a metre tall before fruiting.   When watering tomatoes try not to wet the leaves as this can spread fungal spores that can cause tomato leaf blight and other diseases.  Water your tomato plants consistently but don't over-water them, allow the soil to dry between waterings.  Tomato roots like to be kept cool so apply mulch around your plants, this will also help to retain soil moisture, prevent splash-back of fungal spores from the soil onto the leaves and reduce the frequency of watering required.  ES 58 has good disease resistance and is resistant to sunburn and splitting of the fruit.

When to Sow

In temperate regions of Australia sow ES 58 tomato seeds during Spring as soon as any chance of frost has past.  In frost-free subtropical regions of Australia sow ES 58 tomato seeds from early Autumn through to early Spring.  In tropical regions of Australia sow ES 58 tomato seeds during the dry season from late Autumn through to mid Winter.

How to Sow

Sow ES 58 tomato seeds 6mm deep, for maximum plant health sow a few seeds into each planting hole and thin all but the most vigorous seedlings a week after germination.  Tomato seeds can be started in punnets or sown directly in the ground where they are to grow.  Space ES 58 tomatoes about 60cm apart to give their roots enough room to expand and take up nutrients from the surrounding soil and allow airflow between plants which helps to reduce the occurrence of fungal diseases.  When planting out tomato starts plant them deeply, up to the level of the cotyledons or seed leaves.  Tomatoes have what is known as adventitious roots, this means that when buried the hairs along their stem have the potential to develop into roots.  By burying your tomato seedlings deeply they'll have a deeper, better developed root system.

Germination Time

ES 58 tomato seeds germinate quickly and consistently with most seedlings emerging 7 to 13 days after sowing.

Time to Harvest

ES 58 tomatoes seedlings take 12 to 14 weeks from planting to produce ripe fruits.