- Heirloom
- Plum
- 75 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Semi-determinate
- Red
Principe Borghese
Heirloom plum from Italy. The Italian sun-drying tomato: dry-fleshed, cluster-borne, and poor eaten raw. Ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Plum ~1 oz (20–40 g) · Oval (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 75 days (estimated) from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 3–4 ft (90–120 cm) (estimated) Medium height
- Spacing
- 18 × 35 in (45 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 6 gal (25 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Red
- Interior
-
- Red
Plant size and habit
Medium height · Semi-determinate
3–4 ft (90–120 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Principe Borghese is a semi-determinate plant: it keeps growing a little past that point and spreads its harvest over a longer window without climbing indefinitely; a stake or cage is usually enough support. Expect a plant of 3–4 ft (90–120 cm).
Flavor
“The Italian sun-drying tomato: dry-fleshed, cluster-borne, and poor eaten raw.”
Growing calendar
75 (estimated) days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Sauce & paste
- Canning
- Drying
- Roasting
- Sauce workhorse
- Heirloom classic
- Hot climate
Origin
Principe Borghese is the Italian sun-drying tomato: small, very dry-fleshed and borne in heavy clusters that ripen together, traditionally cut with the vine attached and hung whole. It is grown for drying, not for eating raw.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyLinks may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026.
All photos
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Principe Borghese tomatoes ripening on the vine under cover -
A truss of Principe Borghese tomatoes -
Principe Borghese tomato plant in a garden bed with ripe fruit on the vine -
A ripe Principe Borghese tomato held in a gardener's hand -
Freshly picked Principe Borghese tomatoes -
Principe Borghese tomato sliced in the kitchen
Questions
How do you grow a Principe Borghese plant?
A Principe Borghese plant grows 3–4 ft (90–120 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 18 in (45 cm) apart in rows 35 in (90 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does Principe Borghese take to mature?
Principe Borghese is ready in about 75 days from transplant.
Does Principe Borghese need staking?
Principe Borghese is a semi-determinate plant: it keeps growing a little past that point and spreads its harvest over a longer window without climbing indefinitely; a stake or cage is usually enough support. Expect a plant of 3–4 ft (90–120 cm).
Can Principe Borghese be grown in a container?
Yes — Principe Borghese grows well in a container of at least 25 L (6 gal).
Is Principe Borghese resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Principe Borghese.
