Datterini tomatoes are sweet fruits with strong aromatic properties. It has an elongated shape with a red color, which makes it attractive. It is mostly used as a taste enhancer in many dishes like salads, soups, Datterini sauces, etc. They are rich in taste and have thick flesh with few seeds.
Datterini Tomatoes
Where are Datterini tomatoes from?
These tomatoes originate from Sicily. Their wide use makes them popular in Italy. The Italians used these tomatoes for canning and preserving purposes.
Origin of The Name
What are Datterini tomatoes in English?
Datterini tomatoes’ name originated from the dates. The word Datterini represents “Little Dates” in the Italian language. Because these tomatoes look like dates due to their shape. That’s why these are called “little dates.”
The biological origin of these tomatoes is the Solanum family. The botanical name of these tomatoes is Solanum Lycopersicum.
What are Datterini tomatoes?
An interesting fact about these tomatoes is that their height reaches a length of 1.80 meters, which is higher than the normal tomato variety’s height.
Their inflorescence has yellow blossoms, which look much more attractive. The fruit typically reaches 4 to 5 centimeters in length and 20 to 30 grams in size. They have an elongated shape and very few seeds in their fruit.
Their color is bright red, and their taste is like sugar. That’s why it is popular among children. It should be noted that these tomatoes have a variety of colors too. They have the fruit red color along with yellow, orange, purple, etc.
Nutritional facts about Datterini Tomatoes
According to research, these tomatoes are extremely helpful for the human body. It contains most nutritional elements, including minerals, citric acid, and vitamins A, B, and C. Patients with arteriosclerosis can use this fruit to improve health as it is extremely effective for the recovery of human degenerative tissues.
Datterini Tomatoes also contain an important element, lycopene. According to research, lycopene helps avoid aging as it is an antioxidant. It also prevents specific cancer types. The red color of the Dattirini tomatoes is also due to lycopene.
They have a high Brix level which makes it sweeter.
How to grow Datterini Tomatoes?
Due to their extreme taste, they are liked by many people and are part of their everyday kitchen routine. They can be grown in different circumstances, like in a greenhouse, outside, in your home garden, etc.
There are several varieties of Datterini tomatoes, including one mentioned below:
Datterino Tigrato F1
It is sweet in taste and has a nice aroma, but this variety can not be grown from its seeds. So the young plants of the hybrid variety have been taken every time.
Before planting and growing them, we must consider the following facts:
Geography
These tomatoes originate from Italy. Different types of Datterini tomatoes grow in different regions of the country. They grow best in regions where sunlight is always available.
These tomatoes are perennial and grow best in the climate of North America.
The best location to grow Datterini
You can grow tomatoes in outside fields, greenhouses, and pots in your home garden.
The best conditions to grow
The best condition for growing these tomatoes is to provide moderate sunlight. The temperature during seed germination should be 21 to 25 degrees centigrade. After that, the temperature can be reduced to 15 to 20 degrees Celsius.
If you grow Datterini tomatoes in pots, you should mix the nutrient-rich soil in the pot. It will keep the growth process active and healthy.
Rain showers can be extremely beneficial for the tomato’s growth as they prevent the damage and risk of soil-born diseases that affect Datterini tomatoes, such as grey mold.
Planting Season to Grow Datterini Tomatoes
The best planting season for Datterini tomatoes is from early summer to late fall. They are grown in May mostly. Due to their small size, they can be grown ideally in containers or pots.
Most varieties of Dattrini Tomatoes are determinate and need to grow in the greenhouse. Some are indeterminate varieties that do not need a greenhouse and can be grown outside in the fields.
If you are growing them in the greenhouse, do it at the beginning of May. If you want to grow outside in the field or in a pot, you can grow in the middle of May.
Plantation method
There are different methods of planting. These methods are as follows:
- Plantation through tomatoes seeds
- Plantation through the young plant of Datterini tomatoes
We will discuss both methods accordingly.
