Burke's Backyard Italian Tomatoes and Thai Chillies

Why not try growing some tomatoes and chillies over summer? The Burke's Backyard Italian Tomato was voted the best tasting tomato in Australia, and under independent testing has proved to be one of the strongest growers of all the tomato varieties. The Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli is a specially selected variety that is easy to grow and loves the hot weather, which makes it ideal for planting right now.

Burke's Backyard Italian Tomato

A form of the popular Rouge de Marmande, the Burke's Backyard Italian Tomato is a large fruited, ribbed variety which is delicious eaten fresh in salads or on sandwiches.

It is an early fruiting tomato variety that will grow well in cool or warm districts. Being a tall grower (called indeterminate) it needs to be staked when grown in the garden.

Tomatoes grow in frost free conditions in a warm, sunny spot. In warm, frost-free zones (for example the tropical and subtropical parts of the Northern Territory and coastal areas of north Queensland) tomatoes can be grown all year round. In temperate climates (coastal and near coastal districts of southern Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia) seed can be planted from August to December providing tomatoes through summer and into autumn. In cool to cold climates (southern Australia, mountain and frost-prone inland districts), delay planting until September and make last plantings by the end of November. Staggering plantings through spring and early summer will extend your harvest period.

Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli

This is a Thai type chilli developed in Australia by the University of Sydney Plant Breeding Institute at Cobbity. It grows into a squat, compact bush about 30cm x 30cm (1' x 1'). The fruit is very decorative, changing in colour as it matures from cream, through to purple, green and then finally red. There is slightly less 'fire' in the cream and purple chillies than the green and red, although all stages should be regarded as hot. The Burke's Backyard chilli rates 7 out of 10 on the international chilli scale ('Habanero', the world's hottest chilli rates 10/10 and sweet capsicums rate 0/10). Use the fruit in any dishes requiring hot chillies, for example in Thai or Indian curries. Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli will grow anywhere in Australia.

Plant in full sun in a herb garden or grow as potted ornamental shrubs. Use a slow-release fertiliser at planting time and fortnightly liquid feeding once fruiting begins. Remove the mature red fruit to encourage constant flowering and pinch out the growing tips to keep the plant bushy.

Getting started

Seeds are distributed by Yates and are available in all states except Tasmania. Cost: $2.75 a packet for the Burke's Backyard Italian Tomato, and $2.15 a packet for the Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli.

Nurseries throughout Australia are selling Burke's Backyard Thai Chilli in mini-pots for around $2, and Burke's Backyard Italian Tomato in punnets for $3-$4.

Copyright CTC Productions 1999