Datterino tomato: cultivation & care

The ‘Datterino’ tomato variety produces an abundance of small, plum-shaped, red fruits. Read on to find out where this variety comes from, how to cultivate it and what it tastes like!

The little, shiny, red fruits of the ‘Datterino’ variety grow on long, hanging vines. Here are our tips on cultivating this delicious snack tomato.

‘Datterino’ tomato: profile

Origin and history

The ‘Datterino’ red plum tomato variety, also sometimes called ‘Datterini’, originates from Sicily and is particularly popular in Italy. There are various regional ‘Datterino’ tomatoes, all of which have a date-like shape and a sweet taste. In fact, this is exactly what ‘Datterino’ means: “little date”. 

Nowadays, there are ‘Datterino’ hybrid varieties, like the green-red tiger stripe varieties. You will know if a variety is hybrid, because its name will have the suffix “F1”. For instance, “Datterino Tigrato F1”. Unlike heirloom varieties, you cannot propagate hybrid varieties from their own seeds.

Taste and characteristics of the ‘Datterino’ tomato

‘Datterino’ tomatoes grow upwards on vines that can grow to 180 cm tall. These vines do branch slightly, but mostly produce shoots that display typical, yellow tomato flowers. The fruits develop on long vines from July, only after the ‘Datterino’ has flowered. When ripe, each tomato grows 4 to 5 cm wide and weighs 20 to 30 g. ‘Datterino’ tomatoes are bright, glossy plums that taste aromatic and extremely sweet: perfect for children (and anyone else with a sweet tooth!).

‘Datterino’ tomato: planting and care

‘Datterino’ thrives in a greenhouse, veg patch or in a pot outdoors. It is a good idea to shelter your tomatoes from rain to prevent disease, grey mould (Botrytis cinerea), and burst fruit. You can plant young ‘Datterino’ plants at the beginning of May in a greenhouse. For planting outdoors, wait until late May and make sure to harden off your tomato plants first by gradually acclimatising them for 7 to 14 days in a cold frame or a sheltered spot outside.

To grow your tomatoes in a pot, make sure it is large enough – at least 10 litres – and fill it halfway with soil. It is important to use a nutrient-rich potting soil, like Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost, when planting tomatoes in a pot. Unlike many other potting soils, this soil does not contain peat, which is harmful to the environment. It also retains moisture and contains many essential nutrients to nourish your young plants in the first few days after planting.

For veg patches and in the greenhouse, dig a deep hole in the earth. Place your young ‘Datterino’ plant into the hole and remove any leaves that are too low on the stalk. Fill in the hole with soil, press down lightly and water thoroughly. Be sure to add a wooden or metal stick to support your tomato plant!

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Wait until June before fertilising your tomatoes. By this time, the soil will have lost a lot of its nutrients, and the vine will have begun producing fruit. A liquid fertiliser, such as our Plantura Liquid Tomato Food makes fertilising much easier. Add 15 to 25ml of fertiliser to 5 litres of water, and apply about once a week. By fertilising at the same time as watering, the nutrients from the fertiliser will reach the roots of the plant quickly.

Tip: If your plant displays yellow leaves, it may be suffering from nitrogen deficiency. Apply some liquid fertiliser as you water and your plant should soon recover!

‘Datterino’ does not branch out as much as other varieties, but pruning the tomato plant is still necessary. It will grow best with only the lowest three to four stalks; simply remove any stalks above them. In this way, the plant will produce more shoots on which flowers and eventually sweet plum tomatoes will form.

Tip: In summer, add a layer of mulch, like lawn clippings or leaves, to your veg patch or plant pot. This will significantly reduce evaporation and saves litres of water in midsummer.

Harvesting and using ‘Datterino’

You can harvest ‘Datterino’ tomatoes from July to October. The small, sweet fruits remain quite firm, even when fully ripe; ideal for a lunch box or as a snack. Of course, ‘Datterini’ tomatoes are best eaten straight from the vine.

You can also dry ‘Datterino’ tomatoes to preserve them for winter. To do this, cut the fruit in half and dry it in a dehydrator or oven at 60 to 70°C for a few hours. Then store the dried tomatoes in an airtight, dry container.

Plum tomatoes are very popular. They usually bear an abundance of bite-sized, aromatic, sweet fruits, which come in all sorts of colours, from red to orange, yellow and even purple. Why not try another beautiful, plum-shaped tomato variety: the ˈIndigo Kumquatˈ.