In pictures: Tomatoes weighing 1kg in Da Lat

VietNamNet Bridge – Tomato trees in the garden of Ms. Pham Thi Thu Cuc in Lac Duong district, Lam Dong province yield fruits from 600g to 1kg, 15-20 times heavier than normally species.

Cuc's tomato trees are a new varieties originating from the Netherlands. This is the high-class Beef tomato species, which is often used together with fast food. 

A special feature of this variety is the weight of fruits, which is from 600g to 1kg each, while for the majority tomato varieties, each 15-20 fruits weigh 1kg. Cuc is the first gardener who successfully grows this Beef variety in Lam Dong.

This tomato weighs approximately 1kg. Cuc said a Beef tomato tree can yield 8-10kg of fruits if the planting density is 2,000 trees on 1,000m2. The popular tomato variety grown in Lam Dong now produces a maximum 4kg per tree. The prices for Beef tomato seeds therefore is usually more expensive than other ones, up to VND4,000/seed while the normal seeds usually cost VND500/seed.

Several other farmers also plant this variety but only Cuc is successful. The other gardens yield fruits in only about 1.5-2 months, while Cuc’s garden is harvested in 6-7 months. She can harvest the first fruits three months after seeds are sow. Cuc’s secret is to combine organics and chemicals because this variety is very sensitive to weather, in addition to understand the soil, pH levels and other physical and chemical indicators on her land.

However, Cuc said that it is difficulty to find the outlet for this tomato variety. A supermarket purchases her tomatoes at the price of VND30,000 ($1.5) per kilo but it only gets 100-200kg per day. At traditional markets, consumers who are accustomed to the normal tomatoes think that this is a Chinese species so they do not dare to buy it.

Beef tomatoes have little nuts, sweet and can be stored in normal conditions for a few tens of days. The price for normal is only VND4,000/kg , while Beef tomato prices are many times higher. However, Cuc said she could not sell her tomatoes at lower prices because she did not want to lose the Beef brand and cause doubt to consumers.

Beef tomatoes are being packed to supply to supermarkets. Mr. Lai The Hung, Head of the Department of Plant Protection of Lam Dong province, said the new tomato variety has not been planted popularly in Da Lat and the state agencies have not experimentally planted it. Consumers therefore do not get used to this new type of tomatoes.