World's biggest tomato launched in UK

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Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Jan 25 2015 | 7:20 PM IST
The world's biggest tomato which can feed a family of four and is about 12 times the size of an average salad tomato has been launched in the UK.
Breeders in the UK and the US developed the new variety after almost two decades of research.
The super-sized tomatoes are so big that one tomato alone can serve up to four people, and just one slice fills an entire burger bun or sandwich, the daily Mirror reported.
The enormous fruit grows up to 10 inches wide and is about 12 times the size of an average tomato.
Each Gigantomo plant can grow 6 feet tall and yield as many as 11 tomatoes but requires support to stop it from buckling under the weight of the fruit.
Simon Crawford, one of the UK's leading plant breeders, was called in five years ago to finish the work of late American grower Paul Thomas, who spent 15 years trying to breed a huge tomato which tasted good too.
Thomas passed away before he saw his huge tomatoes hit the market, but Crawford was able to complete the breeding programme to ensure there would be enough seed to sell commercially, the report said.
The massive tomatoes were launched in the US last year.
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First Published: Jan 25 2015 | 7:20 PM IST

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