Bottle Tomato Banana Legs [Solanum lycopersicum]

The perennial bottle tomato 'Banana Legs' is a rare, medium-early and high-yielding stick tomato with sunny yellow, elongated fruits. The taste of the fruits is mild, fruity-sweet and almost acid-free. Ideal for pre-cultivation, pot culture possible, sowing in spring, good for mixed culture, harvesting the fruits.

 Description 
The bottle tomato 'Banana Legs' is an old perennial and medium early selection from Illinois in the USA. Since 1984, the high-yielding plum tomato variety has been publicly offered as seed for hobby gardeners. This special tomato variety is one of the few yellow bottle tomatoes and has some famous predecessors and descendants such as the 'Green Zebra' and 'Striped Roman' tomatoes. The bottle tomato bears fruits that are around 10cm long and weigh 80g, grows compactly and prefers sheltered and warm locations. Due to its low growth height, the variety requires little space and is therefore ideal for cultivation in pots and also as a balcony tomato.
Particularly interesting is the large amount of pulp with relatively few seeds, which are ideal for processing into ketchup or sauces. The taste of the sunny yellow, mild, fruity-sweet fruits is almost acid-free and can simply be enjoyed as a delicious fresh snack.

 General information 
Plant family: Solanaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 110 days
Plant height approx.: 120 cm
Root type: Deep and shallow rooter
Nutrient requirements: High
Water requirements: High
Winter hardiness: Up to 3°C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, humus-rich loamy soil

pH value: 6 to 7

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 22-28 °C
Germination time: 5-10 days
Plant and row spacing: 50x70 cm

Germination ability of seeds: 8-9 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Basil, Nasturtium, Garlic, Onion, Cabbage, New Zealand Spinach, Parsley, Celery, Radish, Marigold, Lettuce
Unfavorable mixed culture: Pepper, Eggplant, Physalis, Potato

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Pre-cultivation from January to April is recommended. The plants should ideally be located in a sheltered, warm and sunny location.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Pre-cultivation from March to May is recommended. The plants should ideally be located in a sheltered, warm and sunny location.

 General recommendations 
The best time to germinate tomatoes is the first warm summer week in spring. After the seeds have germinated in warm temperatures, the seedlings need cooler temperatures. For pre-cultivation, sow the seeds in a small bowl and let the seedlings grow until the first visible tomato leaves appear, then transplant them into the desired containers. After transplanting, let the seedlings grow at moderate temperatures until they are ready to be planted out as seedlings. Plant the seedlings in the bed from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
Bottle tomato 'Banana legs' does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Bottle tomatoes are treated like cocktail tomato plants and are generally grown with 2 or 3 shoots. A framework for tying the tomato shoots with tomato hooks is recommended. In order to stimulate root growth and thus plant growth, the seedlings are planted deeper in the soil when pricked out, up to the leaf axis of the cotyledons. Sufficient and even watering has a positive effect on fruit quality. At temperatures below 5°C the plant reduces its growth. Regular harvesting increases yield. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock flour is recommended.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds and cuttings.

 Plant care 
Loosened, nutrient-rich and constantly moist soil is fundamentally important for growth and quality fruit formation. Depending on the condition of the soil, fertilization is recommended after 10 weeks.

 Other names 
Botanical names: Solanum lycopersicum
English names: Bottle tomato
German names: Flaschentomate
Portuguese names: Tomate cereja
Spanish names: Tomate cereza
French names: Tomate cerise

 Origin 
Country: Austria