Pompeii Sauce Tomato is a flavour-packed, high-yielding variety that shines in the kitchen and the garden alike. Producing long, smooth, bright red fruit with no cracking or green shoulders, this variety is ideal for tomato paste, sauce, and other cooked preparations. The plants are both ornamental and productive, making them a great choice for small gardens, raised beds, or patio planters. Reliable and vigorous, they continue to set fruit steadily throughout the summer months.

Where Can You Grow Pompeii Sauce Tomato?

Best suited to Zones 3-9, this indeterminate variety thrives in full sun with rich, well-drained soil. Ideal for garden beds, large containers, or greenhouse growing in cooler climates.

History and Historical Uses

A modern open-pollinated variety bred with classic Italian paste tomatoes in mind, Pompeii Sauce Tomato has quickly become a favourite among home gardeners and small-scale growers for its reliable production and rich flavour. Paste tomatoes like this have long been valued for their dense flesh, low moisture content, and suitability for preserving.

Canadian Zone Information

Zones 8-9: Direct sow or transplant after the last frost. Grows well outdoors in full sun.
Zones 5-7: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant after danger of frost has passed.
Zones 3-4: Greenhouse or protected growing recommended; start seeds indoors and harden off carefully.

How to Grow and Harvest Pompeii Sauce Tomato

Planting: Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Sow 0.5cm (1/4in) deep and transplant 45-60cm (18-24in) apart.
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist; reduce watering as fruit ripens.
Harvesting: Pick when fruit is fully red and firm. Ripens well off the vine if needed.
Maintenance: Stake or trellis for support. Prune lower leaves to encourage airflow and fruit production.

Seed Saving Tips for Future Supply

Select Healthy Plants: Choose strong, disease-free plants with desirable fruit.
Harvest Ripe Fruit: Allow fruit to fully ripen on the plant before collecting.
Ferment Seeds: Scoop seeds into water and ferment 3-5 days, then rinse and dry thoroughly.
Store: Keep seeds in a cool, dry, dark place. Seeds can remain viable for 5-12 years.

Certified Organic By
Islands Organics Producers Association (Cert#1962)