Tomato Heinz 1350

Heinz 1350 – yes, really, this tom was bred by that famous company for making ketchup and sauces and it is still going strong more than 60 years after being introduced. You too can enjoy these, look forward to high yields of toms, weighing 100-170g each, with skins that slip off easily after plunging into hot water. All of your Heinz 1350 fruits are ready close together ready for you to produce your own preserves. If you prefer they can still be used as a salad tomato. Determinate

SOW & GROW: start in modules, cover or put on a windowsill, about 6-8 weeks before the last frost is expected.  Pot up and grow on.  Harden off and plant outside or in a greenhouse after frost danger has passed.  Being determinate, Heinz 1350 stops growing when fruit sets on the top bud. The fruits weigh 100-170g each & will ripen at about the same time (over 7-14 days or so).

For Easy Peeling: bring a pan of water to boil. Cut an ‘X” in the bottom of each tomato, just deep enough to pierce the skin.  Prepare a bowl with ice water. Use a slotted spoon to lift each tom into the boiling water and simmer for one minute. Lift out & into the iced water. When cool enough the skin will slip off.

Preserving your crop

Did you know that heating tomatoes makes it easier for us humans to absorb the vitamin C and Lycopene they contain. The perfect excuse to ‘can’ your crop… okay so not really putting them into a can as it is much better to use jars!

You will need to sterilise the jars and lids – follow the instructions with the recipe that you select. Your recipe should also give you the expected storage time