"Ceylon" Ruffled Saladette Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum

(Indeterminate, Early) Ceylon is an adorable, ruffled saladette tomato developed by botanist and horticulturist Dr. Bryan Connolly of Mansfield Center, CT. Tart, savory, robust, with a rather distinct flavor— excellent for cooking, sauces and fun as a garnish! Ceylon also adds intriguing beauty and texture to cherry tomato mixes at market! We were thrilled to see the vigorous and prolific Ceylon thrive despite extreme cool and damp conditions faced this year in the Northeast. Excellent disease and crack resistance when grown in a field setting.

Growing Instructions:

Start Indoors 6-8 weeks before transplanting to the field after chance of last frost. If growing in a greenhouse sow 8 weeks before desired transplant date.

Plant spacing: 18" apart.

Row spacing: 28" to 32" apart

*If planting multiple rows we recommend alternating row spacing at 24 inches and 48 inches. The 24 inch row will be space for a trellis and the 48 inch row will be the walking path. This not only maximizes garden space, but also allows you to trellis two rows of tomatoes on one trellis.

There are many trellising systems and ways of pruning and caring for tomatoes. We encourage you figure out what makes the most sense for you, don't be afraid to experiment. We prefer double leader pruning with an overhead T-post and wire trellis for our field tomatoes.

Give tomatoes plenty of compost at time of planting. We also recommend a fall or spring cover crop of peas or another annual legume that will fix nitrogen for the tomato crop.

Mulching tomatoes is a good idea, however mulching in mid spring will keep soil temperature cooler and may slow growth. Mulching can be done once soil has warmed. Make sure soil pH is between 5.8 and 7.0. If plant needs a growing boost, water with nitrogen tea or compost tea a few times. If trace minerals are inadequate, sprinkle a small amount of woodash or azomite in each planting hole.

Harvest:

Harvest when tomatoes turn their full color or just shy of. If frost threatens or tomatoes fall off the vine they can be ripened indoors or in a protected location though their flavor may not be as pronounced.