Principe Borghese

Described as concentrated and meaty rather than juicy, the classic Italian tomato for sun drying. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

An Italian heirloom, the traditional tomato for sun drying in Italy.

• Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.
• Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

Romabut tiny and grown mainly for dryingSan Marzanobut a small cluster-borne drying type rather than a large sauce plum

• Fedco Seeds
• Adaptive Seeds
• Hudson Valley Seed Company

• Buried in Tomatoes? What to Do With a Mid-Summer Glut
• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes

Is Principe Borghese determinate or indeterminate?

Principe Borghese is a determinate variety. Determinate bush. It sets most of its crop in one concentrated flush, which suits batch cooking and canning, and needs only light support.

How long does Principe Borghese take to ripen?

Principe Borghese ripens in about 75 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.

Is Principe Borghese an heirloom or a hybrid?

Principe Borghese is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Principe Borghese?

A close swap is Roma, but tiny and grown mainly for drying.