Viva Italia

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

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Sun-warmed, deep-red Viva Italia paste tomatoes burst with a rich, tangy sweetness and a true “tomato” perfume that lingers on the palate.

Flesh is dense and meaty with few seeds, yielding a velvety texture ideal for thick, spoonable sauces and robust roasting—each harvest delivering concentrated flavor for long-simmer favorites. Grow Viva Italia for a steady, dependable supply of uniform fruit that turns the garden into a harvest-ready red tapestry.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Determinate

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Viva Italia 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	Determinate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Viva Italia is a true paste tomato: dense flesh and low seed count give you a velvety, thick sauce that doesn’t thin out when it simmers. The tangy sweetness and lingering tomato perfume make it a standout for reductions and spoonable long-cooks—exactly the kind of fruit you want to build your base flavor around.

Best Uses

long-simmer paste sauce where the spoon should stand up
thick roasting for caramelized edges and minimal seed bitterness
rapid pan reduction for glossy tomato base on pasta or polenta
grating and straining into a concentrated, tart cooking juice

Flavor Profile

tangy-sweet acidity dense, meaty flesh with few seeds high tomato “perfume” that sticks to the palate velvety, spoonable texture when cooked

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil anchovy Parmigiano-Reggiano balsamic vinegar mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Solanum lycopersicum (tomatoes) and how do I treat it?

Early blight (Alternaria) commonly shows as brown, concentric “target” spots on lower leaves and can spread upward. Remove and trash infected leaves immediately, then improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line (not the foliage). If new spots keep appearing, use a labeled fungicide for tomatoes and reapply according to the label after rain or heavy dew.

How often should I water Solanum lycopersicum during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep the soil evenly moist—typically about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, adjusted for heat and container size. Water deeply 1–3 times per week rather than daily sprinkles, aiming for consistent moisture to reduce issues like blossom-end rot and cracking.

How can I tell when Viva Italia tomatoes are ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (deep red) and the skin is firm but gives slightly to gentle pressure. They should come off the vine with a light twist and have a mature size for their variety at about 75 days from planting.