There are few things better than sitting down in a piazza – or even better, a taverna with a stunning sea view – and tucking into a plate of fat, ripe ruby-red tomatoes. While these are easy to come by in Europe, at home our offerings can often be a lot more lacklustre and less deliziosa… However, with a little extra care – and some Italian insider intel – there is hope that you can grow some tomatoes worthy of a Mediterranean salad spectacular.
Paolo, one of 14,000 tomato farmers who grow for iconic tinned tomato company Cirio, is based in the Lazio region of central Italy. Here, he shares his lesser-known tomato-growing tips inspired by Italian farming traditions – from when to plant, to how much to water, and why you shouldn't always pinch out every side shoot.
