The ˈBanana Legsˈ tomato variety belongs to the elongated bottle tomatoes. You can find out how these special tomatoes are planted and cared for here.
The ˈBanana Legsˈ is, along with the tomato variety ˈBlushˈ, one of the few yellow bottle tomatoes. We introduce the unusually shaped tomato and give tips on growing it in your own garden.
Banana Legs Tomato: Profile
| Fruit | salad tomato; sunny yellow with light yellow stripes |
| Flavour | mild, fruity, sweet, hardly acidic |
| Maturity | medium early |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 120 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse, sheltered field, pot/tub |
History and Origin of Banana Legs
ˈBanana Legsˈ is a selection by John Swenson from Illinois in the USA. It has been offered as seed for hobby gardeners since it was created in 1984. Swenson bred the yellow tomato variety from a mix of previously unnamed crosses by famous tomato breeder Tom Wagner. The Green Zebra tomato also comes from his house. The ˈBanana Legsˈ is also a parent of the newer tomato variety ˈStriped Romanˈ.
Flavour and characteristics of the ‘Banana Legs’ tomato variety
The plants of the tomato variety ˈBanana Legsˈ reach a height of 100 to 120 cm and are therefore among the compact stick tomatoes. The long leaves, composed of many individual leaflets, are particularly striking. The elongated, cylindrical fruits with a distinct, blunt tip form on the panicles. By the time they ripen mid-early from the end of July, they take on a sun-yellow color and light yellow stripes. The tomatoes of the ˈBanana Legsˈ reach an average weight of about 80 grams and are about 10 cm long. Inside the fruit there is a lot of pulp and only a few seeds.
The taste of the banana legs tomato is typical of yellow varieties: mild, sweet and fruity with little to no acidity. You can use the fruits to get tomato seeds yourself for the next season, becausethe ˈBanana Legsˈ is seedproof.
Cultivation and care: This is important to note
The yellow bottle tomato ˈBanana Legsˈ prefers sheltered, warm locations, for example in the greenhouse, under a tomato roof outdoors or in pots and tubs. Due to its compact growth, it is particularly suitable as a balcony tomato or for planting in raised beds. Unfortunately, the tomato variety often shows blossom end rot due to calcium deficiency. At best, the plants should thrive in low humidity, as this reduces the risk of the disease. When planting in a greenhouse, sufficient ventilation must be ensured.
Banana Legs tomatoes can be placed in the bed or in the pot in mid-May after the ice saints. It can be planted in the greenhouse as early as May. We recommend a planter with a capacity of at least 20 liters for the culture on the balcony and terrace. This is filled with a potassium-rich potting soil, such as our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil. Sufficient potassium is particularly important for tomatoes to protect them from drought stress and fungal pathogens.
Plant the tomato plants deep in the ground or in a planting hole so that about half of the shoots are below the soil horizon. Then remove these lower shoots and fill the hole all around with substrate, which is lightly pressed. The young plant should be supported with a stick and then watered generously. Planting deep ensures that the tomato also forms additional roots on the shoot and can thus be better supplied with water and nutrients.
Tip: Use soil to model a pouring rim around the tomato. So you can easily provide the plant with sufficient water without it simply running off.
From June, the period of flowering and fruiting begins for tomatoes. Now the nutrient requirement increases rapidly and it is time for the first fertilization. This is particularly easy with the help of an organic liquid fertilizer, such as our Plantura Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer. About 15 to 25 ml of the fertilizer is added to the irrigation water once a week. This is how the tomato is fertilized when it is watered. The nutrients contained are quickly available for the plant and can also quickly remedy deficiency symptoms.
The compact growing Banana Legs tomato can easily be trained with three shoots. To do this, leave two more deep-seated side shoots on the plant in addition to the main shoot. theRemaining axillary shoots are regularly removed when pinching the tomato. Soon the two side shoots will also stretch and should be well supported. Plenty of flowers and later fruits are also formed on these shoots.
Tip: Instead of liquid tomato fertilizer, you can also use solid granules directly when planting and again after three months. Granular fertilizers like our primarily organic Plantura Organic Tomato Fertilizer slowly release their nutrients with the help of soil organisms.
The physiological fruit disease blossom end rot appears earlier and more frequently in ˈBanana Legsˈ than in other varieties. The trigger for the typical brown-black spots at the bottom of the fruit is a lack of calcium. This occurs when the transport of calcium into the fruit is disturbed. Foliage and fruit fertilization with a calcium fertilizer offers a quick remedy. Changed cultivation conditions such as a well-ventilated location, protection from excessive heat and watering in the morning and not in the evening help preventively.
Harvesting and Use of the Banana Legs Tomato
The plum tomatoes can be harvested continuously from the end of July until the first frost at the end of October or beginning of November. The plants bring a high yield despite their low stature. Due to the few seeds and the large amount of pulp, the tomato is particularly easy to process into spreads, ketchup or sauces. The mildly fruity taste of the ˈBanana Legsˈ can also be enjoyed as a fresh snack.
If you want to grow tomatoes outdoors, you should first choose robust and hardy varieties. Introducing the ˈRote Zoraˈ bottle tomato, specially developed for open cultivation.