- Red Riding Hood Tomato: Profile
- Origin and history of the tomato
- Flavour and properties of the ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tomato variety
- Growing Little Red Riding Hood: Sohow's it go
- Care for the 'Little Red Riding Hood' tomato variety
- Red Riding Hood Tomatoes: Harvesting and Use
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The 'Little Red Riding Hood' tomato variety is particularly suitable for growing as a pot tomato because of its compact growth. In this article you will find all the information about the special features of growing, caring for and harvesting this tomato variety.
The small red salad tomato with the pretty name and its deep red, round fruits is one of the few varieties cultivated in Germany. We introduce the bush tomato and explain how best to cultivate it.
Red Riding Hood Tomato: Profile
| Fruit | salad tomato; deep red |
| Flavour | fruity, sweet and sour |
| Maturity | early |
| Growth | Bush tomato, up to 80 cm |
| Location | pot |
| Special feature | determined variety |
Origin and history of the tomato
The 'Little Red Riding Hood' tomato variety was first mentioned in 1920 in the gardening magazine "Gartenwelt". Her breeder was probably the gardener Georg Bornemann from Blankenburg. A few years later it found its way into the variety catalog of the Quedlinburg company Dippe and was also offered under the name 'Heinemann's Little Red Riding Hood' by the company of the same name, F. C. Heinemann, based in Erfurt.
Flavour and properties of the ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ tomato variety
The 'Red Riding Hood' variety belongs to the bush tomatoes, because the plants reach a height of just 80 centimeters. Up to ten round fruits hang on panicles, which can weigh up to 70 grams. From the end of July, the early variety ripens and the deep red, medium-sized fruits become soft. Tomatoes of the 'Little Red Riding Hood' variety taste fruity with a balanced acid-sweet ratio. Incidentally, as an old variety, it is seed-firm, which means that it can be propagated again from its own seeds. Incidentally, propagating tomato seeds yourself is an excellent method of preserving varieties and saving the cost of new seeds every year.
Growing Little Red Riding Hood: Sohow's it go
As a slow-growing plant, 'Red Riding Hood' is particularly suitable for growing in pots and as a balcony tomato. The planter for the old German variety should have a volume of at least ten liters. From mid-May, after the ice saints, you can put the young plants of the variety 'Little Red Riding Hood' in a bucket outside. Fill the pot with a special substrate, such as our Plantura organic tomato compost, and put the bush tomato in it. The root growth of the young plants is stimulated with the compost content and thus the nutrient supply. After planting, the soil should be lightly pressed and watered well.
Our tip: Bush tomatoes should never be planted deeper than they were in the pot. Due to the compact growth, the plant supports itself and it is allowed to keep all its leaves for photosynthesis.
Care for the 'Little Red Riding Hood' tomato variety
The bush tomato 'Little Red Riding Hood' is robust and hardly susceptible to diseases, at the same time it is very easy to care for. It does not have to be pinched, but should definitely be allowed to keep all side shoots. Because these extremely short stinging shoots quickly develop new flowers and thus new fruits. The small plants often do not need a stake either, because the Red Riding Hood tomato forms a remarkably thick trunk. From June, the variety is happy about a fertilization. It can become extremely fertile and needs large amounts of nutrients to supply the many fruits. Fertilizing pot tomatoes and other vegetables is very easy with our Plantura tomato liquid fertilizer. Mix the organic fertilizer into the irrigation water about once a week and water the plants normally.
Red Riding Hood Tomatoes: Harvesting and Use
The Little Red Riding Hood tomato produces a good yield and takes up comparatively little space. The round, red fruits are suitable for all types of use. Whether fresh from the plant, in salads or cooked in soups, sauces or spreads - the 'Little Red Riding Hood' tomato variety is used everywhere.
Are you unsure which tomatoes should have their side shoots removed and which not? Do you have to eat tomatoes at all? We give tips on how to make the most of tomatoes and go into the individual types of variety.