Plant the Datterini Tomato Seeds
Well, this is the most common method used to grow Datterini tomatoes. The first step in this method is to select the best variety of tomato seeds.
Follow these steps to grow Datterini tomatoes from seeds:
- The plantation should be done in the early spring.
- Select the best seeds.
- Dig a hole in the selected soil.
- Now you can sow the seeds in the soil.
- Make sure not to bury the seeds too deep. It should be 1/16 inch deep.
- The germination period for the Datterini tomato seeds is around 6 to 14 days.
- The best condition is to keep the temperature at 65 to 75 Fahrenheit.
- A duration of 90 days is expected for the seedling growth,
- After the seedlings grow, transfer them into pots.
- When they further grow, you can now transfer them into the greenhouse or into fields outside.
- The soil should be fertile and moist.
- Plant the young plants in outside fields by keeping a distance of 18 inches.
Plantation through Young Daterini tomatoes
This method is easier than the first one as no tomato seeds are required.
Follow these steps to start these tomatoes from a young plant:
- First, choose the best variety of the young plant
- Remember that the growth of these tomatoes from a young plant should be done in early May (early summer).
- Now dig a hole in the soil if you want to grow tomatoes in the greenhouse or outside in the fields.
- If you want to grow in a pot, then take a pot or container and fill it with nutrient-rich soil.
- Now you can place the young plant in the pot or hole with care.
- Fill the rest of the pot with soil.
- Water the young plants excessively.
- Provide it with the best conditions.
- Place a supporting stick or tomato cage to support the young plant.
After Plantation: Care of Datterini Tomatoes
After planting the Datterini tomatoes, you should take care of the plant carefully. In June, provide these tomatoes with a sufficient dose of fertilization. This is the crucial period in the life of these tomatoes, and it is the time when they are producing fruit.
These tomatoes use all of their nutrients to fulfill the fruit’s requirements. So it is the best time to provide nutritional fertilization to them.
Do not use an excessive dosage of fertilizer. Use the fertilizer carefully, mixing it with water—only mix 15 to 20 ml in 5 liters of water to provide nutrition to the plant.
Using fertilizer in the case of the Datterini tomato plant is very helpful in overcoming many deficiencies. For example, nitrogen deficiency can be fully cured using fertilizer—the deficiency of nitrogen causes yellowishness of the Datterini tomato leaves.
You must have to protect these tomatoes from diseases. Water them regularly and apply mulch straw on plants to protect them from the diseases caused by the soil.
Harvesting of Datterini Tomatoes
The harvesting season for the Datterini tomatoes is from July to October. In this period, you can get fully ripened Datterini tomatoes and use them for many purposes.
Uses of the Dattrino Tomatoes
Dattrino tomatoes have an extremely sweet taste and a nice aroma, which makes them the perfect choice for the kitchen. You can use the Datterini tomatoes for making;
- Datterini sauce
- Soup
- Salad
- Bruschetta
What is Datterini sauce?
In short, these can be part of every other dish. Datterino Tomato Sauce is made up of fresh tomato plants and aromatic herbs. The sauce can be used in Italian dishes like pasta, pizza, vegetables, fish, and meatballs.
An interesting fact is that plum tomatoes are used to make Datterini sauce—the most important varieties of plum tomatoes are Roma, San Marzano, Amish Paste, and Big Mama.
Canned Datterini tomatoes are used in the kitchen because they contain many nutrients, such as vitamins A and C. The Cento Datterini tomatoes are also popular and are preserved for their sweet, aromatic taste.
Another method to use Datterini tomatoes is to use them dried and preserved. For this purpose, follow these steps:
- Cut the Datterini tomatoes in half.
- Dehydrate them in the oven.
- After dehydration, place them in a tight-fitting air jar.
- Protect them from the sun.
- You can use them later as sweet dishes for children.
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References
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/812010/datterini-tomatoes
