Description
The ‘Piccadilly Pixel’ is a well-regarded, indeterminate (climbing) tomato hybrid that is known for its high productivity and fantastic combination of flavour, sweetness, and firm texture.
Flavour Profile: It is characterised by an excellent degree of sweetness and sapidity (savouriness), making it delicious both raw and cooked.
Fruit Quality: The fruits are oval to slightly tapered, with a bright, intense red colour. They possess excellent consistency and firmness, which contributes to a long shelf life. They are typically harvested in attractive clusters (a grappolo) of 8–12 fruits.
Culinary Use: Exceptionally versatile:
Fresh Consumption: Great for salads, bruschetta, and appetizers.
Sauces & Preserves: Highly prized for sauces. The skin is thin and blends easily during cooking, often eliminating the need to pass the sauce through a food mill.
Growth: Indeterminate (needs support, grows continuously until frost). The plant is generally vigorous with high productivity.
Resistance: Often bred with resistance to common soil-borne diseases (like some forms of Verticillium and Fusarium) and good tolerance to problems like blossom end rot.
Growing Guide: Tomatoes are a staple summer crop in Malta and thrive in the long, hot growing season, though they require specific care to manage the heat.
When to Plant: Transplanting seedlings should be done when the risk of frost or cold temperatures has passed. Ideal Time Mid-March to Mid-June.
Location/Sun: Requires a position in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light). During peak summer heat, they benefit from light afternoon shade.
Soil: Requires well-drained, fertile soil, ideally with a slightly acidic pH (6–7). Enrich the area with compost or well-rotted manure before planting.
Spacing:
In-row spacing: 30–45 cm (12–18 inches) between plants (can be closer for sauce varieties).
Row spacing: 70–100 cm (28–40 inches) between rows.
Planting Tip: Plant the seedling deeply, burying part of the lower stem. New roots will form along the buried stem, leading to a stronger, healthier plant.
Support: Staking (Impalare) is essential for this vigorous, indeterminate variety. Use strong canes or cages and tie the main stem gently as it grows.
Watering: Water consistently. This variety suffers from water stress (irregular watering), so irrigate when the topsoil is dry, especially in the high summer heat. Consistent watering is key to preventing blossom end rot and fruit splitting.
Feeding: Tomatoes are heavy feeders. Use a balanced fertiliser at planting, then switch to a fertiliser higher in Potassium (K) and Calcium (Ca) once flowering and fruiting begin (typically every 7–10 days with a liquid feed).
Pruning: Regularly remove the suckers (shoots growing between the main stem and the leaves). This focuses the plant’s energy on fruit production and improves air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases common in Malta (like Peronospora or Downy Mildew), especially after intense rain.
Harvesting: Harvest can begin when the fruits are fully mature (deep, bright red) for the best flavour and sweetness. They can be harvested either individually or in the attractive clusters.
