Principe Borghese

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sun-warmed and intensely aromatic, Principe Borghese paste tomatoes ripen to a rich, deep-red that tastes concentrated and bright—sweet at first breath, then pleasantly tangy with a savory, old-world depth.

The fruits are firm and meaty with a dense, low-seed interior, yielding a silky, spoonable texture that clings beautifully to every simmering moment. Grow them for classic paste-style performance: ideal for thick sauces, slow-cooked reductions, and robust preserves that showcase their heirloom character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Determinate

Botanical illustration of Principe Borghese

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 3rd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	9

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Principe Borghese behaves like a proper paste tomato: firm, low-seed, and built to release flavor gradually into a silky reduction that doesn’t thin out. Use it when you want the sauce to cling—sweet up front, then tangy and savory by the finish.

Best Uses

slow-reduced tomato sauce (the kind that coats the back of a spoon)
thick paste-style braises and ragù base
cooked preserves/jams where the tomato stays tangy, not watery
roasting and then pulping into a dense, spreadable sauce

Flavor Profile

concentrated sweetness with a bright, tangy snap savory, old-world tomato richness firm, meaty flesh with a dense, low-seed bite silky, spoonable texture that clings as it cooks

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil Parmigiano-Reggiano onion black pepper anchovy

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem commonly affects Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) like ‘Principe Borghese’, and how can I control it?

Watch for early blight (Alternaria) on older leaves, which shows up as dark, concentric spots that spread upward. Remove and discard infected leaves early, improve airflow with pruning, and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry. If it keeps progressing, use a labeled protective fungicide and rotate products to avoid resistance.

How often should I water ‘Principe Borghese’ tomato during the main growing phase, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During active flowering and fruit set, water deeply to keep the root zone evenly moist, typically about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat and rainfall. Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t allow the plant to repeatedly swing from dry to saturated—this can trigger blossom-end rot and cracking. Mulch helps maintain steady moisture around the tomato roots.

How can I tell when ‘Principe Borghese’ tomato is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored for the variety and have reached their firm, dense ‘Roma-style’ feel (usually around 75 days from transplant). Pick when the fruit base and shoulders look uniformly mature, not just partially blushed. For best flavor and reduced cracking, harvest frequently as soon as the fruit is fully ripe.