Scientific Name: Solanum lycopersicum

Common Name: Tomato 'Riesentraube'

Family: Solanaceae

Origin:

Riesentraube is an old German heirloom tomato variety, its exact origin is unknown but is likely to have been developed prior to 1850.

Culinary Uses:

An excellent tasting and versatile variety, Riesentraube can be used in the same way you would use any other cherry tomato.  A favourite way I like to use them is to slice them in half and toss them through pasta dishes.  They can also be enjoyed as a fresh snack straight off the vine or added to salads for little bursts of tomato flavour.

Growing Tips:

For fastest growth choose a growing site that receives full sun or very light shade. Riesentraube is an indeterminate variety, meaning that it's a climber and will need staking or caging to keep the heavy vines and fruits off the ground.  Dig though a decent amount of organic fertiliser, well rotted manure, or compost prior to sowing.  Leggy tomato seedlings can be planted deeply into the soil, they'll form roots along any section of buried stem resulting in a stronger root system and a healthier plant.  Water Riesentraube tomato plants evenly and regularly for best fruit quality.  Avoid wetting leaves to prevent fungal diseases, you can snip off the lower leaver to reduce splash-back from the ground.  Hand pollination may be required if insect pollinators are lacking, using an electric toothbrush can help tomato flowers to release their pollen due to the vibrations.  Buzz pollinators such as our native blue banded bees are efficient pollinators of tomatoes, you can attract these to your garden by planting perennial salvias close to your tomato patch, the bees love the salvia flowers.  

When To Sow:

In temperate regions of Australia sow in September or November.  In subtropical regions of Australia sow from March to September, but avoid sowing during Winter if damaging frosts are expected in your area.  In tropical regions of Australia sow during the dry season from May to July.

How To Sow:

Sow Riesentraube tomato seeds 6mm deep spacing plants about 60cm apart to allow plenty of room for growth.

Germination Time:

Riesentraube tomato seeds take between 7 and 13 days to germinate after sowing.

Time To Harvest:

Your first clusters of Riesentraube cherry tomatoes will be ripe and ready to pick off the vine 11 to 13 weeks after sowing, depending on growing conditions.