Potentially huge, averaging 1lb in my garden, mostly heart-shaped, dark crimson fruits are born on wispy-leaved vines that must be staked due to the sheer weight of the fruits or left to sprawl on the ground. Fruits are very meaty, with few seeds. Classic old world flavor.
Gildo Tori, who has been maintaining this (his) family heirloom for many years. He devised an ingenious method for growing these potential monsters using a caging system, made of open-aired boxes (think frames). He would make a moat around each plant and water with a manure tea and then place one frame around the plant. As the plant grew, he would add another frame/box, continuing to do so throughout the season. As the fruit matured, he would carefully make sure that each truss was supported by the 'framework'. Brilliant!
HISTORY: Tom Tori brought this family heirloom to Detroit, Michigan from Uzzano, Italy in 1949. Various Tori family members have been growing it ever since. The name Tori's Italian Bruté was applied just this year (2015). In the past, it was always just referred to as "the ugly tomato".
Jeff Tori sent me this photo of Uzzano, telling me that the Tori family home is located above the red house (in the lower left).
Sold in a 3.5" pot.
TORI'S ITALIAN BRUTÉ
VARIETY CHARACTERISTICS
GROWTH HABIT: Indeterminate
MATURITY: Mid-season
LEAF TYPE: Regular / wispy
FRUIT CLASS: Paste
FRUIT SHAPE: Heart
FRUIT SIZE: Large
FRUIT COLOR: Red
ORIGIN: Heirloom - Italy