If it is claimed that tomatoes are hardy, the wish is undoubtedly the father of the thought - this consideration is of course not completely wrong. With a little effort, selected tomato varieties can at least overwinter. We explain how it works.

Survivalists with the potential to overwinter

Native to the tropical regions of South America, the tomato does not tolerate temperatures below 10-12 degrees Celsius. Consequently, hobby gardeners cultivate the plants as annuals. In their natural range, however, tomato plants thrive perennial without any problems. They therefore have the necessary power reserve to survive a winter. The most important requirements are sufficient 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 Murmel', red spherical fruits 20 grams, growth height 1.00 meters
  • 'Green pear', 15 grams of small fruits, growth height 1.20 meters
  • 'Indigo Berries', dark blue-violet tomatoes 10 grams, height 1.50 meters
  • 'Matt's Wild Cherry', resistant to late blight, 5 gram light tomatoes, maximum growth height of 2.50 meters

Wild tomatoes overwinter as a pot plant

Overwintering a mighty beefsteak tomato in the house should be a full-time job and still fail. Wild tomatoes in pots have a good chance of surviving the winter in a light-flooded location. An unheated conservatory or a bright stairwell are ideal. It is important to note that the temperatures do not exceed the 15 degree mark. Water only so much that they do not dry up and do not fertilize.

As an offshoot through the cold season

If you are not afraid of the extra effort, you can bring your wild tomatoes through the winter as cuttings.

  • in August/September cut offshoots 10 centimeters long from a healthy, vigorous mother plant
  • Defoliate two-thirds and remove any flowers
  • root in a glass of water, preferably willow water
  • then plant in 20 cm pots with vegetable soil or a mix of compost, garden soil and sand

The wild tomatoes thrive quickly on the bright, warm windowsill. With a bit of luck, they will bloom in October and deliver a tasty harvest just in time for Christmas. The danger of an infestation with pests, however, is exponentially high given the dry heating air.

tips and tricks

Clever hobby gardeners use a simple trick to make optimal use of the sparse rays of light in winter. They place a mirror behind the overwintering tomato plant that reflects the light.

Category:

Vegetable garden