The travel tomato is also known under the names 'Voyage' or 'Russian travel tomato'. Introducing the tomato variety with the unusual shape.
The 'Russian travel tomato' has a very unusual shape, as the fruit appears to be composed of several small segments. In this profile you will learn everything about the travel tomato, from its origin and taste to its cultivation.
Travel Tomato: Profile
| Synonyms | 'Voyage', 'Russian Travel Tomato', 'Purse', 'Travel' |
| Fruit | Beefsteak tomato; deep red |
| Flavour | sweet, aromatic with pronounced acidity |
| Maturity | medium early |
| Growth | Stick tomato, up to 250 cm |
| Location | Greenhouse, Outdoor, Pot |
Origin and history of the travel tomato
The 'Russian travel tomato' originally comes from Guatemala, but there is no more precise date for it. It is known by various names such as 'Voyage', 'Purse' or 'Travel'. All these designations can be traced back to the practical use of the travel tomato on the go. You can simply break off individual segments, eat them and keep the rest of the tomato for later.
Russian travel tomato: taste and properties
The travel tomato reaches a height of up to 250 centimetres. The fruits are large, heavily ribbed and deep red when ripe. The travel tomato weighs about 100 grams on average, but the fruit size and weight vary greatly with each fruit. In fact, a fruit consists of several flowers that have been fertilized but have grown together. So it only appears to be a beefsteak tomato, because instead of several chambers, the travel tomato actually has several fruits in one fruit. Every travel tomato looks completely different. The 'Russian travel tomato' is one of the early-ripening varieties and can be harvested as early as August. The taste of the travel tomato can be described as sweet and aromatic with a pronounced acid note. The travel tomatois open to seeds and the variety can be propagated again next year from the few seeds in the pulp.
Travel tomato: cultivation in tubs and outdoors
The rice tomato is not particularly susceptible to disease and is suitable for cultivation in the greenhouse, as an outdoor tomato and in pots on the terrace and balcony. Due to its size, however, it must be adequately supported and tied everywhere. At the beginning of May, the young plants of the travel tomato can go into the greenhouse, from mid-May after the ice saints outdoors. For cultivation as a balcony tomato, choose the largest possible planter and fill it with a special potting soil such as our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable soil. The pre-fertilized substrate does not require any peat and provides the young plant with all the nutrients it needs for a good start into the summer months.
Care for the tomato variety
After planting, the 'Voyage' particularly benefits from correct watering and mulching of the tomatoes. A mulch layer of plant materials protects the soil from drying out and promotes soil organisms. For the tomato plant, mulch means an additional source of nutrients and reduced water requirements. Using the tomatoes is extremely important with the 'Russian travel tomato'. If you leave two or three deep-seated shoots on the travel tomato, then it will not grow quite as tall and will find space more easily on balconies. All other side shoots must be removed every few weeks. In order to get a good yield and he althy plants, you should fertilize regularly from June. With an organic fertilizer, such as our Plantura organic tomato and vegetable fertilizer, the plants are supplied with all the important nutrients in a gentle way. The high potassium content promotes fruit formation and later quality of the travel tomato. As a liquid fertilizer, it can simply be applied with the irrigation water about once a week.
Travel Tomato: Harvest and Use
The travel tomato tastes best fresh and of course it is a good idea to take it with you as provisions when traveling or simply for a picnic. The fruit hardly juices when individual segments are broken off, so it can be stored for some time. You can also enjoy their aromatic taste in soups, gazpachos and various sauces.
As soon as the tomato harvest begins, it feels like it's already over. But what do you actually plant after the tomatoes? Can you always grow them in the same location?We answer all questions about tomato crop rotation in our special article.