San Marzano Gigante 3

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add San Marzano Gigante 3 to a garden.

Sun-warmed, deep-red San Marzano Gigante 3 is a paste tomato with a distinctly silky, meaty interior and an elegant, low-seed count that feels luxurious in the hand.

Its elongated, “plum” shape holds its form beautifully, delivering rich, tangy-sweet flavor with a gentle, classic tomato aroma that lingers on the palate. Grow it for bold sauces and slow-simmered favorites, for roasting-forward flavor, and for preserving when you want that unmistakably concentrated San Marzano character.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

Botanical illustration of San Marzano Gigante 3

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

San Marzano Gigante 3 Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 3rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Sep 27th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 23rd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 21st – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 16th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 12th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 9th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 3rd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Aug 29th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 19th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 10th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 1st – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 20th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Stake
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

San Marzano Gigante 3’s low-seed, high-meat interior collapses into a silky, spoon-coating sauce that won’t loosen into watery puddles. It’s built for long heat—where its tangy-sweet balance and concentrated flavor stay elegant instead of getting sharp.

Best Uses

slow-simmered marinara with minimal stirring
pizza sauce that stays cohesive (no watery bleed)
thick-strand roasted tomato purée for stirring into beans or rice
cooked canning/preserving for concentrated San Marzano character

Flavor Profile

tangy-sweet tomato acidity silky, meaty flesh low-seed, thick gel mouthfeel classic tomato aroma with a clean finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil Parmigiano-Reggiano fresh mozzarella black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes) in home gardens, and how do I control it?

A frequent problem is early blight (Alternaria), which shows up as brown, target-like spots on older leaves that spread upward in warm, humid weather. Remove and discard infected lower leaves immediately, keep the foliage dry by watering at the soil line, and use a labeled fungicide early in the cycle if spots are appearing. Also stake/cage plants so air can circulate—dense growth makes early blight flare quickly.

How often should I water San Marzano-type tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) during the main growing phase?

During active fruiting (roughly from flowering through harvest), water deeply 1–2 times per week so the soil is evenly moist 6–8 in (15–20 cm) down. Aim for about 1–1.5 in (2.5–4 cm) of water per week total, adjusting for heat and container size; avoid frequent light watering that keeps the root zone shallow. Mulch helps keep moisture steady, which reduces blossom-end rot risk and prevents cracking.

How can I tell when Solanum lycopersicum ‘San Marzano’ type fruit is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the fruit is fully colored deep red (or red-orange depending on your patch) and has reached its full size for that variety, typically around 75 days from transplanting. Give a gentle twist—ripe San Marzano tomatoes detach easily from the stem without pulling. If you see green shoulders near the top, leave the fruit a few more days until the color fully extends.