Pantano di Ardea Tomato - Stortone (Lycopersicon lycopersicum)

Pantano di Ardea - Stortone Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersicum): we are proud to have rediscovered this heirloom from our host municipality. This "historic" tomato was grown in the municipality of Ardea and surrounding areas, at the gateway to the Pontine Marshes. Preserved by a handful of enthusiasts, it was now almost a thing of the past; it was not easy to find seeds. The plant is determinate, moderately productive, and particularly hardy. The berries, ribbed and irregular in shape (hence the older name: Pomodoro Stortone ) , are large, weighing 350 to 500 grams or more. The flesh is firm (depending on the quality of the soil), very flavorful, and has very few seeds. The tomato is a beautiful red streaked with green and golden yellow. Ready in about 90 days from emergence. If you grow in the municipalities of Ardea and surrounding areas (Aprilia, Albano, Anzio, Pomezia), you can request free Pantano di Ardea seeds by leaving a message when ordering or by calling, or by picking them up at our office.

Italy preserves many traditional ecotypes of exceptional quality, which are increasingly at risk. The lack of generational change is dispersing the once-common techniques of seed selection and conservation. Thanks to ongoing research, collaborators, and enthusiasts, Cercatori di Semi is counting on the discovery and preservation of numerous ecotypes. The Pantano di Ardea is just one of these.
Sometimes people write to us, telling the stories of varieties reproduced and preserved for many years, like Mrs. Elisa Chinellato, who donated the seeds of the incredible tomato passed down to her by her uncle over a century; or Toni del Mussét and his Pignoétto dal dente, an extremely hardy Cinquantino corn he used to grow on mountain pastures. The Pantano variety in Ardea, the town where our estate is located, was brought to our attention by a grower who remembered it in the 1960s, describing it as a large, ribbed, very irregular tomato called Verdone or Stortone. The search took about two years, leading to the identification of three growers who were still growing the variety in their gardens, from whom we obtained the seeds. The first phase is cultivation, in isolated gardens, as a single plant of the species. This allows us to assess any potential plant diseases, the morphology, and the quality of the berries or fruit. The second step is to contact an agency that can conduct further checks; this is the most complicated part. Fortunately, our region has ARSIAL, the Regional Agency for Agricultural Development and Innovation of Lazio. Despite the challenges caused by the pandemic, they have been very responsive in receiving seeds. These have then been cultivated and subjected to genetic analysis to determine the variety's "genuineness." The ecotype will then be added to the " voluntary register of varieties at risk of genetic erosion." This is a huge help in protecting agrobiodiversity. The seeds of the Pantano di Ardea, the Royal Tobacco of the Savoy, the Chinellato Tomato, the Pantesca Zucchini, the Aldeno Cucumber, the Spagnoletta di Gaeta Tomato, the Galatino Tomato, the King Umberto Tomato, the Santa Bellunese Pumpkin, the Bombolino Toscano and all the varieties found can be requested free of charge if you are a resident or grow in the municipalities bordering the area of origin, as indicated in the explanatory sheet for each of these.