How to Grow Sessantina Grossa

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Sessantina Grossa

Solanum lycopersicum 'Sessantina Grossa'

vegetable

Sessantina Grossa is an Italian heirloom tomato variety known for its large, meaty fruits with few seeds and exceptional flavor. This determinate bush variety produces abundant crops of deep red, ribbed tomatoes that are perfect for sauce-making and fresh eating. The plant is compact and relatively early-maturing, making it suitable for both home gardens and commercial production.

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Example Sessantina Grossa timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Sessantina Grossa
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Sessantina Grossa
Around Jun 16

≈ 60 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Sessantina Grossa dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

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Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum (8+ hours preferred for optimal fruit production)

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Water: Consistent watering of 1-2 inches per week; maintain even soil moisture to prevent cracking and blossom-end rot. Water at soil level in early morning to reduce disease. Reduce watering as fruit ripens.

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Spacing: 18 inches

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Days to maturity: 60-75 days from transplant

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Planting depth: Seed 0.25 inches deep indoors; transplant 6-8 weeks before last frost with buried stem (up to first true leaves for stronger root development)

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

Compost or well-rotted manure Balanced fertilizer (NPK 5-10-10) Calcium (crushed eggshells or gypsum for blossom-end rot prevention) Sulfur if pH is too high

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-9, but can succeed in zones 3-10 with proper timing

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

Seedling

2-3 weeks

Tiny seedlings with cotyledons and emerging true leaves; delicate and light green

Maintain moist soil, provide bright light (grow lights 2-3 inches above), keep at 70-75°F, thin to strongest seedlings

Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks indoors, 2-3 weeks after transplanting

Plant develops multiple sets of true leaves and a sturdy stem; bushy, compact growth pattern typical of determinate types

Gradually harden off transplants before outdoor planting; fertilize lightly weekly; provide sturdy support structure early; prune suckers on determinate varieties if desired for earlier fruiting

Flowering

2-3 weeks

Yellow flowers appear in clusters; plant is about 12-18 inches tall with dense foliage

Ensure adequate phosphorus and potassium for flower set; maintain consistent watering; avoid high nitrogen to prevent excessive foliage; provide tomato cages or stakes now

Fruiting & Development

4-6 weeks

Flowers set fruit; small green tomatoes visible; characteristic ribbing becomes apparent; heavy fruit load typical for this prolific variety

Support heavily laden branches with ties or props; maintain even watering to prevent splitting; thin excessive foliage only if needed for air circulation; feed with balanced or slightly higher potassium fertilizer

Ripening & Harvest

2-4 weeks depending on temperature

Fruits mature to deep red color over 2-3 weeks; fully ripe fruits are dense and firm with excellent flavor

Harvest ripe fruits when fully colored and slightly yielding to gentle pressure; for end-of-season production, harvest mature green fruits and ripen indoors at 65-70°F; reduce watering to concentrate sugars

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Basil Parsley Carrot Onion Garlic Marigold Nasturtium Borage Chives

Avoid planting near:

Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower) Fennel Kohlrabi Dill Potatoes Other tomato family members in rotation

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) spray for smaller larvae; plant Datura or Nicandra as trap crops; encourage parasitic wasps
Spray leaves with strong water stream; use neem oil or insecticidal soap; ensure consistent humidity and adequate watering; avoid excessive heat stress
Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; introduce parasitic wasps; avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization
Plant resistant varieties; practice 3-year crop rotation; sterilize soil; avoid overhead watering; remove and destroy infected plants immediately
Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide; avoid overhead watering
Plant in well-draining soil; provide good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply copper or sulfur fungicides preventatively in cool, wet conditions; remove infected foliage

Uses

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Italian Sauce & Paste Production

Culinary

Sessantina Grossa is the quintessential Italian sauce tomato with meaty flesh, few seeds, and low water content, making it ideal for authentic pomodoro sauce, tomato paste, and concentrates. Its high solids content means less cooking time and richer, more concentrated flavor. [source]

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Fresh Slicing & Salads

Culinary

Despite its sauce heritage, the large, meaty fruits slice beautifully for caprese salads, bruschetta, and fresh summer eating. The exceptional flavor and low seed content make it superior to many modern hybrids. [source]

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Canning & Preservation

Culinary

The firm texture and high acidity make Sessantina Grossa excellent for home canning, bottling in oil, and long-term pantry storage. Its meaty structure holds up well to processing methods. [source]

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Seed Saving & Heritage Preservation

Household

As a determinate heirloom variety, Sessantina Grossa is ideal for seed saving, allowing gardeners to preserve this Italian classic and maintain genetic diversity. Open-pollinated fruits produce true-to-type seeds reliably. [source]

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Garden Biodiversity Support

Wildlife

Tomato flowers attract pollinators and beneficial insects, while dense foliage provides shelter for natural pest predators. The prolific fruit production also supports wildlife food sources. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fruits are fully colored deep red and slightly soft to gentle pressure (usually 60-75 days after transplant). Pick ripe fruits every 2-3 days to encourage continued production. For maximum flavor, allow fruit to ripen fully on the vine in warm weather. Sessantina Grossa is relatively early-maturing for a large heirloom variety, allowing harvest before late-season diseases strike in humid climates. If frost threatens, harvest mature green fruits and ripen indoors at 65-75°F away from direct sunlight.

Fun Facts

🌱 Sessantina Grossa's name refers to its Italian heritage and the '60s (sessanta = sixty) era when this variety was developed or widely cultivated in Italy.
🌱 This variety is prized by traditional Italian food producers for making San Marzano-style sauces and concentrates, though it's a distinct variety from the San Marzano cultivar.
🌱 The characteristic deep ribbing (fluting) on the fruit not only makes it visually distinctive but also indicates the meaty, seed-sparse interior that makes it exceptional for cooking applications.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Full Sun Heirloom pH Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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