There’s a new tomato on the shelves at Tesco.
- Moruno
Bred for its health giving properties and referred to as a ‘super tomato’. What makes it super is having double the amount of the antioxidant lycopene compared to a conventional tomato. And higher vitamin C; gram per gram as much as an orange. Its flesh is described as thick and juicy and its taste sweet.
Another amazing statistic is that is the result of cross breeding that involved trials of 2,000 varieties.
Last year Tesco also introduced Sugardrop, extra sweet and the result of trials involving 3,000 varieties.
And the non-leaky tomato which required a mere 100 different varieties to find the solution to soggy sandwiches.
Today also brought news that scientists in India have genetically engineered a tomato to stay fresh for 45 days.
To achieve this they have “turned off” the production of ripening enzymes. Given the average tomato in the shops at the moment couldn’t be any less ‘ripe’ I’m not sure this is a cause for celebration.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Hello.
I wonder if you would please help us?
We have been eating Moruno tomatoes since we first spotted them in Tescos. Is it possible to buy seed anywhere? If we saved seed from any we were able to resist eating, would the plant ‘come true’?
Many thanks
Fiona
Hello
Thank you for getting in touch. I am guessing my way to finding an answer to your question – but I think you have already got there ! From all I’ve read on Moruno it seems it was a tomato bred for Tesco – or if not speficially for Tesco for commercial production for retail – as opposed to being a plant seed for the home grower . And so I’m sure you’re right – it won’t be avaliable as seed for the home grower.
As for the seed coming true – again as you say F1 seeds can’t be relied on to come true – and I am sure this would be the case here…. but then I’ve also heard of people successfully growing tomatoes on from their supermarket seed. I’d love to know if you do save a few seeds and sow them, what happens !
What ever happened to the availability of the wonderful Tumbler tomato? It grew so well in the greenhouse as well as outside and suddenly it was no longer available. I was able to freeze them whole and have no need ever to buy tinned toms. The season was from early July to end October.
Hello
Thank you for getting in touch . I too think Tumbler is wonderful. I grew it last year and it was tasty and productive. As well as living up to its name and was very happy just making its own way down the side of the pot.
I was distressed to think it might not be avaliable – it seemed a really reliable variety.
So I looked it up and found it here. I don’t know where you are but if in the UK it’s avaliable by post. There is some reference to the breeder not discontinuing the seed – so there’s clearly a story there ! but it seems the seeds are avalible.
http://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/seeds/pages/veg5b.htm#VEG074