If it is claimed that tomatoes are hardy, the wish is undoubtedly the father of the idea - of course this idea is not completely absurd. With a little effort, selected tomato varieties can at least overwinter. We explain how it works.
Are tomatoes hardy and how can they overwinter?
Tomatoes are not hardy, but selected wild tomato varieties such as 'Golden Currant', 'Red Marble', 'Green Pear', 'Indigo Berries' and 'Matt's Wild Cherry' can with enough light and temperatures above 10-12 degrees Celsius can be overwintered, either as potted plants or offshoots.
Survivalist with the potential to overwinter
Native to the tropical regions of South America, the tomato cannot tolerate temperatures below 10-12 degrees Celsius. As a result, hobby gardeners cultivate the plants as annuals. In their natural distribution area, tomato plants thrive for several years without any problems. This means they have the necessary reserves of strength to survive a winter. The most important requirements are enough light and appropriate temperatures. We are talking about the following wild tomato varieties, the robust survivors:
- 'Golden Currant', yellow fruits 2 grams, growth height up to 1.50 meters
- 'Red Marble', red ball fruits 20 grams, height 1.00 meters
- 'Green Pear', 15 grams of small fruits, height 1, 20 meters
- 'Indigo Berries', dark blue-purple tomatoes 10 grams, height 1, 50 meters
- 'Matt's Wild Cherry', resistant to late blight and brown rot, 5 gram light tomatoes, maximum height of 2.50 meters
Wild tomatoes overwinter as potted plants
Overwintering a massive beefsteak tomato in the house would probably be a full-time job and still fail. Wild tomatoes in pots still have a good chance of surviving the winter in a light-flooded location. An unheated winter garden or a bright staircase are ideal. It is important to note that temperatures do not exceed 15 degrees. Water only enough so that they do not dry out and do not fertilize.
As an offshoot through the cold season
If you don't mind the extra effort, you can grow your wild tomatoes through the winter as cuttings.
- cut 10 centimeter long offshoots from a he althy, vital mother plant in August/September
- defoliate two thirds and remove any flowers
- root in a glass with water, preferably willow water
- then plant in 20 cm pots with vegetable soil (€13.00 on Amazon) or a mix of compost, garden soil and sand
The wild tomatoes are growing quickly on the bright, warm windowsill. With a little luck, they will bloom in October and produce a delicious harvest just in time for Christmas. However, the risk of pest infestation is exponentially high given the dry heating air.
Tips & Tricks
In order to make the most of winter's sparse light, clever hobby gardeners use a simple trick. You place a mirror behind the overwintering tomato plant that reflects the light.
