Reunion Island Tropical Cherry Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
This highly productive small yellow cherry tomato is exceptionally sweet with a complex umami flavor and hints of tropical fruits and floral notes.
Way out in the Indian Ocean, about 400 miles east of Madagascar, lies the tropical Island of Reunion. Originally discovered by Portuguese seafarers and known to Arabs, the uninhabited island was taken into possession by France in the 17th century and was called Île Bourbon. The island is roughly 1000 square miles and the French cultivated sugar and coffee on the rich volcanic soil. Today, Reunion Island remains an overseas department of France and lies 5,800 miles from Paris.
The tropical climate and rich soil on Reunion makes it an agricultural paradise. While the island is perfect for the cultivation of tropical fruits, sugar cane and coffee, the steep topography and high volcanic peaks discourage mechanized farming which is perhaps a saving grace for the biodiversity of the unique floral and fauna.
The Reunion Island Tropical Cherry tomato provides a burst of intense flavor, packed into a small cherry tomato that rarely grows over half an inch in diameter. The fruits grow prolifically on clusters of about nine tomatoes and the sprawling indeterminate plants are incredibly productive. We've estimated that one plant can produce over 500 tomatoes!
What really sets the Reunion Island Tropical Cherry apart is the incredible flavor. We have never tasted a tomato that is intensely sweet with umami notes and tropical floral and fruit flavors all at once. This is truly a remarkable tomato for complex and intense flavor!
Origin: Our brother-in-law who lives in Meximieux, France gave us the parent seed of our Reunion Island Tropical Cherry. His mother was born on Reunion Island, one of 10 children, and he has dozens of cousins who live throughout the island. Many of his family members work in agriculture and all of them are serious gardeners. Self-sufficiency is important on Reunion because the isolated location make shipping goods to the island prohibitively expensive! No one in his family can recall where the original seeds of this tomato came from but it has been grown in their family for many generations.
(Approximately 20 seeds per packet)
Germination Rate: All of our seed varieties exceed 80% germination and are re-tested every 6 months.
Planting Instructions: We recommend starting tomato seeds indoors in a bright and warm location 4 to 6 weeks before last frost date in spring. Transplant after danger of frost in full sun and trellis.
