Ramillette de Mallorca Longkeeper Tomato Seeds

Ramillette de Mallorca Longkeeper Tomatoes are also known as:”Ramallet Mallorquin Pequeno” or “Rama de Mallorca”, “Ramallet tomato”, “Ramallett Mallorquin Pegueno”, “Penjar Petit del Ramallet”.

This storage variety is a truly special longkeeper tomato with a story and practical value for storage at the end of December. ( The images are from the end of December 2025. They are still in such good condition that I think they have another month of storage!)

The Ramillette de Mallorca is a traditional storage tomato from the Balearic island of Mallorca, Spain, where it’s been grown and cherished for generations. These tomatoes are part of Mallorca’s cultural and culinary heritage and were historically preserved to enjoy long after the summer harvest has ended.

This heirloom variety — sometimes simply called tomàtiga de ramallet — was developed through long-term local cultivation and selection on Mallorca. Traditionally, entire plants or clusters of fruit were harvested and hung up in cool, airy spaces to complete ripening and then enjoyed throughout the fall and winter, often into spring.

Ramillette de Mallorca produces medium-small, round to slightly flattened tomatoes with a firm flesh and a thick skin, traits that make it ideal for long storage. The flavour is typically sweet with a pleasant tomato character, well-balanced between acidity and natural sugars. Because of low water content compared with many modern slicers, these fruits keep much better after harvest without quickly going soft or mouldy – one of the reasons this variety was prized historically.  Unlike most modern tomato varieties, Ramillette isn’t primarily harvested for immediate eating. Instead, it’s picked when mature – often before full colour – and then stored: Hanging in clusters in a cool, dry, ventilated spot Laid out on trays or boxes with plenty of air circulation.

When stored properly, these tomatoes can remain edible for months – often right through December and even beyond if conditions are good. In Mallorca, these tomatoes are a cornerstone of the classic pa amb oli, where tomatoes are grated or smashed onto rustic bread and drizzled with olive oil (often with salt, cheese, or cured meats). They’re also great sliced fresh on sandwiches or salads, or lightly cooked into sauces and stews.

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.

I am very grateful to Heritage Hobby Seed Ark for bringing these seeds into Canada!

These Ramillette de Mallorca 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, and representing the widest selection of storage tomato seeds available in Canada.