Wally's Spanish Tomato

Why I chose it

Another orange tomato was always going to have a fairly easy route into my garden. Wally's Spanish produces large, meaty, bright-orange beefsteak fruit and has also been part of tomato research here in Aotearoa by the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust. I haven't grown this one before, so I'm looking forward to seeing whether it earns a permanent place alongside my favourite orange and yellow varieties.

At a glance

Type: Beefsteak
Growth: Indeterminate
Fruit: Large, bright orange and meaty
Position: Full sun
Support: Sturdy support required
Origin: Reputed to be Spanish

In the kitchen

This is a large, fleshy tomato made for slicing. I'd use it fresh in sandwiches, salads and platters where both the colour and substantial texture can be appreciated. Its meaty flesh should also make it useful anywhere you want plenty of tomato without masses of watery seed pulp.

In the garden

Wally's Spanish is a vigorous indeterminate variety, so it will continue growing and setting fruit through the season rather than producing one concentrated crop. The Heritage Food Crops Research Trust describes it as a large orange beefsteak and continues to grow it as part of its tomato programme. Heritage Food Crops

Care

Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Water consistently as fruit develops and feed during flowering and fruiting. Give it sturdy support from the beginning and tie in new growth as the plant develops. Protect from frost.

What you'll receive

One healthy, established tomato seedling grown here at A Garden Between. Plants naturally vary in size and shape and may be supplied in reused nursery pots or growing bags — perfectly useful plastic doesn't need replacing simply because it doesn't match.