You can't really hurt them. Just cut them back to a branch and before long, they will again be taking over your garden. They put out suckers (new branches) like mad. I've never seen a tomato grow that fast. I had two little sprigs that made it through the winter, and now they are competing with the sweet potato vine. They never stop producing, as long as you leave one or two branches going. You can tip-prune the branches and they will send out more.

That's good to know. Thank you.

I gave them a bit of compost when I first planted them, but since then, no fertilizer at all and only as much water as the rest of the garden gets twice a week. Do they need it?

They're native (supposedly) so no, they need nothing. I've seen them growing on roadsides, just going wild. You can fertilize them if you want, but they'll just grow faster. Compost is good, but nothing stronger. I fed mine Miracle Gro once and I thought I had grown the tomato that ate Sarasota!

Are you all growing them in full sun or part shade? In pots or soil? Mine did great, but died off this spring with the rest of my tomatoes.

I'm growing mine in partially improved sand (I keep adding compost; it keeps disappearing) in a spot that gets 7 hours or less of sun a day, depending on the time of the year and the shade of the bougainvillea overhead..

I'm growing mine in native sand with a little bit of compost in a south-facing garden, but they do well in partial shade too.

oldmangroot, I keep them going all year by rooting suckers in water. You're in a hotter zone than I am, but I got my seeds from a guy in Fort Lauderdale who grows them in his jungle back yard. Honestly, they reseed themselves like mad. This year I found tomato seedlings in a dry 6-pack that hadn't been watered in months. They turned out to be Everglades. You can just leave some fruits on the ground in the pot and they'll grow.

oldmangroot, You're way south of me. Maybe your tomatoes need more shade.

Thanks dirty and time. That helps. I had mine in zero shade... And they started dying back when the day got longer and sun intensity started to pick up. I didn't measure, but probably once we hit 13 hours of sun they started to roast.

I've never heard of this plant until I saw this post. So did a little Google research and I like what I found it. I think I'd like to try one.

Dirty if I send you a SASE would you care to share some seeds?

I pruned mine back to the stems. Most of the leaves and all of the fruit were growing on the ends of the very long vines. I'm going out of town for 2 months. I wonder what I'll find when I come back.

Hi Bea, if you still need seeds send me a sase and I'll send you some.... they do go crazy!

Mas: just do an online search for "buy everglades tomato seeds." I'm not familiar with anyplace that sells plants.

my everglades tomatoes are dying. They're in 8 hours sun and get lots of water. The stems and leaves are withering. Why?

Mine always die back a bit in the summer, then begin growing again when the weather cools. I'm not sure whether they come back from the original plant or from fruit that's dropped. Don't pull yours out by the roots. Just cut off the withered branches.

We ate these little buggers in Englewood Fla. Loved them so much .. used them in a ceviche , very pretty. We saved sends and sprouted and planted them this summer here in Cincinnati. I am afraid it is taking over like Kudzu. We need recipes!!! any ideas?

I saved seeds also, but never planted them because my Everglades Tomatoes plant themselves - every year in a different location.

It will definitely take over like Kudzu, but probably not in Cincinnati. I think the frost will kill it.

I use them in salads, soups and stews, but I've found that they are too juicy for casseroles.

HI Thanks for getting back.. I am loving the novelty here. really just putting them in clusters on the plate is beautiful .. but as you know, they are abundant. A friend suggested a little appetizer..

mix 2/3 part salt to 1 part sugar, simply dip the tomatoes in vodka then dip in the aforementioned mixture.. might be fun. kind of like we used to do with strawberries , sour cream and powdered sugar back in the 70's.