Seeds, Franchi San Marzano

San Marzano. 0.75g packet, 150+ seeds. 

Indeterminate, 82 days. Large plants with good disease resistance. Plum-shaped fruits are 5-6 ounces, with thin skin and very meaty flesh. 

The San Marzano may be the most famous tomato variety on the planet, thanks to its long history of cultivation around Naples and its use in sauces, Margherita pizza, and the traditional Neapolitan ragu (meat sauce). It is widely considered to be the best flavored tomato for sauce. Despite its immense popularity, San Marzano tomato has been added to the Slow Food Ark of Taste, which represents varieties in danger of extinction. The reason it has been listed is that during the past 20 years, commercial farmers have switched from the delicate San Marzano to new hybrids that can withstand mechanical production. The decline in large-scale production has reduced demand from farmers who grow the seeds. But if home gardeners continue to request San Marzano, its future is more secure. Fortunately, the demand for San Marzano is very strong among gardeners who value flavor above all else. It is one of our top-selling varieties, and we are grateful to Franchi  for supplying top-quality seeds with excellent germination.