Solanum lycopersicum

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

Comstock Sauce and Slice is a dual-purpose heirloom tomato with deep Italian roots and a strong American legacy. The family credited with preserving and cultivating the Comstock Sauce and Slice tomato for over 50 years is the Preli family. Specifically, this variety was maintained and later introduced through Elsie Preli Yushkevich, whose Italian immigrant parents brought the seeds from Ferriere, a town in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. This variety was later preserved and shared by Comstock, Ferre & Co. in Connecticut. Revered for its versatility, it produces robust crops of richly coloured, meaty fruit that lend themselves equally to slicing fresh or simmering down into luxurious sauces.

Each fruit is a plump, cylindrical Roma type, weighing up to 450 grams, with firm, dense flesh and minimal seeds. The flavour is classic and concentrated, with a rich tomato taste perfect for traditional cooking. Whether served thick in a BLT or stewed into passata, the Comstock Sauce and Slice stands up beautifully, offering a homegrown solution for both fresh eating and preserving.

Sow seeds indoors six to ten weeks before your final frost. Plant them 5mm deep in well-drained Germination Mix and maintain soil temperatures between 21 and 29 degrees Celsius using a Germination Heating Pad. Germination typically occurs in 7 to 14 days. Seedlings need ample light to develop strong stems before being hardened off for outdoor planting.

Transplant into the garden once the weather is warm and frost-free. Choose a full sun location with fertile, compost-rich soil and space plants at least 60cm apart. Comstock Sauce and Slice grows as an indeterminate vine and can easily reach over 2m tall, so sturdy support is essential. Fruit begins ripening around 85 days after transplant and continues throughout the warm season.

This tomato is a powerhouse in the kitchen and a reliable performer in the garden. Ideal for South African summer growers, Comstock Sauce and Slice delivers a balance of productivity, flavour, and old-world charm. It is a true favourite for gardeners who value a tomato that can do it all.

Standard packet contains approx. 25 seeds

Petite packet contains approx. 10 seeds