Rodade Tomato

Rodade is an easy-growing and adaptable open pollinated, determinate type that produces globe shaped, bright red juicy salad tomato.

Difficulty: Easy

Soil: Loamy or sandy soil.

Sowing: Spring/Summer

Germination: 7-9 days

Days to Maturity: 80-90 days

Position: Full sun

Spacing: 60-90 cm apart

Sow Depth: between 10-15mm deep

Height: 100cm

Growing notes:

Seeds should be started indoors six to eight weeks before you intend to transplant outdoors. Wait until all risk of frost has passed and nighttime air temperatures are reliably above at least 10°c. For the best results, sow the tomato seeds 3 mm deep in a well-draining warm soil.

Choose a location in full sun and avoid growing tomatoes in the same soil that has previously had tomatoes grown in. Transplant the tomatoes when the seedlings have their first true leaves, they should be planted deep in the soil, to a depth just underneath the bottom remaining set of leaves, this will help the plants develop a healthier root systems. As well as spaced apart to avoid the root systems competing with each other. And remember to add your stake or trellis when transplanting as to not damage the roots later on while still giving the plant a support structure.

Keep the soil moist but not soaked and avoid wetting the leaves of the plants. Add a natural mulch around the plants to help retain moisture and keep weeds down. Tomatoes are heavy feeders and should be fertilized upon transplanting and once the first flowers appear. Prune by snapping off the suckers, that appear in between main branches and the stems before they have a chance to develop.

The Rodade Tomato plant is determinate and reaches its mature height and set all its fruit at once for one big harvest, check the ripeness by giving the tomato fruit a squeeze and you should feel them gently give way. Tomatoes can also be ripened off the vine after being harvested, by leaving them in a paper bag in a dark, dry place and checking on them until they turn red and soften.

Uses: 

Rodade tomatoes are used fresh off the vine for salads, on sandwiches and burgers as well as spicy salsas.