Here is the Wild Tomato, Solanum arcanum. This tomato originates from Peru. It is a spreading, often prostrate perennial plant with a woody base with shoots to about 3 to 5 feet tall or long if grown along the ground. It is native to the coastal and inland region of the Andean valleys in northern Peru and on dry valleys and dry rocky slopes at an altitude of 300 to 8500 feet ASL. Flowers have a straight staminal column with Fruits that are very small getting to around .4 to .6 inches in diameter. Tomatoes are greenish and hard when ripe with longer then normal calyxes. These plants can be wintered over and can take the following season to produce fruits. This is NOT a beginner level tomato plant to start with. The fruits will fall down when ripe. Open pollinated perennial regular leaf very long season over 100 days.
Wild Tomato, Solanum arcanum
Quantity
10 seeds
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GERMINATION INFO
Germination Info
1) Prepare for planting. Sprout tomato seeds in small containers, preferably 4" or smaller. In-ground germination is not recommended. Use a standard potting mix that is well drained. Start seeds in containers approximately 8 weeks prior to the planned set-out date. Plants should ultimately be transplanted to the garden 1-2 weeks after the expected date of last frost.
2) Plant seeds. Plant seeds 1/4" deep in the soil. Cover with soil and water carefully. Overwatering can cause fungal growth which leads to seed rot. Excess water can also bury seeds deep in the soil where they will not be able break the surface. Water when the soil surface just begins to dry. Multiple seeds can be planted in a single starter container, but should be thinned once seedlings appear so only a single plant remains. Seeds do not require light for germination but some light source should be provided for seedlings once they emerge from the soil.
3) Germination. Soil should be kept consistently warm, from 70-85F. Cool soils, below about 60-65F, even just at night, will significantly delay or inhibit germination. Hot soils above 95F will also inhibit germination.
4) Care of seedlings. Once a few true leaves have developed, seedlings should be slowly moved outside (if sprouted indoors) to ambient light. Care should be taken not to expose seedlings to direct, scorching sun so plants may need to be hardened off via slow sun exposure. Hardening off can be done using a shaded or filtered light location, as well as protection from strong winds, rain or low humidity. Hardening off time varies, but can take 5-10 days.
5) Planting out. Plant in the ground once danger of frost has past and daytime temperatures consistently reach 65F. Plants can be spaced as close as 24" apart. Germination time: 1-3 weeks under ideal conditions.