Solanum pimpinellifolium also known as Red Currant or Spoon tomato is an heirloom variety, which is native to Ecuador and Peru. Gardeners and homesteaders are cultivating it world wide as it bears tiny berry like fruits. These tomatoes are even smaller than the cherry tomatoes. They are delightful edible ornamental, tiny, fire red fruit and are arrange beautifully along super long trusses. A spoonful can contain 5-8 spoon tomatoes. It’s a 70 day indeterminate type of tomato. However they are juicy and gives a pop of sweet-tangy flavour in your mouth. The thing that spoon tomato lacks in size, it makes up in flavour.
It’s just as easy as we grow a regular tomato variety from seeds. The seeds of spoon tomato are tiny and hence should not be planted deep in the soil. Use a good quality and good drainage soil which is high in organic matter. The seed will germinate in 4-5 days and will be ready to transplant in 15-20 days.
Spoon tomato plant height is commonly between 5 to 6 feet as a result it grows vigorously just like a vine and will need some support of a stick or trellis. Add nutrient rich organic compost to the soil in every 30 days and mulch the soil. The plant will bear fruits in about 60-70 days. Slight tickling of the flowers with a paint brush will help in artificial pollination and increases the tomato yield. The plant is very productive as it is an indeterminate variety. Being a heirloom variety, it is resistant to many diseases, provided if it’s nurtured properly.
It goes well with soups, in the salads, pasta, pizza or to make sauce, moreover they can be useful in garnishing along with microgreens that gives a vibrant look to the cousine. Meanwhile they can be dry to make tomato powder.