Geelong West man grows 1.2kg, 980g tomatoes

A Geelong West man who grew a tomato weighing more than a kilogram has revealed his top gardening secret.

Geelong West's Vince Leone has grown a tomato weighing in more than 1kg. Picture: Brad Fleet

A Geelong West man who grew a tomato weighing more than a kilogram says “a bit of love and care” is the secret to them becoming big and juicy.

Vince Leone grew two mega tomatoes, weighing 1.2kg and 980g.

He got the seeds from a family member in Melbourne and planted them in early November last year.

“This is the biggest tomato I’ve ever grown,” he said.

“I put some wrapping around them so the birds didn’t get to them.”

Geelong West's Vince Leone has grown a tomato weighing is more than 1kg. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mr Leone said he was surprised to see the tomatoes were so heavy when he weighed them.

“I thought it would have weighed a kilo but it ended up being 1.2kg,” he said.

A couple from the US broke the world record for the biggest tomato ever grown in October 2022, which weighed 5.2kg.

Mr Leone plans to take the seeds out of his mega tomatoes, dry them and plant them in his garden next season.

Mr Leone also plants the seeds into a plastic pot before putting them into the ground to keep them protected.

“It gives them more strength and a better root system,” he said.

Mr Leone said he grew an abundance of tomatoes this season and was giving away up to 5kg each week.

He is about to plant broad beans and broccoli in his garden and also grows zucchini, cucumber and capsicum.

Originally published as Geelong West man grows 1.2kg, 980g tomatoes