Black-fruited tomatoes: why do they have this color?
Some gardeners believe that black and blue tomatoes are the result of genetic modification. This is wrong. In fact, there are many varieties among them from which it is easy to collect your own seeds. And anthocyanin coloring is hidden in the genes of the crop itself. Suffice it to recall the red-violet stems of frozen seedlings or signs of phosphorus starvation.
Varieties of black tomatoes owe their color to the coloring pigment anthocyanin. It belongs to the group of flavonoids, is good for the heart, blood vessels, vision, brain, is a preventative against diabetes and an excellent antioxidant.
Anthocyanin is found in all fruits, berries and vegetables, the color of which contains at least the slightest shade of purple.
In fact, even ripe blackberries or currants are not black in color, but a very dark inky color. There are no charcoal-colored tomatoes. A black tomato is more brown or deep red with a hint of purple and often green. In photos that have not been adjusted using special programs, this is clearly visible.
When cooked, the color of the fruit and juice acquires a brown tint. It doesn't affect the taste, but it looks unattractive.
Black-fruited tomatoes almost always differ from those with other colors:
- thick skin;
- bright rich taste;
- a large amount of sugars, but always with sourness;
- high content of nutrients.
Indigo Rose
This is an American hybrid of black tomatoes, which appeared in Russia relatively recently. Before planting, seeds are pre-soaked in potassium permanganate for disinfection purposes. To obtain a large, stable harvest, the crop is subjected to pinching. The bushes are strong and compact, the height of the shoots does not exceed one meter. The fruits are dark purple in color, the flesh is pink. They have a thin skin, so they are not suitable for canning.
Advantages:
- amicable maturation;
- productivity;
- excellent taste (with a predominance of sweetish notes);
- resistance to fungal and viral diseases;
- resistance to temperature fluctuations;
- Suitable for pickling and preservation.
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Black large-fruited varieties
Large-fruited tomatoes have always been popular. It is convenient to make salads for fresh consumption and juice from them. When using black tomatoes, the latter turns out to have a slightly dirty tint, but the taste is very good.
Black Russian
Despite the name, the variety was created by English breeders. Indeterminate tomato of medium ripening with large multi-chambered fruits. Forms a powerful bush with large, widely spaced leaves. There are many stepchildren.
The tomatoes are flat-round, ribbed at the stalk, and brown. The taste is sweet and sour, good. The average fruit weight is 150-200 g, the lower ones weigh up to 400 g. By rationing the ovaries and pinching the brushes, you can get tomatoes of 500-700 g. Productivity is 4-5 kg per bush. There are 5-7 fruits in a brush.
Suitable for greenhouses, where it is recommended to grow in 1 trunk, and vegetable gardens. In open ground it is better to form 2 shoots. Requires obligatory gartering, pinching, removal of leaves under the tassels that have begun to fill.
Chernomor
Mid-season determinate tomato, bred by the Federal State Budgetary Institution All-Russian Research Institute of Selection and Seed Production of Vegetable Crops. Adopted by the State Register in 2007. Many gardeners consider it the best in the group.
Requires minimal care and mandatory garter. Designed for open ground, where it produces 3-4 kg per bush, and greenhouses (up to 7 kg). The fruits are red-purple, ribbed, flattened, with an average weight of 150-180 g, on the lower clusters - up to 300 g, very tasty, the sourness is barely noticeable.
Black Baron
An indeterminate variety bred by agro and the Federal State Budgetary Institution All-Russian Research Institute of Vegetable Growing, accepted by the State Register in 2010. Mid-season, with flat-round, tasty, ribbed fruits of black-crimson color. The area near the stalk remains green for a long time. Weight – about 150-200 g.
Tomatoes reach well indoors and are easily transported. Average yield per bush:
- open ground – 3 kg;
- greenhouse – 5 kg.
Crimean black
This tomato can often be found under the name Crimea black. The variety was included in the State Register in 2015, the originator was Euro-Seeds LLC. The tomato is indeterminate, mid-season, for salad purposes, with large leaves.
The fruits are flat-round, asymmetrical, with dense skin and pronounced ribbing. They don't last long - they need to be eaten or processed quickly. The average weight of tomatoes is 200 g or more. Productivity is about 5 kg per bush. Unripe tomatoes are greenish-cinnamon, when fully ripe they are red-black.
Bull heart black
Indeterminate late variety, not included in the State Register. It forms a bush that is tall, but not too powerful, with large drooping leaves. Without garters, he will definitely break or fall to the ground.
Unlike many large-fruited black tomatoes, the fruits of the Bull's Heart are beautifully shaped - heart-shaped, multi-chambered. Weight – 400-600 g, color – cherry-brown, with a long-lasting spot on the stalk that does not turn red.
There are up to 4 tomatoes in a brush. There are almost no seeds. The pulp is fleshy and sweet. The taste is one of the best. The yield for such a large bush is average:
- per plant – 6 kg;
- per 1 sq.m. – up to 15 kg.
The fruits of the Tomato Bull's Heart are black on the upper clusters smaller than at the bottom, but not by much.
Chernomor
A high-yielding variety with medium ripening periods, bred by domestic breeders. The seedling method is mainly used for cultivation. The skin of tomatoes is dense and does not crack. The fruits ripen well outside the bush, acquiring a richer taste.
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Advantages:
- ease of care;
- keeping quality;
- transportability.
Chernomor has an increased sensitivity to air humidity, so watering is carried out at the root or using a drip irrigation system.
Black medium-fruited tomatoes
Medium-sized tomatoes are eaten fresh or canned whole. If the housewife is not embarrassed by the brownish tint that aronia varieties acquire after heat treatment, they can be safely placed in jars. The taste will be very good.
