Tomato Seed 'Purple Calabash'

There's no way of describing this variety apart from ugly; the purple-blue fruits are deeply ribbed and somewhat squat in appearance - and more often than not the shape is not symmetrical. Typical of tomatoes pictured in 16th Century Herbal books, this variety of tomato is a great rarity grown for public exhibition in the Thomas Jefferson's Horticultural Gardens at Monticello in the USA and exclusive to us in the UK.

But that horrible appearance hides a real treasure, a really flavoursome tomato with a very strong tomato favour and slight sharp finish. Not the best variety for eating as a salad tomato, it really comes into its own when used in salsas or cooked.

• This is an indeterminate variety and best grown as a cordon (vine).
• For best yields stop at 5th truss if growing under protection (3rd outside).
• Whilst the best crops will be grown under protection, this variety can also be grown outside.