Solanum lycopersicum.

A large bicolour tomato, and one of the rare ones whose slice is as spectacular as its taste. Cut open, it shows golden yellow flesh shot through with red veins and flames radiating from the core — an irregular marbling, different on every fruit, that genuinely evokes a slice of tropical fruit, hence the name. It's a tomato for sharing, the one you bring out whole on the board and slice in front of your guests.

Fruits of 1 to 2 pounds, carried on a vigorous indeterminate plant. The flesh is dense, meaty, very low in juice for a fruit of that size, with very few seeds. But it's the flavour that made its reputation: exceptionally mild, frankly fruity, with a very low acidity that places it among the sweetest tomatoes you can grow. People who find tomatoes “too acidic” often change their minds in front of this one. Serve it simply: in thick slices with fleur de sel, olive oil and basil; in a caprese where yellow and red replace uniform red; or in a sandwich where a single slice covers the whole bread. Its low acidity does make it poorly suited to home canning without adjustment — better to eat it fresh.

Grower's tip: 90 days and one to two pounds per fruit is a serious bet in our climate, and it's won at the start. Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost, not six, and transplant into the warmest spot available. The main enemy of large tomatoes isn't cold but cracking: when the plant dries out then gets a lot of water at once, the flesh swells faster than the skin and the fruit splits in a star on top. Good mulch at the base and regular rather than heavy watering settle the question. Very sturdy staking: a single cluster of these fruits weighs several kilos.

• Open-pollinated. Self-pollinating, low crossing risk, an excellent candidate for seed saving.
• Indeterminate plant, very sturdy staking essential.
• Gives fruits of ~1-2 lbs in ~90 days.
• Exposure: full sun, sheltered from wind, the warmest spot in the garden.
• Rich, deep, well-drained soil. Space plants 60 to 75 cm apart. Mulching strongly recommended to prevent cracking.
• Start indoors 8 weeks before last frost. Transplant once all frost risk has passed and the soil is at least 15 °C.