Carmello
Solanum lycopersicum 'Carmello'
A premium French hybrid renowned for producing exceptionally flavorful, perfectly round fruits that rival the best heirloom tomatoes for taste. This indeterminate variety combines old-world European flavor with modern disease resistance and reliability. Professional chefs and discerning gardeners prize Carmello for its consistently outstanding flavor and beautiful appearance.
Harvest
75-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
10–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-10 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Carmello in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Carmello · Zones 10–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage, Moist. Water: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 3 feet-6 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: High. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
The fruits are smooth, shiny, glossy, and are classified as berries. The size, shape, and color will vary depending on the variety or cultivar. The color of the fruits may be red, yellow, orange, green, purple, or pink. The fruits may contain over 100 yellow to light brown seeds.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Orange, Pink, Purple/Lavender, Red/Burgundy, Variegated. Type: Berry. Length: > 3 inches. Width: > 3 inches.
Garden value: Edible, Showy
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
Edibility: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
Storage & Preservation
Store ripe Carmello tomatoes at room temperature for optimal flavor – refrigeration dulls their prized taste complexity. They'll maintain peak quality for 3-5 days on the counter, up to a week in a cool pantry. For longer fresh storage, harvest fruits at the 'breaker' stage (first blush of color) and ripen indoors.
For preservation, Carmello's perfect balance of acidity and sweetness makes them exceptional for canning whole or as sauce. Their firm flesh holds up beautifully in pressure canning. Freeze whole fruits for winter cooking by removing stems and freezing on trays before bagging – the skins slip off easily after thawing. Dehydrating intensifies their complex flavor, creating premium dried tomatoes perfect for culinary applications. The high sugar content also makes them excellent candidates for slow-roasted tomato confit.
History & Origin
Carmello was developed in France during the late 20th century as part of the European movement to create hybrid varieties that could match heirloom flavor while offering modern disease resistance. French plant breeders, frustrated by the trade-off between taste and reliability in commercial tomatoes, specifically designed Carmello to bridge this gap for discerning home gardeners and professional chefs.
The variety represents a significant achievement in tomato breeding – combining the complex, balanced flavor profile reminiscent of classic French heirloom varieties with hybrid vigor and comprehensive disease resistance. Its name reflects the French emphasis on culinary excellence, positioning it as a 'caramel-like' sweetness balanced with proper acidity.
Carmello gained recognition in European markets first, then spread to North American specialty seed catalogs in the early 2000s. It quickly became a favorite among restaurant chefs who needed consistent, flavorful tomatoes that could withstand commercial growing pressures while maintaining gourmet quality. Today, it's considered one of the best examples of how modern breeding can enhance rather than compromise traditional tomato flavor.
Advantages
- +Attracts: Bees, Pollinators, Predatory Insects
- +Wildlife value: The plant is pollinated by bees, especially bumblebees.
- +Edible: The fruits or berries of the tomato are edible. They may be eaten raw, cooked, dried, or processed. They are a rich source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, and antioxidants. Lycopene is an antioxidant that gives the tomato its rich red color. Many plants will drop fruit when ripe or the fruit will come off easily. Tomatoes will continue to ripen once picked. Store them at room temperature.
- +Fast-growing
Considerations
- -Toxic (Leaves, Stems): Medium severity
- -High maintenance
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes and repels tomato hornworms
Carrots
Loosens soil for tomato roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on aphids
Chives
Repels aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Oregano
Repels various pests and may enhance tomato flavor
Peppers
Similar growing requirements and don't compete heavily for resources
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Trees
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
Brassicas (Cabbage family)
Competes for nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworm/tomato fruitworm, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Excellent resistance to verticillium wilt, fusarium wilt, tobacco mosaic virus, and gray leaf spot (VFFNtGLS)
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, spider mites
Diseases
Late blight, bacterial canker in humid conditions