25/30 Seeds
Cultivation: easy
Seed Production: Beginner
Sowing: from February (in protected cultivation) to May
Bolsena Scatolone Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicon)
Bolsena Box Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicon): from the beautiful Tuscia region of northern Lazio, this heirloom tomato is at risk of extinction. This tomato's distinctive feature is its hollow fruits (berries), which gives it its name, meaning a "box" that needs to be filled. The flesh is seedless and particularly firm and flavorful, making it suitable for many recipes, from fresh to baked (traditionally stuffed). The plant is determinate and grows to a height of 1.5 meters, while the fruit reaches 20 cm. Due to limited commercial interest, this cultivar is becoming less common; grow it and save the seeds to protect it.
The Scatolone tomato has been grown along the shores of Lake Bolsena since the early 1900s. In 1930, it was exhibited at the first Bolsena Fruit and Vegetable Show, among the area's most popular vegetables, which thrive here. In the postwar years (1948-50), the "Scatolone" tomato was first mentioned, and by 1970, approximately 20 hectares had been planted. It is a PAT (Traditional Agri-food Product) product of the Lazio Region, which has included the Bolsena Scatolone tomato among the varieties at risk of genetic erosion.