Currant Red Sweet Pea – a wild tomato with a surprisingly sweet flavour
What sets Currant Red Sweet Pea apart
Currant Red Sweet Pea is an intensely sweet wild tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium) that bears masses of tiny, bright red fruits. A good choice if you want to grow tomatoes at home and pick plenty of decorative fruits with a powerful flavour.
Background and name
This variety is closely related to the original form of the tomato and takes its name from its small fruits – the size of currants – and its climbing, bushy habit.
Appearance and growth habit
Currant Red Sweet Pea is a tall (indeterminate), rambling variety that does not need its side shoots removed but does need firm support. The plant twines vigorously and carries long trusses of tomatoes the size of peas.
Flavour and uses of Currant Red Sweet Pea
The flavour is very sweet and concentrated. The tomatoes are good as snacks, in salads or as natural sweets straight from the plant. A hit with children!
Ripening time, resilience and storage
Ripens early, after about 60 days. Very resistant to disease and changeable weather. The fruits keep for several days after picking, especially at room temperature.
Pollination tips
The tomatoes pollinate easily, but in a greenhouse a gentle shake of the flower trusses increases the harvest.
How to grow Currant Red Sweet Pea
Sow in March–April and pot on. Grow in a greenhouse or a warm spot outdoors. The plant needs support, but pinching out is not strictly necessary. Ripens about 60 days after planting out.
The price is for 10 tomato seeds
Sow in seed compost and keep the compost lightly moist until the seeds germinate. Pot on into larger pots with nutrient-rich compost once the seedlings have their first true leaves. Harden off before planting out. Does best in a greenhouse or a warm spot outdoors. Provide support, water evenly and harvest continuously.
