Da Serbo Toscano Tomato Seeds

Da Serba tomatoes are also known as Da Serbo Toscano. They are a classic Italian “longkeeper” or storage variety originally from Tuscany. It is best to  harvest them at the end of summer and enjoy well into the late autumn or winter months. They are small, roughly golf-ball-sized (25–35g), with thick walls and a firm texture.  Mildly sweet and pleasant. While not as intensely sugary as a vine-ripened summer cherry tomato, they are considered far superior to typical winter grocery store varieties.

Indeterminate (vining) but relatively manageable, usually growing to about 2.5 to 5 feet tall.

 Unlike some longkeepers that can last until spring, Da Serbo Toscano has a slightly shorter window, typically staying fresh through November or December.

To get the most out of this variety, it requires a slightly different approach than your standard salad tomatoes:

Timing: They are often planted a bit later than summer varieties so that they reach maturity right as the weather cools.

The “Droughting” Technique: Many growers restrict watering slightly as the fruit matures. This encourages the tomato to develop a thicker skin, which is essential for preventing rot during storage.

Harvesting: Pick the fruits when they show their first signs of “blush” (starting to turn from green to orange/red) or when they are “mature green.”

Handle with Care: Always snip the fruit off with a bit of the stem attached. Avoid bruising them, as any damage will cause the tomato to rot quickly in storage.

The name Da Serbo literally refers to “for keeping.” In Italy, these are traditionally tied into large clusters called piennolo and hung from rafters in a cool, dry place.

Temperature: Ideally store them between 13–18°C (55–65°F). A cool basement or a pantry away from direct sunlight is perfect.

Method: If you don’t want to hang them, place them in a single layer in a cardboard box. Ensure the tomatoes are not touching each other so that if one spoils, it doesn’t spread to the others.

Maintenance: Check your stored tomatoes weekly. Remove any that show soft spots or signs of mold immediately.

How to Grow Storage Tomatoes. Do Not Start With Your Regular Varieties!

Storage tomatoes are started later than typical slicing tomatoes because the goal is to produce fruit that can be stored for months rather than eaten immediately. Seeds are generally sown four to six weeks before the last frost, or in cooler climates sometimes as late as April or May. Starting too early can produce overgrown plants and early fruit that does not store well.

Seeds should be planted about a quarter inch deep in a light, well-draining seed-starting mix. The soil should be kept at 21 to 24 degrees Celsius until germination, which typically occurs in seven to fourteen days. Once seedlings emerge, they require strong light to grow sturdy and avoid becoming tall and weak.

After the seedlings have two to three true leaves, thin to the strongest plants and prepare them for transplant. Plants are moved outdoors once the risk of frost has passed. Proper spacing and support with stakes or cages help prevent fruit from touching the soil and reduce the chance of decay.

The goal of starting storage tomatoes this way is to produce firm, mature-green fruit in the late season. These fruits have low water content and thick skins, which allows them to be kept for months without spoiling. Timing the planting properly maximizes both the yield and the storage potential.

These Da Serbo Longkeeper tomato seeds are available directly from Garden Faerie Botanicals in the heart of British Columbia, Canada. The collection features heirloom and heritage seeds that are personally cultivated organically without the use of any chemicals. Emphasizing historical, rare, non-GMO seeds, this selection preserves biodiversity through open-pollination.