Test Everglades Tomato Check out our other listings! Everglades Tomato (Solanum pimpinellifolium) is the closest wild relative to, and progenitor of, our modern cultivated tomatoes. Considered by some to be native to Southern Florida, this tomato variety likely originated in Peru or Ecuador where it can still be found growing wild. The vigorous, sprawling vines—shrub-like when young, but can spread out up to 10 feet if allowed—produce clusters of currant-like, pink-hued fruits that are bursting with an intense tomato flavor. Grows as an annual or biennial in warm, humid climates and easily self-seeds if some fruits are allowed to ripen and fall to the ground. Tolerant of alkaline soil, brackish water, and salt winds, and resistant to verticillium and fusarium wilts, and late blight. Prefers full sun. Drought tolerant, though blooms and fruits do better with moderate watering. Germination time is slightly longer than modern cultivars. Be patient and allow up to two weeks for the sprouts to emerge! Harvest fruits by clipping the entire cluster as the fruits have thin skin that can tear when attempting to pick individually. 60 days to maturity. Tomato Germination Guide Select the soil and container in which to start your seeds. For soil, use a seed starting mix for the best results. You may also use a soil-less potting mix, which is cheaper and widely available at most garden centers. For the container, use cell packs or a small pot three to four inches tall to start your tomato seeds. Fill your container with potting mix to within ½ inch of the top. Place two seeds on top of the soil near the center of the pot. Planting two seeds is recommended in case one doesn’t sprout. If both seeds sprout, you can pinch off the smaller, weaker plant. Cover the seeds with about ¼ inch layer of potting mix. Gently press the soil down with your fingers to ensure good contact between the seed and soil. Sprinkle or mist water on the seeds whenever the top of layer of soil appears dry. Be careful not to overwater! Soggy soil may cause the seed to rot. Keep your potted seeds in a warm location. The warmer the location is, the quicker the seeds will germinate. If you’re starting your seeds indoors, maintain a room temperature above sixty degrees Fahrenheit. Or, better yet, use a heat mat to provide the seeds warmth and speed up the germination process. You may also cover you pots with plastic and utilize the greenhouse effect to warm up the soil and maintain heat through the night. Be sure to remove the plastic once the seeds have sprouted to avoid disease and fungal infection! Transplant your tomato seedling to a new, bigger pot when it is at least 3 inches in height. Contact Us Don’t hesitate to contact us via eBay messages if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions. We’re always happy to hear from our customers, and we’ll gladly assist you in any way we can. Shipping All orders under $15.00 are shipped USPS First Class without tracking. If your order does not arrive after 10 business days, please reach out to us via eBay messages! Disclaimer We do everything we can to ensure your seeds will arrive to you in the best condition possible. Unfortunately, accidents can happen once the seeds leave our care and are with the U.S. Postal Service. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with the condition your seeds are in once they reach you, please contact us immediately and we’ll do our best to correct the issue.