Black gourmet
An agricultural variety accepted by the State Register in 2015. Indeterminate, mid-early, for salad purposes, for growing in the garden and in greenhouses. The fruits are round, weighing 80-120 g, sweet, sour, tasty, juicy, thin-skinned, even and smooth. The color of the tomatoes is dark burgundy with a brown tint, almost chocolate.
According to descriptions from gardeners, Black Gourmet is similar to the famous Kumato variety, only the taste is better. Harvest per sq. m – up to 5.6 kg.
On sale there are Black Gourmand seeds with the F1 mark on the packet. But the originator, the State Register, and gardeners who grew the cultivar from their own planting material claim that it is a variety.
De Barao black
A seed breeding variety included in the State Register in 1999. Indeterminate, late, capable of growing in the garden, but reveals its full potential in greenhouses.
The tomatoes are neat, ovoid, leveled, weighing 50-60 g (up to 80 g), 8-10 pieces per brush, red with a purple tint. There may be a green spot in the stalk area. Ideal for whole canning. The pulp is dense, tasty, with 2-3 chambers.
The bush is very tall, with truly unlimited growth. Requires pinching 45 days before the end of the season. Fruiting is long, yield is 5-8 kg per bush. The variety is characterized by increased resistance to typical crop diseases.
Japanese truffle black
The Japanese truffle black tomato is not included in the State Register. This is a determinate variety of tomatoes, resistant to late blight, reaching a height of 150 cm in a greenhouse. The fruits are cherry-black, weighing 100-150 g, collected in clusters of 5-6 pieces. Their shape really resembles a truffle or a ribbed pear.
The pulp is dense, aromatic, sweet with sourness. Keeping quality and transportability are high. Use – universal.
When growing, leave 1-2 stems. After tying 4-5 fruit clusters in open ground, it is recommended to carry out topping.
Black pear
The variety is not in the State Register, but red and pink pear from ZAO NPK NK are included there. Forms a bush with unlimited growth (indeterminate), medium fruiting period.
The fruits are burgundy-brown, pear-like, smooth, long-lasting, transportable, and do not crack. Suitable for whole canning and fresh consumption. Weight – 50-80 g.
When grown in 1 stem, compact planting of 4 plants per 1 square meter is possible. m. From 1 bush they collect up to 5 kg. Disease resistance is average.
Chocolate
Mid-season indeterminate hybrid. The duration of the growing season is 115-120 days. The fruits are elongated, plum-shaped. The peel is thick and quite dense. Fruiting is long (2-3 months). Tomatoes are well stored and can be transported over long distances.
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The culture is undemanding to care and resistant to temperature fluctuations. Has immunity to most viral and fungal diseases.
Care instructions:
- weed removal;
- loosening the soil;
- fertilizing;
- timely and constant watering.
Black cherry and small-fruited varieties
Small tomatoes have become very popular in recent decades. And they cost much more than large-fruited or medium-sized ones. And black cherry tomatoes sell well on the market and are purchased by cafes and restaurants. Due to their attractive appearance, you don’t even need to add them to a salad - just cut them in half or serve them whole, garnished with herbs.
Many housewives have adapted to canning small tomatoes. In order not to spoil the workpiece, you need to put less vinegar and salt per liter of water. True, the color of chokeberries is not very attractive after heating, but the taste remains excellent.
Black bunch
A unique tomato, not included in the State Register, hybrid F1. Its fruits are purple, almost the same color as eggplants, with a high content of anthocyanins, round, two-chambered, weighing 40-50 g. The clusters are beautiful, each consisting of 10-12 tomatoes.
The taste is ambiguous; gourmets claim that it contains plum notes with pronounced sourness. Tomatoes ripen well indoors.
The bush is indeterminate, the ripening period is medium, fruiting is long. Productivity per sq. m in open ground - 5-6 kg, for greenhouses - 6-7 kg.
Cherry black
A tomato selected by Gisok-Agro LLC, included in the State Register in 2008. It can be found under the name Black Cherry. Indeterminate, for open and protected ground, mid-season.
Tomatoes are really similar in shape to cherries - round, smooth, shiny, weighing from 16 to 23 g, burgundy-brown, but unevenly colored. The peel is thin, the flesh is tender, and transportability is poor. The taste is rich, sweet. Each bunch contains 15-18 tomatoes. Productivity per sq. m – 7-9 kg.
Black chocolate
Cherry variety created by Agrofirm Poisk LLC. Year of inclusion in the State Register - 2015. Indeterminate, early (which is very rare for the group), intended for open and protected ground. Forms a strong bush with a thick stem, short internodes, small fruits, grouped in clusters of 10-12 pieces.
Tomato Dark Chocolate is part of the “Vkusnoteka” series – a collection of the most delicious varieties from all over the world. In sweet fruits, the sourness is barely noticeable, the aroma is strong and fruity. The weight of the tomatoes is 20-25 g, the color is brown with a purple tint, the shape is round. The pulp is tender and juicy.
Black Moor
Tomato from JSC NPK NK, included in the State Register in 2000. Mid-season, indeterminate, recommended for private farms.
The fruits are regular egg-shaped, smooth, brown-red. The pulp is dense, and the peel is quite durable, weight – 30-50 g. Each brush contains 7 tomatoes or more. Productivity is average - up to 5-6 kg per square meter.
The taste is excellent, with a refreshing sourness. Tomatoes are stored for a long time and transported well. Suitable for fresh consumption and processing.
After forming 7 brushes, it is recommended to pinch the top.
