Notes on a Crimson Carmello tomato

Rainer Hoenicke

Editor's note: The writer reflects on his 2022 tomato crop.

It's early September, and this year, for the first time since 1996, we have been blessed with a steady tomato crop from the following varieties obtained during this year's tomato sale: Marvel Stripes, Pink Berkeley Tie-dye, Gardener's Delight, and Crimson Carmello.

I was attracted to the Crimson Carmello, since it was described as highly resistant to fungal disease (except Botrytis), and I wanted to determine how well it does when planted directly in my veggie bed that hasn't had veggies in it that are in the Solanaceae family for two years in a row. The photo shows how well it's doing, despite possibly some lingering Fusarium and Verticillium fungus in my native soil. I planted the other varietals in a metal livestock trough filled with organic potting soil, and they did fine also, although their yield was a bit disappointing.

Crimson Carmello is a French hybrid indeterminate tomato, and the sunny spot and regular watering twice a week with a soaker hose and some buckets of recycled kitchen greywater probably contributed to its good yield (about 10 pounds so far). It took about 90 days to get the first ripe tomato after planting in mid-April.

It's great on sandwiches and as salad with pasta dinners. We'll likely freeze the next batch for use during the winter.

Napa Master Gardeners are available to answer garden questions by email: mastergardeners@countyofnapa.org. or phone at 707-253-4143.  Volunteers will get back to you after they research answers to your questions.

Visit our website: napamg.ucanr.edu to find answers to all of your horticultural questions.

Photo credits: Rainer Hoenicke

Information links:

UC IPM-Tomato https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/tomato/

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/tomato/index.html

http://ipm.ucanr.edu/home-and-landscape/tomato/cultural-tips/