Di Palermo tomato

R

rayray

Well-known member
Okay, I’m getting something new (to me) this year. From a friends father I’m getting heirloom tomato seeds, it’s called Di Palermo tomato. My buddy’s father is pushing 90 years old, strong as an ox yet. Anyways, he’s been growing this tomato for about 50 years now, it’s the only tomato he grows for maybe the last 30 years but he’s been growing it for 50 years.

It’s a Sicilian heirloom tomato that he got from his friend, his buddy brought it back from his family’s farm in Sicily about 100 years ago to the States. Can’t get any more info cause his buddy was an Old Timer way back when and he’s been gone for decades now.

I know there’s different varieties with “di Palermo” in the name so I’m not sure which one it is or not.

All I know is my friend says it’s been a family favorite for decades, going all the way back to when he was a kid. He said about 30 years ago his father gave up growing other tomatoes and just grows this one cause it’s his favorite. He said his father grows 50 to 75 tomato plants every season. His garden, is basically a small farm lol.

I’m really interested in this one!
 
rayray said:
Okay, I’m getting something new (to me) this year. From a friends father I’m getting heirloom tomato seeds, it’s called Di Palermo tomato. My buddy’s father is pushing 90 years old, strong as an ox yet. Anyways, he’s been growing this tomato for about 50 years now, it’s the only tomato he grows for maybe the last 30 years but he’s been growing it for 50 years.

It’s a Sicilian heirloom tomato that he got from his friend, his buddy brought it back from his family’s farm in Sicily about 100 years ago to the States. Can’t get any more info cause his buddy was an Old Timer way back when and he’s been gone for decades now.

I know there’s different varieties with “di Palermo” in the name so I’m not sure which one it is or not.

All I know is my friend says it’s been a family favorite for decades, going all the way back to when he was a kid. He said about 30 years ago his father gave up growing other tomatoes and just grows this one cause it’s his favorite. He said his father grows 50 to 75 tomato plants every season. His garden, is basically a small farm lol.

I’m really interested in this one!
Click to expand...
Do you have any pictures or seeds of this variety?
 
I don’t have them in my hands yet but this is what my buddy sent me via pics.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1774.jpeg
    IMG_1774.jpeg
    284.5 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_8320.png
    IMG_8320.png
    524.7 KB · Views: 7
Italian4u said:
If he has any extra seeds I wouldn’t mind grabbing some if he sells them. I’m always growing new tomatoes to find the best of the best.
Click to expand...
It took me about two years to get these. Let me see how many he gives me and if it’s a lot I’ll just give you some. If it’s not a lot, I’ll grow them and then save enough to share.

I don’t want to be too pushy, some of these old timers are not the easiest to deal with, it’s almost like he knows his time is short and it’s like he doesn’t want to be bothered cause he’s too busy doing his thing.

The strange thing is I think he’s stronger and more active than my buddy, his 58 years ago old son. And my buddy is on the go non stop.
 
rayray said:
It took me about two years to get these. Let me see how many he gives me and if it’s a lot I’ll just give you some. If it’s not a lot, I’ll grow them and then save enough to share.

I don’t want to be too pushy, some of these old timers are not the easiest to deal with, it’s almost like he knows his time is short and it’s like he doesn’t want to be bothered cause he’s too busy doing his thing.

The strange thing is I think he’s stronger and more active than my buddy, his 58 years ago old son. And my buddy is on the go non stop.
Click to expand...
Oh man I believe it. That generation was just built tougher. Pretty sure it is because they actually grew and raised most of what they ate. That all natural diet gives them the longevity and health. Let me know. I love collecting heirloom tomato seeds from these old timers. Right now the best tasting sauce tomato I’ve come across is “COSTOLUTO GENOVESE” so I’m still hunting to see if there is better.
 
Italian4u said:
Oh man I believe it. That generation was just built tougher. Pretty sure it is because they actually grew and raised most of what they ate. That all natural diet gives them the longevity and health. Let me know. I love collecting heirloom tomato seeds from these old timers. Right now the best tasting sauce tomato I’ve come across is “COSTOLUTO GENOVESE” so I’m still hunting to see if there is better.
Click to expand...
I’ll keep you posted.

All the old timers in my family are gone, and they were tough.

One of my best friends is off the boat Sicilian, came here in 1962/63 and you’d swear he just got here yesterday. The stories over the years, I just can’t repeat most of them. But he’s a great gardener, and butcher when he needs to be, I swear he can dress a deer and chop it up in less than 15 minutes.
 
rayray said:
I’ll keep you posted.

All the old timers in my family are gone, and they were tough.

One of my best friends is off the boat Sicilian, came here in 1962/63 and you’d swear he just got here yesterday. The stories over the years, I just can’t repeat most of them. But he’s a great gardener, and butcher when he needs to be, I swear he can dress a deer and chop it up in less than 15 minutes.
Click to expand...
Sounds about right. Sad to see that generation slowly fade away and all the knowledge they have going with them. Absorb as much as you can for as long as you can.
 
Italian4u said:
Sounds about right. Sad to see that generation slowly fade away and all the knowledge they have going with them. Absorb as much as you can for as long as you can.
Click to expand...
He only gave me about 10 seeds! Lol, well, better than none! As long as I’m successful I’ll save you some—you just might have to remind me.
 
rayray said:
He only gave me about 10 seeds! Lol, well, better than none! As long as I’m successful I’ll save you some—you just might have to remind me.
Click to expand...
Post a new thread or on this one when they are growing and your harvest. Curious to see what these look like outside and inside.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top