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Product Details
Product Details
'Costoluto Genovese' is a classic Italian heirloom prized for its deeply ribbed, rich-red fruits and intense, old-world flavor. Perfect for sauces, this indeterminate variety produces 6–8 oz. juicy tomatoes with a balance of sweetness and acidity. Its thick walls and meaty texture make it ideal for slow cooking or slicing for fresh salads. A staple among gardeners seeking classic tomato flavors and an authentic history.
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- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 80-90 Days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Type: Indeterminate, Slicing Tomato (Learn more)
Native: Andes
Hardiness: Frost-sensitive annual
Exposure: Full Sun
Plant Dimensions: Vines up to 6' or longer
Variety Info: Fire engine red, flattened fruits with glossy skin and deep ribs weighing 6-8 oz. 'Costoluto Genovese' is an indeterminate type tomato.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: For mild climates only: 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is at least 60°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting. Transplant when air temperature is 45°F or warmer, usually 1 to 2 weeks after your average last frost date. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°-90°F.
Sprouts in: 5 – 10 Days
Plant Seeds (Depth): 1/4"
Space Seeds: A group of 3 seeds every 24" – 36"
Row Spacing: 36"
Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 24" ? 36"
Growing Info
Harvesting: Costoluto Genovese tomatoes are at the peak of sun-ripened deliciousness when fully red, and have a slight give when gently squeezed. Tomatoes may also be picked at the "first blush" stage, when 50% of the tomatoes' color has begun to change, and ripened at room temperature without decreasing flavor or nutrition. Picking often and early increases yield, and decreases the risk of cracking and pest damage. Ripe fruit left on the vine during rain or watering is more susceptible to splitting. About 1 month before the average first fall frost, clip all blossoms and undersized fruit off the plant, signaling to the plant to ripen what?s left. Pick any unripe fruit before frost, and store them indoors in a single layer away from direct sunlight to ripen.
Special Care: Do not mulch when weather is still cool; the roots of young plants need to be in soil that is warmed by the sun. When the weather warms up and plants are established, mulch to a depth of 2" or 3" with a material such as straw, leaves, or compost, to conserve moisture, reduce weed growth, and keep the roots warm.
- VioletVerified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsSep 10, 2026Perfect little tomato!
This is my first year growing veggies! Though I have been in the hort world professionally for many years, I decided to work with what I have and jump into veggies. Most of these plants are in containers 5 - 8 gallons
I think like a handful of people I was somewhat expecting the fruit to be larger, these don’t seem to get larger than 6 inches(maybe in part because of container limits), but I absolutely love them I think they are the perfect size! Perfect tomato for single servings so you don’t have to open a big slicer for a single sandwich, burger etc. The ridges also make them into the cutest little flower esque slices which are great for plate appeal and also so pretty for decorated focaccia !!
Again I don’t have a ton of experience to back me up but I think this is a fairly prolific plant that also seemed to resist pest damage a lot better than my brandywines and even super sweet 100s which are looking rough from the heat and spidermite damage. They do tend to curl their leaves and it’s quite annoying, but I mostly dealt with that late spring early summer during some very abnormal hot weather fluctuations. But doesn’t affect the plant in the long run as far as I can tell. It is September and these plants are still going and look picture perfect.
Delightful tomato I will certainly grow again 💞
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerEGEpic GardeningSep 13, 2026Hey Violet,
What an amazing first year diving into veggie growing! We love that you brought your professional hort background into the garden and decided to work with what you have - that's the spirit we're all about!
We're so thrilled to hear that your Costoluto Genovese Pole Tomato Seeds have been such a success, especially in containers! The fact that you've found them to be the perfect size for single servings is awesome, and those gorgeous ridged slices sound absolutely stunning on focaccia - we can totally see why they'd be so pretty for plating! It's also really impressive that they've shown such pest resistance compared to your other varieties and are still thriving and looking picture perfect all the way into September. That's seriously the kind of performance we love to see!
