Tasmanian Botanical Gardens annual tomato seedlings sale offers best varieties for apartment living, biggest fruit and earliest harvest

The annual Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens tomato sale is on again. Find out which is the best seedling for you. VIDEO

Featuring more than 8000 tomato seedlings and a variety of other vegetables and plants, the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens’ annual tomato plant sale has something for every budding green thumb.

The three-day event had more than 550 visitors turn up for the opening on Thursday to pick from the 120 heirloom varieties on show.

Commercial operations manager Joe Pickett said the rarer heirloom tomato seedlings were the most popular sale on day one and hard to find outside the Gardens.

“The Miniature Red Pear was very popular as well as some of our sweet cherry tomatoes like the Tommy Toe,” he said.

All funds raised go towards the Gardens’ projects, including its conservation work.

“We have the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre here, which works towards protecting

Manager of commercial operations, Joe Pickett with volunteers Clare Handbury and Diane Furlani at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens in Hobart for the big yearly sale of tomatoes. Picture : Mireille Merlet

Tasmanian natives and seed biodiversity,” Mr Pickett said.

“We also have a new project called the Pineapple House – that’s a new feature which is an upgraded glasshouse that will be more tropical plants that we hope to open in late summer.”

RTBG’s horticulturist Margot White said that even if you aren’t a pro at gardening, tomato plants are the perfect place to start.

“They respond really well to any attention, but are also good if they are left alone and aren’t fussed over,” she said. “It’sr eally hard to do wrong by a tomato.”

The team of horticulturists and nursery volunteers can help every person through the doors find the best tomato for them.

With the collection of seedlings coming from around the world and comprising different harvest times, sizes and tastes – the team of horticulturalists and nursery volunteers can help every person through the doors find the best tomato for them.

Seedlings best for apartment living or small garden spaces include the pink to red Whippersnapper, the bright yellow cherry tomatoes of the Window Box Yellow, Silvery Fir Tree or Florida Basket varieties.

For those wanting the biggest bang for their buck, varieties like Periforme Abruzzese, Leicester Jones or Yellow Oxheart will bring juicy, large fruits perfect for salads, sauces or eating fresh.

Only two days remain for the sale, with organisers warning that varieties on sale sell fast.

The annual tomato sale at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens: 11am to 3pm on Friday and Saturday.

Originally published as Tasmanian Botanical Gardens annual tomato seedlings sale offers best varieties for apartment living, biggest fruit and earliest harvest