Urbana, Illinois, USA
May 10, 2011
Each year representatives of the horticultural industry select one flower and one vegetable to be showcased for a particular year. For 2011, the vegetable selected is the tomato, making this the year of the tomato, said a University of Illinois Extension horticulture educator.
"Coincidently, All America Selections (AAS), an organization that highlights worthy new introductions, has chosen two new tomatoes for 2011, both of which should be very appealing to gardeners who want to grow tomatoes in containers or hanging baskets," said Greg Stack.
Terenzo is a high-yielding, red cherry-fruited "tumbler" type of tomato that is a prolific producer on a very low-growing, trailing plant, he noted.
The fruits are standard cherry tomato size with a very high sugar content, making them exceptionally sweet tasting.
"With a plant height of only 16 to 20 inches, this compact variety is suitable for growing in hanging baskets or containers on the patio, porch or balcony," said Stack. "Terenzo will do well with minimal maintenance and will start producing fruit about 56 days from transplanting."
The other new tomato introduction is Lizzano, a vigorous semi-determinate variety with a low-growing, trailing habit. This is also a good choice for containers.
"Because it is a bit more vigorous than Terenzo, Lizzano will benefit from some staking despite its compact habit," he said. "Plants grow 16 to 20 inches tall with a spread of about 20 inches."
Lizzano produces an abundance of small, bright red baby, cherry-sized fruit. Also, because it is a late blight fungus-resistant variety, look for it to continue to produce fruit late into the season. Lizzano starts to bear fruit about 63 days from transplanting.
"Both of these varieties can be found in mail-order seed catalogs as well as in retail garden center seed racks," said Stack.
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