How to Grow Sicilia Tomato

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Sicilia Tomato

Solanum lycopersicum 'Sicilia'

vegetable

Sicilia is a determinate paste tomato variety originating from Sicily, Italy, known for its oblong shape and rich, concentrated flavor ideal for sauce and paste production. This heirloom variety produces medium-sized fruits with thick walls, low seed content, and excellent umami depth. It's a reliable producer that thrives in warm climates and has strong disease resistance.

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Example Sicilia Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Sicilia Tomato
Around Apr 17

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

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Sicilia Tomato
Around Jul 1

≈ 75 days after planting

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

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, minimum 8 hours daily (10-12 hours optimal)

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Water: Consistent, deep watering 1-2 inches per week; water at soil level to avoid fungal disease; increase frequency during fruiting and hot weather; maintain even moisture to prevent cracking and blossom end rot

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Spacing: 24 inches

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Days to maturity: 75-85 days from transplant

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Planting depth: 1/4 inch for seeds; transplants can be buried deeper (up to first true leaves) to encourage stronger root systems

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter

pH: 6.0-6.8

Amendments:

compost aged manure peat moss or coco coir balanced organic fertilizer calcium (lime or gypsum for blossom end rot prevention)

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 5-10, can be grown in zone 3-4 with season extension

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

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Growth Stages

Seedling

10-14 days

Tiny plants with 2 cotyledons (seed leaves) and emerging true leaves; very delicate

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; maintain 70-75°F temperature; thin to strongest seedlings if crowded

Vegetative Growth

4-6 weeks before transplanting

Stocky plants developing 4-6 true leaves; stem thickening; establishing vigorous foliage

Harden off seedlings 7-10 days before transplanting; transplant at 6-8 weeks or when 3-4 true leaves visible; feed with balanced fertilizer every 2 weeks; support with stakes or cages early

Flowering

3-4 weeks

Yellow flowers appearing in clusters; plant reaching mature size; vigorous vine growth; determinate varieties produce all flowers within a shorter window

Maintain consistent watering; switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer to encourage flowering over foliage; prune suckers on indeterminate varieties; ensure 8+ hours of direct sun; provide support structure

Fruit Development

3-4 weeks

Small green tomatoes forming from flower bases; fruits gradually enlarging; characteristic oblong paste tomato shape becoming visible; dense, thick-walled fruits developing

Continue consistent watering (critical for even fruit development); fertilize with calcium-rich formula; thin fruit if overcrowded (allow 4-6 inches between fruits); maintain mulch layer to conserve moisture

Harvest/Maturity

2-3 weeks of continued harvest

Fruits turning from green to deep red; oblong shape fully formed; thick walls prominent; high solids content visible in cross-section

Harvest when fully colored but still slightly firm for maximum flavor and shelf life; pick at breaker stage if concerned about pests or disease; can ripen off vine in cool location; assess for disease; mulch to maintain soil moisture

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

basil parsley marigold carrot cucumber onion garlic nasturtium borage

Avoid planting near:

brassicas (cabbage, broccoli) fennel dill corn

Common Pests

Hand-pick large caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); inspect undersides of leaves regularly
Reflective mulch; yellow sticky traps; strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage beneficial insects
Increase humidity; strong water spray; neem oil; sulfur dust; predatory mites
Strong water spray; insecticidal soap; neem oil; encourage ladybugs and lacewings; reflective mulch
Prune lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; copper fungicide; remove infected plant material; water at soil level only
Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; copper fungicide; sanitize pruning tools; remove plant debris

Uses

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Sauce & Paste Production

Culinary

Sicilia is a premier paste tomato with thick walls, low seed content, and concentrated flavor perfect for making tomato sauce, paste, and puree. Its high solids content means less cooking time and richer, more intense tomato flavor in finished products. [source]

🍳

Fresh Cooking & Umami

Culinary

Beyond sauces, Sicilia tomatoes offer exceptional depth of flavor for fresh preparations, featuring high glutamate content that delivers savory umami notes. Excellent for soups, stews, bruschetta, and any cooked tomato dish. [source]

🍳

Italian Cuisine & Heirloom Heritage

Culinary

As a true Sicilian heirloom, this variety is traditional in Italian cooking and carries the authentic flavor profile of Mediterranean tomatoes. Ideal for anyone seeking to prepare authentic Italian dishes with heritage variety ingredients. [source]

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Preservation & Canning

Household

The dense flesh and high acid content make Sicilia ideal for home canning, preserving, freezing, and making dried tomatoes. Its low moisture content relative to size means excellent yield in preservation projects. [source]

🎨

Seed Saving

Craft

As an open-pollinated heirloom variety, Sicilia tomatoes are excellent for seed saving, allowing gardeners to maintain this heritage variety year after year. Seeds mature inside the fruit and can be fermented and dried for reliable long-term storage. [source]

Harvest Tips

Harvest when fruits are fully red and yield slightly to gentle pressure; Sicilia tomatoes can be picked at the breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripened indoors if needed; for sauce/paste production, harvest at peak ripeness for maximum solids content and flavor; use gentle twist-and-lift motion to avoid damaging vines; peak harvest typically occurs 75-85 days after transplanting; continue harvesting until first frost; tomatoes can be stored at room temperature away from direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks

Fun Facts

🌱 Sicilia tomatoes were brought to Europe from the Americas but were further developed and perfected in Sicily, making them quintessentially Italian despite their New World origins—a true example of culinary exchange across continents.
🌱 The paste tomato category, of which Sicilia is a premier example, exists because of 'soluble solids content' (Brix measurement); Sicilia typically scores 5-6 Brix, making it one of the more flavor-concentrated commercial heirloom varieties.
🌱 Unlike modern commercial paste tomatoes bred for mechanical harvesting, Sicilia requires careful hand-harvesting and was cultivated for generations by Sicilian farmers who recognized its superior flavor for canned tomato production before industrial agriculture transformed the industry.

Gardening Terms

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

Full Sun Heirloom Mulch Sucker Transplant True Leaves

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