The Heirloom Reisetomate Tomato
This heirloom is called the tomato on the go.
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Learn all about the unique heirloom Reisetomate tomato, including its history, planting tips, and harvesting.
by Mark Hall
Picture this: You’ve been weeding the garden all morning. You’re hot, you’re sweaty, and you’ve developed quite an appetite. In fact, you’re starving! You’d planned to accomplish several more chores before lunch, but now your energy has been sapped. If only there was a refreshing snack nearby to give you a needed boost!
Oh, there is, you remember as you wipe your brow. Relieved, you casually stroll to the far end of the garden where you approach your new heirloom tomato plant, called Reisetomate. Peculiar in appearance, each bright red fruit looks like a haphazard fusion of small, swollen chunks. Carefully, you pluck and hold onto the ripest of these squat, lumpy fruits in one hand, while grasping one of its several bulbous sections, or lobes, with the other hand. A tiny twist and a gentle tug tears the little cherry tomato-sized lobe free from the contorted conglomerate. For the first time, you bite into it, and a burst of delicious tangy flavor floods your taste buds. Greedily, you eat several more lobes until you’re refreshed and ready to get back to your work.
However, there’s one problem. What do you do with the rest of the tomato in your hand? Won’t the remaining lobes spoil? The answers to these questions further separate this variety from other cultivars and give this tomato its name.
The Reisetomate tomato has the truly unique ability to be consumed over an extended period of time. This is because each lobe has its own seeds, its own core, and its own flesh. Most importantly, it also has its own thick skin, which heals right away when the union is pulled apart, effectively extending the tomato’s usability. So, you can eat one or more lobes and carry the remainder with you until you’re hungry for another one.
Reisetomate Tomato History
For centuries, this variety has been considered an excellent food source for people who are journeying in various parts of the world. In fact, riesetomate is a German term meaning “traveler’s tomato” (not to be confused with the more basic Arkansas Traveler tomato). The Reisetomate is believed to have originated in Peru, before spreading across Central America. After further advance into Mexico, it’s believed that European explorers brought it to their home continent in the 15th and 16th centuries. The tomato was also said to have been brought along as a snack by those travelling the long Trans-Siberian Railway across Russia.
Scientifically named Solanum lycopersicum, the Reisetomate tomato is a member of the Solanaceae, or nightshade family, which includes other vegetables such as potatoes and peppers. Not widely known, this fascinating tomato is a rare heirloom grown mostly at home. Sold only through a few fresh markets, you may want to purchase seeds online or connect with farmers and other gardeners at local seed swaps. You never know what seeds you might find there, along with some expert advice concerning them.
Planting & Growing Reisetomate Tomatoes
Plant six-week starters in deep, rich, well-drained soil and in full sun. Alternatively, seeds can be started outside when all frosts have passed and when soil temperatures measure at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. To help seedlings acclimate to harsher conditions, and to improve the odds of avoiding stunted growth and leaf decay, gradually increase their sunlight exposure and duration. You’ll want to water up to one and a half inches per week and layer dark mulch around roots to increase early development, in cooler areas. Finally, harvest mid-summer through early fall (about 70 to 85 days to maturity) when the tomatoes grow plump and turn red in color. Also, be careful not to overfeed with nitrogen-rich plant food or your yield will plummet. Oh, and make sure you save some of the seeds for next year! Simply clean and thoroughly dry the seeds before storing them in an airtight container.
The Reisetomate tomato provides a surprising degree of versatility as a food source. Besides the ability to be eaten as a bite-sized snack, this “traveler” can be used to flavor dips, sauces, and salads, including the Caprese salad. This elegant Italian platter features numerous layers of sliced tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella, complimented by a host of seasonings. The amazing tomato also goes well with various fruits, vegetables, and meats, such as beef, pork, and poultry.
There can be no doubt that traveler tomato is the perfect nickname for the Reisetomate tomato plant. It’s so handy for a person who’s traveling to simply tear off one or more little chunks and conveniently save the rest for later! You could benefit similarly, while doing your chores, if you had one of these fantastic tomato plants. Put this rare and special variety on your garden planning list for next year and begin searching for it early so that you’re not playing ketchup at the last minute!
Resources
- Grant, Bonnie. “Reisetomate Heirloom Tomato Plant History.” Gardening Know How, 22 March 2022, www.gardeningknowhow.com/tbt/reisetomate-heirloom-tomatoes.
- “Reisetomate Tomatoes.” Specialty Produce. https://specialtyproduce.com/produce/reisetomate_tomatoes_15172.php.
Mark M. Hall lives with his wife, their three daughters, and numerous pets on a four-acre slice of paradise in rural Ohio. Mark is a veteran small-scale chicken farmer and avid observer of nature. As a freelance writer, he endeavors to share his life experiences in a manner that is both informative and entertaining.
Originally published in the September/October 2025 issue of Countryside and Small Stock Journal and regularly vetted for accuracy.
