(Lycopersicon esculentum) 'Donatellina' belongs to the datterino category of grape tomatoes. Italian for "little dates", datterini are characterized by their rich, dense flesh and low water content, making them excellent both raw as salad tomatoes or, even better, roasted, atop pizza, or as slow-cooked confit... The flavor is exceptional, and might be our new favorite cherry-sized tomato, full stop. It strikes a different type of balance, defined neither by piercing sweetness nor sharp acidity, though it has plenty of both. It can best be described as having sublime balance, the full richness and flavor of a slicing tomato with the sweetness of a cherry, everything in perfect proportion..
The indeterminate plants have a very uniform growth architecture, and the long trusses can be allowed to ripen to the end and be harvested complete, "on the vine". Fruits are incredibly split-resistant and store for weeks in perfect condition after harvest. We had a couple of clusters hanging for well over a month in our kitchen this fall with virtually no deterioration in quality. While the fruits' durability lends well to outdoor production, the plants' uniform and vigorous growth structure also makes them well adapted to a two-leader greenhouse production system. The plants are shown to have resistance to tomato mosaic virus (TMV).
Bred by Austrian biodynamic seed house ReinSaat and released in 2016.
We simply cannot recommend these enough, they are a flavor revelation.
Indeterminate. 75 days. UO

Packet: 20 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow 5-8 weeks before your last frost date.

Transplant out after danger of frost (45+F nighttime temps).

Note: Don't start too early or plants will be leggy and root-bound! Tomatoes do well in clay to loam soils.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/8-1/4"

SPACING:

18-30" spacing in rows 5' apart.

EMERGENCE:

5-10 days @ soil temp 70-85F

LIGHT:

Full sun

FERTILITY:

Medium-Heavy. Prefers well-drained, well-balanced fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Note that excess Nitrogen will encourage foliage, not fruit! Low calcium and irregular watering will result in blossom end rot.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Row cover may be used for extra warmth and possible earlier fruit set.

Irregular watering can result in blossom end rot. Even watering and supplemental calcium can help prevent this.

Plant deeply to encourage healthy root structure.

Indeterminate varieties may benefit from pruning suckers to encourage air flow, plant health, and energy towards plant top and fruit.

Determinate varieties do not need pruning.

Trellis Indeterminate varieties! We really like the Florida weave.

Tomato, 'Donatellina'