Wild tomato 'Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET)'

Solanum pimpinellifolium

How to grow Wild tomato 'Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET)'

  • Full Sun

  • Medium

Seeds develop well in peat-pods.
First transplant to 2" Jiffy pots to develop root base in soil. Stake at this time.
Soil should have at least 30% compost by content (volume) and hould have blood/bone meal added.
Second transplant to 5" Jiffy pot when plant is almost ready to go in ground. Side-dress with 1 tablespoon of Epsom salt
Final transplant is either to 10"+ pot, SFG box or into ground.
70-75% of plant should be buried at 2nd & final transplant times.
3 Tablespoons of Epsom Salt in hole (or bottom of final container) for BER prevention. 1 teaspoon every 2 weeks (top applied, scratch in).
Use Low Nitrogen fertilizers, applied sparingly to prevent excessive growth without flowering.

This tomato can be grown from stem cuttings and they will root easily.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET) is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside.

Growing Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET) from seed

Tiny Seeds. Some seed stick together & need to be rolled between fingers to separate. 90% germination rate. Plant barely below soil level. 1-2 hours/day of direct sunlight in 80+ temps will help any straggling seeds to germinate.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 1.46 feet (45.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.39 inches (1.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 0°C / 32°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET) about 42 days before your last frost date.

Transplanting Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET)

Transplant 3x (seed to 2" pot, then to 5" pot, then to final). Plant deep, up to 2/3 of plant. Stake at time of second transplant. Keep first 10-12" of stem bare (below first fork/split). Transfer to trellis or cage from stake.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET) is a tender plant.

Harvesting Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET)

This tomato is ready to pick as it turns red. About 50 to 60 days after planting.

Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET) folklore & trivia

Only native wild heirloom tomato found in Florida

Other Names for Wild tomato 'Wild Florida Everglades Tomato (WFET)'

currant tomato

Footnotes

Tropical Plants Library Online www.TropicalPlantsLibrary.com