If you are looking for a prolific plant that produces abundant yields of small fruit to plant in your home garden, the Principe Borghese tomato might be the one for you!
An heirloom variety originating from Italy, this tomato is famous for making sun-dried tomatoes. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this tomato, including how to grow it and ways to enjoy it.
Looking for Principe Borghese tomato seeds? Check availability.
Characteristics
Appearance
This tomato is a small plum-shaped variety that grows to about 1″ to 2.”
Featuring a deep-red meaty flesh that is relatively dry compared to other tomato varieties, this tomato is fantastic for sun-drying or dehydrating.
Taste
The vibrant fruit has a classic rich tomato flavor that is great for making tomato sauces.
The Principe Borghese tomato is famous for its excellent flavor and texture. When dried, these tomatoes retain more flavor than most other varieties, so it is no surprise they are a popular Italian choice for making sun-dried tomatoes.
Ways to Enjoy Principe Borghese Tomatoes
As one of the most versatile fruits in the world, tomatoes are a staple ingredient in many cuisines. They can be enjoyed fresh, frozen, canned, or dehydrated!
Fresh
Fresh tomatoes are a delicious addition to salads, sandwiches, soups, and many other dishes.
Principe Borghese tomatoes are on the smaller side, so they are ideal for fresh salads. The fresh fruit’s rich, tangy tomato flavor adds a tasty twist to any dish.
Frozen
Frozen tomatoes last up to a year! They are a great choice to store some of the plant’s yields for winter months.
Freezing these fruits changes their texture, so they are best when used as an ingredient in soups, chili, sauces, and stews. Frozen Principe Borghese tomatoes are a tasty addition to any cooked tomato recipe.
We’ve got a classic tomato soup and a tomato bisque that you’ll love!
Canned
Canning tomatoes extends their shelf life even further than freezing does!
Canned Principe Borghese tomatoes can last up to eighteen months if stored properly. Many people choose to can their excess tomato harvest to prevent wasting any fruit that can’t be consumed before it goes bad.
Canned tomatoes are great for making tomato sauce for pasta dishes and when used in soups, stews, or chili. You can also make your own ketchup using canned tomatoes!
Dehydrated
Dehydrated tomatoes are good for up to two months when bagged and stored in a cool, dry place. Refrigerating dehydrated tomatoes can extend their shelf life to up to nine months!
Crush dehydrated tomatoes into flakes or enjoy them as a pizza topping, salad topping, or mixed into a spread.
Sun-Dried
Principe Borghese tomatoes are notorious for making sun-dried tomatoes. Sun-drying tomatoes intensify the fruit’s flavor profile and alter its texture.
Sun-dried tomatoes can last anywhere from nine months to a year when stored correctly in a cool, dry place.
Enjoy them on pizza or in a dip, pasta dish, sandwich, and so much more.
Health Benefits
Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, Principe Borghese tomatoes protect against cardiovascular disease.
Lycopene, a naturally occurring antioxidant found in tomatoes, is known to lower the chance of developing heart disease and cancer and protects the eyes from light-related damage.
Potassium, found in high levels in tomatoes, is vital for heart and muscle function. It also helps maintain blood pressure and blood sugar in the body.
Tomatoes are rich in vitamin A, which promotes immunity, healthy vision, and healthy skin.
They also contain high amounts of vitamin C, an antioxidant that fights free radicals in the body. The body naturally generates free radicals, which are known to cause cancer. Consuming vitamin C daily fights against these harmful free radicals and protects against cancer.
The fruit contains beta carotene and lutein, which protects the eyes from cataracts and conditions such as macular degeneration.
Tomatoes are also a great source of fiber, vitamin K, and iron.
Growing Your Own
Tomatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow in your backyard garden! The Principe Borghese tomato is a determinate variety, meaning they are bushy but compact self-pruning plants.
Growing Conditions
Tomato plants thrive in warm conditions. They perform best when in well-drained soil.
The soil needs to be at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. The ideal temperature for growing tomatoes is anywhere from 70 to 80 degrees. These plants need six to eight hours of full sun per day.
Germinating Seeds
Start seeds indoors for your Principe Borghese tomatoes at least six weeks before the last frost for the earliest harvest.
Plant the seeds about one-fourth an inch into a well-moistened seed-starting mix. Spray the soil with water as needed whenever it feels dry. It should be damp, not soaked.
The ideal temperature for germinating tomato seeds is 80 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in a cooler climate, a heat mat placed beneath the seedling trays can help maintain the heat needed for germination.
In proper conditions, seeds take around seven days to germinate.
Transplanting Seedlings
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the threat of frost has passed.
Place the plants outside for a few hours daily to harden off before transplanting them into the ground.
The seedlings should be spaced at least thirty inches apart. Bury the bottom two-thirds of the plant to ensure the seedlings plant strong roots.
These transplants need two inches of water per week. If the top inch of the soil is dry, they need to be watered.
Fertilize tomato plants every four to six weeks.
Support
Principe Borghese tomatoes hold up very well on the vines, but if the fruit weighs down the limbs, you can stake the plant for stability.
Pests/Disease
Common pests found on tomato plants are aphids, spider mites, hornworms, and white flies. These can be sprayed off or washed off with neem oil.
Blossom end rot, tomato wilt, and blight are diseases that affect tomato plants. To prevent these diseases, try to keep the foliage dry by watering below the canopy. Remove any parts of the plant that are infected to prevent further plant death.
Where To Buy Seeds
Ready to give planting the Principe Borghese tomato in your backyard garden a go? We can point you in the right direction
Find seeds on Amazon! Order yours today to be ready for spring planting.
Give the Principe Borghese Tomato a Try!
If you are looking for the perfect tomato for sun-drying, look no further than the Principe Borghese tomato! It is super easy to grow at home and tastes delicious.
If you would like to learn more about the different tomato varieties, including how to grow them, in your home garden, check out the Tomato Plants page on our website.
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Brittany Tedford is a fiction author who has been writing for over fifteen years, an aspiring English teacher, and a writer for Minneopa Orchards.
She lives in a small town in Mississippi, known for its southern hospitality and success in the agricultural industry.
With a bachelor’s and a master’s in Creative Writing and English, Brittany loves researching and writing about nearly any topic. She hoards random tips and bits of information to share with others!
Brittany can be reached at writerbeefreelancecontent@gmail.com