Thanks so much for being part of the growing community and for sharing all the details about your experience. We're so glad you'll be growing these again! Keep on growing 🌻
- Xinyu Q.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJul 25, 2026Super Duper Tall Tomatoes’
These are taller than what I expected, however growing very fast and strong. In zone 5, started indoors in March/April, now becoming a highest point in my garden bed. Three healthy plants, producing a total of 23 tomatoes so far, Nothing turns red yet but I am very excited!
Which best describes you as a gardener? BeginnerEGEpic GardeningJul 28, 2026Hey Xinyu,
We're so happy to hear about your incredible experience with the Costoluto Genovese Pole Tomato Seeds! Those super tall plants sound like they're absolutely thriving in your zone 5 garden bed - there's nothing better than vigorous growth like that! It's awesome that your three plants are already producing such an impressive harvest with 23 tomatoes so far! We love your excitement as you wait for those tomatoes to turn red - that anticipation is part of what makes gardening so rewarding! Thanks for sharing your Costoluto Genovese growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
- Alex T.Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 starsOct 2, 2025You need this tomato is your garden!
You know how most heirloom tomatoes look amazing on paper but kind of fizzle out once the real heat sets in? Costoluto Genovese has been the total opposite for us. This is our second year growing it, and it’s the only tomato that didn’t throw in the towel here in Texas zone 8a. Even when the heat cranked up and the fruits got a little smaller, the plants just kept on pumping out tomatoes.
And these aren’t just any tomatoes — they’re gorgeous, deeply ribbed, old-world Italian beauties. Flavor is right where you want it too: bright and fresh in a salad, meaty enough for a sandwich, and rich enough that you could cook it down into a sauce. It’s one of those all-around varieties that actually lives up to the hype.
This year we had a single 50-foot row with 25 plants, and next year we’re doubling it to two rows. That’s how much we believe in this one. If you’re after a reliable, hardworking heirloom that doesn’t quit when the sun’s beating down, I’d say Costoluto Genovese deserves a spot in your garden.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningOct 2, 2025Hey Alex T.,
Thank you SO much for this incredible review and for being such a dedicated Costoluto Genovese grower! Your experience in Texas zone 8a is exactly what other gardeners need to hear - it's one thing for us to say these Italian heirlooms are heat-tolerant, but it's another thing entirely to have a real grower confirm that they keep producing when everything else is calling it quits in that brutal summer heat.
Your description of these tomatoes as "gorgeous, deeply ribbed, old-world Italian beauties" is spot-on, and we love how you've discovered their versatility - fresh, cooked, or somewhere in between, they really do deliver on all fronts. That's the magic of these traditional Italian varieties that have been perfected over generations.
The fact that you're doubling your planting from 25 to 50 plants next year says everything about how reliable this variety has been for you! Your success story will be so inspiring, if your gorgeous photos aren't enough, for other gardeners in hot climates who are tired of watching their tomato plants struggle through the summer months.
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Andrea H.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsAug 24, 2026Very Satisfied Customer
I enjoy hand watering our garden and harvesting all that grows.
We love these seeds. 😇😇🍀
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningAug 24, 2026Hey Andrea,
We're so happy to hear that you're very satisfied with your Costoluto Genovese Pole Tomato Seeds! It's awesome that you're enjoying the hands-on experience of tending to your garden and harvesting everything you grow. Thanks so much for being part of the growing community! Keep on growing 🌻
- Rich L.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 starsJun 3, 2026Great plants
These I have started inside a month ago, and I believe they're ready to plant outside this week. Descriptions I've read says these are big, flavorful, and produce continuously though fall.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateEGEpic GardeningJun 3, 2026Hey Rich,
What great timing getting those Costoluto Genovese Pole Tomato Seeds started a month ago! It sounds like they're going to be perfect for transplanting outside this week. You're absolutely right about these beauties - they're known for being big, incredibly flavorful, and producing continuously through fall. We're excited for you to experience those amazing ribbed tomatoes! Thanks for sharing your Costoluto Genovese growing success with us! Keep on growing 🌻️
