avatarDan Pfeifer

Summary

The article "The Trusty Gardener-Heirloom Tomato Review-A Series (#4)" reviews the Costoluto Genovese heirloom tomato, an Italian variety known for its versatility and historical significance, including its cultivation by Thomas Jefferson.

Abstract

The Trusty Gardener's latest installment in the heirloom tomato review series focuses on the Costoluto Genovese, a tomato variety cherished in Italy for its unique, lobed shape and its suitability for various culinary uses such as slicing, sauces, juicing, and preserving. The article discusses the tomato's historical cultivation, including at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, and its adaptability to different climates, with the author expressing anticipation for their own harvest in Central New York State. Inspired by its appearance on CNN's "Searching For Italy," the author highlights the tomato's typical growth in Tuscany and its availability from multiple seed companies, inviting readers to share their experiences with growing this heirloom variety.

Opinions

  • The author is excited about growing the Costoluto Genovese for the first time and is looking forward to trying them due to their multi-purpose nature.
  • The author finds it unusual and impressive that the Costoluto Genovese can be used for both slicing and sauce-making.
  • The inspiration to grow these tomatoes came from a recognition of the variety on CNN's "Searching For Italy," indicating a positive influence of media on gardening choices.
  • The author suggests that staking is a good idea for the indeterminate vines of the Costoluto Genovese, implying a recommendation for gardeners based on the plant's growth habits.
  • The author expresses a sense of historical connection by mentioning Thomas Jefferson's experimentation with growing these tomatoes at Monticello.
  • By asking readers if they have grown these tomatoes and about their results, the author is engaging with the audience and showing interest in community feedback and experiences.

The Trusty Gardener-Heirloom Tomato Review-A Series (#4)

Costoluto Genovese-An Italian Treasure

Image Courtesy of Hagglezon

Welcome back to my series on heirloom tomatoes. In my last article I reviewed the Brandywine tomato. In this article, I will focus on the Costoluto Genovese. This Italian favorite has been grown by Italian farmers for generations, having been around since at least the early 1800s, and can be used both as a slicing tomato and a sauce tomato. This is the first year I am growing this variety and I am looking forward to trying them. It’s unusual to have a multi purpose tomato.

I have heard of these tomatoes before, but have never tried them. I recently got the inspiration to grow these tomatoes after watching CNN’s show, “Searching For Italy” starring Stanley Tucci. I noticed they were using these tomatoes (easily recognized) for one of the recipes even though I don’t believe they pointed out the specific variety. Theses tomatoes are typically grown in the Tuscany region of Italy. They are heavily lobed and sometimes convoluted, therefore they are very different compared to most tomatoes. In addition to being used for slicing and sauces, Italians also use them for juicing and preserving.

Images Courtesy of Renee’s Garden

These Italian gems grow on indeterminate vines which get quite tall and produce a good amount of tomatoes, so staking is probably a good idea. They grow well in dry hot climates, so we will see how they grow here in Central New York State. The summers seem to be getting hotter every year.

Interesting Fact: These tomatoes were grown by Thomas Jefferson at his home (Monticello) starting in 1809 as an experiment.

Costoluto Genovese is available from quite a few seed companies, including of course Renee’s Garden mentioned above. Have any of you grown these and if you did how were your results?

Gardening
Italy
Italian
Heirloom Tomato
Organic
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