Wanted - Raff Tomato seed

[mcsee]

I'd like to try a few Raff Tomatoes (Spain) here this season and wondered if anyone has any seed they'd like to swap.

Anyone??

[Flummery]

I haven't come across this variety here. (Mind you, there's probably loads I haven't heard of!). Good luck with your search.

[Lizzy]

I have not heard of that variety either, what sort of flavour are they?

Liz

[mcsee]

I haven't tried them myself, but I know of someone who ate them while visiting in Spain who liked them very much. You can get snippets from Google on them, like this Softguide Madrid : Blog » Gran Via or maybe this Glossary Term - Tomato

[finefencer]

Sorry that it is to late for the seed, but for those who dont know the Raff tomato....you are missing out....they are the best that I have ever tried.....thin skined, good for slicing, good for stuffing, and flavor superb

[MaureenHall]

Think you might have to go to Spain and get some seeds out of a tomato there

[ChrisB]

Was in Spain a few weeks ago and looked for this seed to no avail

Got another trip next month so will have another look.

Will let you know if I'm successful. failing that, I've just been reading about this variety on the Waitrose supermarket web site. It's a winter variety, November - March, if they stock them this year it should be possible to collect the seed from one

[finefencer]

I brought seed back, naughty I know...and have four plants growing now....two with very good fruit on......and the other two in flower....good bread and butter, cheese, salt and pepper....mmmm

[nick the grief]

hehehe - I should have gone to specsavers I thought it said NAFF tomato seeds ... I was going to send you some of mine as they're naff this year lol

[finefencer]

very good....I saw the RAFF tom in a cooking program from Spain, and the presenter said that the Spanish could not aford to eat them as they were to expensive......so when I was in Spain I found then in a big supermarket....a Mercardo I think it was called, and went straight to the toms and found them.....normal tom prices were about 80-90 but the RAFF were 2.35 euros....and I must say they were worth the money ....but we all have are own tastes........and mine would be in her 40ies with her own teath good figure, and didn't smoke....ha ha

[tmdb]

How has the plant been and what sort of yield did you get out of this?

Also, what length of shelflife did you see?

[finefencer]

A dificult one to answer as I was just so pleased that I got the seeds to grow over here UK and late in the season. I had two to three trusses on each plant but the fruit is not very uniform, some were very big and started to pull the truss from the stem and had to be tied up, and on another truss they would be more uniform and 6 or mor fruits to that truss, the art is picking them at the right time, dont wait untill they are completly red because they lose that slight acid edge and mellow. I was very happy with them....I hope this helps

[finefencer]

Sorry missed the shelf life bit, but I think I answered that in picking at the right time, the fruit at its best would be greene red...they will keep as I have three toms that I picked for seed that are just in a bowl in the kitchen they are soft now but I could slice and use if I wanted too.
There was a mention in a cooking program....On the road in Spain....to the Raff tom and it was referred to as the Rolls Royce

[carolynW]

raff tomatoes

hi,
I found a site where they sell the seeds. A bit expensive but if you like them....

Semillas de Hortaliza , Semillas , Plantas, Garden Center Ejea

Carolyn

[FoxHillGardener]

My parents live in Spain and my Mum has got hold of a packet of Raf tomato seeds for me. I'll use a few of them, but there are plenty in the pack if anyone else wants to give them a go.

The message from the tomato growers in their village is that raf like it warm and are quite "difficult" - whatever that means - and most of them buy plants from the cooperativa rather than growing from seed. Maybe that means they're difficult to germinate...? we'll see

Anyway, packet says they are a "Low bush. Pale red and good sized, broad and rugged fruits with thin skin and juicy flesh"

Anyone want to try? Send me an SAE, unless anyone's got any spare New Zealand spinach going spare