An estimated 13 million viewers tuned in to watch Food connection’sCiao Housethis summertime , so I know I was n’t the only one who caught the enthusiasm for all things related to Italian culinary art — let in , obviously , tomatoes .
Some unfeignedly over-the-top tomato variety originated in Italy , and they ’re a great way to add a touch of Italy into our American gardens . permit ’s look at a few !
COSTOLOTO FIORENTINO

I love this one so much and have grow it for twelvemonth . This heirloom variety develop in Florence and the fruits are expectant and costate ( the name roughly translates toribbed tomato from Florence ) and the plants are impressively productive . Its cousin , Costoluto Genovese , is another excellent variety and quite standardized to Costoluto Fiorentino , except that Costoluto Genovese to begin with herald from Genoa , Italy . ( I have n’t grown Costoluto Genovese yet , but you could be sure that when I do , I ’ll also growGenovese basilalong with it because of course I would all do that .
ITALIAN HEIRLOOM
It ’s hard to get more straightforward than its name : Italian heirloom , but this is by all odds not an average tomato . This variety is know for its flavor ( it won the tomato plant savoring in 2012 at Seed Savers Exchange ) and its productivity . Plus the love apple are with child and lovely , making them an fantabulous choice for any garden .
SAN MARZANO
This is a lovely , definitive ROM - character Lycopersicon esculentum and it ’s well - loved for its productiveness and quality . It ’s a delicious sauce love apple and is quite pop — and it ’s a nice way to round out the Italian tomato plant varieties in your garden .
CUORE DI BUE
This tomato ’s name , Cuore di Bue , is Italian for “ ox heart ” and that refers to the unique shape of this salmagundi , which resembles , apparently , an wild ox ’s heart . It ’s another beautiful sauce - type variety that is a delight to add to your favorite recipe .
ROSSO SICILIAN
So beautiful ! This is a ribbed Lycopersicon esculentum with brilliant coloring and the story is that it was brought to the United States in the former eighties from Sicily . This is adeterminate diverseness , so if you ’re looking to develop tomato plant in a diminished blank space ( or you want your plant to set its fruit at one time ) , this is a beautiful and scrumptious option .
Now , let ’s fast - forward ahead to the daytime you start harvesting these toothsome tomatoes . Whichrecipeswill you make first ? An reliable margherita pizza pie made with San Marzano love apple sauce ? Or how about pappa al Pomodoro made with Costoluto Fiorentino tomato ? Or peradventure a simple - but - arresting caprese salad feature Cuore di Bue ? Or will you mix and match your favorite change in a square lasagna or spaghetti ?
bask !
Samantha Johnsonis the author of several books , includingVegetable Gardening for Beginners : Learn to Grow Anything No Matter Where You Live(New Shoe Press , 2023).She writes oft about pets , gardening and farm living . Visit her online portfolio athttp://samanthajohnson.contently.com .
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