Everglades tomato is a wild type of current tomato that thrives in Florida’s hot humid summers. The small red fruits, about the size of a dime, are abundant and tasty. This is an indeterminate type of tomato and can easily grow 6 to 10 feet tall if staked.
Everglades tomatoes can be planted from seed. Grow them 4 – 6 weeks in a seed flat and then transplant to the garden or a larger pot. They will fruit all summer long and are relatively pest and disease free. Be gentle when harvesting the Everglades tomatoes because they have a thin skin that can easily tear. To reduce damage, harvest the whole cluster of tomatoes leaving the stems on.
It’s easy to save seeds from Everglades tomato to plant next year or share with your neighbor. Just squeeze the pulp and seeds into a jar and cover for three days to ferment, stirring once a day. Once the seeds drop to the bottom of the jar they are ready to be rinsed with water and dried on a paper bag.
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More on growing Everglades tomatoes:
Gardening Solutions – Cherry Tomatoes
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