Description of tomato variety Dark Chocolate with photo
Tomato Dark Chocolate is a variety of cherry tomatoes from the Vkusnoteka series. It was bred by agricultural specialists in 2013, and after 2 years it was included in the register of breeding achievements. Recommended for cultivation in all regions of Russia, mainly under film cover or in greenhouses.
Main characteristics of the variety:
- indeterminate (grows throughout the season);
- tall (150-170 cm);
- mid-season (120-130 days).
The Black Chocolate tomato bush is quite tall and compact, the degree of foliage is average. The leaves are of a typical shape, medium in size, rich green in color with a corrugated surface. The flowers are small, light yellow, arranged in inflorescences of an intermediate type. The first appears above the 7-8 leaf. A large number of Dark Chocolate tomatoes are formed on each brush - up to 10-12 pieces.
Description of fruits
These tomatoes got their name due to the unusual color of the fruit. Dark burgundy tomatoes resemble large grapes or plums. Cherry fruits are small in weight - only 25 g; they reach 3-4 cm in diameter. The surface is glossy, without wrinkles or ribbing.
The taste has fruity notes, mainly bright sweet tones with delicate sourness. Tomatoes are quite juicy, so they are especially pleasant to eat fresh. Each tomato has 2 seed chambers. The seeds can be collected and stored - they will sprout next year, since Dark Chocolate is a variety, not a hybrid.
Tomatoes of the Dark Chocolate variety attract with their miniature size and original color.
Description of the tomato variety Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate is an indeterminate variety; the bush grows up to 1.5–1.7 m. The formation and timely tying of shoots is mandatory. Leaves are of normal size and color. Medium-early ripening variety: fruit ripening begins approximately 3.5 months after emergence.
The fruits are borne on elongated racemes, which contain about ten tomatoes that ripen at the same time. The first cluster is tied after the 7th or 8th leaf. Ripe fruits are purple-brown with a green tint at the stalk, medium-sized, smooth, almost round. The weight of a tomato is about 25 g; these are so-called cocktail-type tomatoes. The fruits are medium dense and contain two seed nests. Cracking on bushes is not typical for tomatoes.
Almost all tomatoes within a cluster ripen at the same rate
Characteristics of tomato Dark chocolate
The first Dark Chocolate tomatoes appear 3.5 months after planting the seeds, that is, at the end of June. Peak fruiting occurs in mid-July (4 months after the first shoots).
Tomato yield Dark chocolate and fruiting
The yield of this variety is quite high - if you follow agricultural technology, you can get 3 kg from 1 bush. According to reviews from summer residents, in productive years you can remove 4-5 kg from 1 plant.
| Conditions | Greenhouse | Open ground |
| From 1 bush, kg | 3-4 | 2,5-3 |
| From 1 m2, kg* | 9-12 | 7,5-9 |
*Dark chocolate tomato bushes are very light-loving, so no more than 3 plants can be planted per 1 m2.
Yields are primarily affected by growing conditions - the best results can be achieved if:
- plant bushes in a greenhouse;
- distribute them at a distance of at least 40-50 cm from each other so as not to thicken the plantings;
- water abundantly;
- regularly feed with superphosphates or complex mineral fertilizer (but not organic matter).
Important! Experienced gardeners recommend removing all the stepsons that go above the flower brush. The bush can be formed into 1 or 2 stems, leaving the strongest shoots. Otherwise, they will stretch out and the yield will decrease.
Area of application of fruits
Tomatoes Dark chocolate is recommended to be used only fresh. They are great as an appetizer for meat dishes. They go well in salads, for preparing vegetable mixes, juices, and sauces. Can be used for preservation (lecho, adjika and other preparations).
However, the fruits are not suitable for whole-fruit canning - they have a very thin skin that bursts during long-term storage. Therefore, tomatoes are most often eaten immediately after harvest.
Resistance to diseases and pests
In general, Dark Chocolate tomatoes rarely suffer from diseases and pests. But as a preventative measure, it is recommended to treat with a fungicide, insecticide or folk remedies. It is better to do this a week before transferring the seedlings to the greenhouse or 7 days later.
Planting and caring for the variety
Plants are planted in a permanent place in the phase of at least 7-8 true leaves. The soil in the greenhouse is disinfected, fertilized and thoroughly loosened. Make holes at least 25 cm deep. 3-4 plants are planted per 1 square meter. A long trellis is immediately placed in the hole, to which the plants will later be attached. 1 large spoon of wood or grass ash is poured into the bottom of the hole. Then the plant is placed there and sprinkled with soil.
Plants are tied when fruits begin to set. The bush is best formed into 2 trunks. This will distribute the load on the plant. Remove excess shoots with pruning shears, leaving stumps 2-3 cm in size.
Watering after transplantation is carried out daily. After the seedlings have established themselves, watering is carried out as the top layer of soil dries. During abundant fruiting, watering is resumed.
It is also worthwhile to ventilate the room daily. If the weather is too hot, do not close the door or vents all day long. If the night temperature differs greatly from the day temperature, by more than 7 degrees, then you should close the door and all ventilation openings at night.
The variety is very responsive to fertilization. But, in principle, it can do without them, but to improve fruiting and productivity, it is worth carrying out at least three feedings. The first - a week after transplantation to a permanent place. The second during the period of fruit filling. The third - after the first wave of harvest.
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You should also not forget about loosening the soil around the plant and between plants. Remove weeds in a timely manner.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Dark chocolate tomatoes produce tasty, beautiful fruits with an original color and a pleasant aroma. This is a very productive variety, and it can be grown in most regions of Russia.
Tomatoes Dark chocolate can be removed green and sent for ripening in a dark place
pros
- good yield;
- original coloring;
- very pleasant taste and aroma;
- can be sent for ripening.
Minuses
- needs to be tied up and pinched;
- after long-term transportation, the skin may crack;
- not suitable for whole fruit canning.
Features of cultivation
Seeds can be planted for seedlings in early March (in the south - at the end of February). The seedlings will grow at home for 50-60 days, after which they are transferred to a garden bed or greenhouse. To grow Dark Chocolate tomatoes, it is advisable to use only fertile soil. You can make it yourself by taking garden soil with peat in equal quantities and adding a few pinches of wood ash. You can also add compost and humus (in equal proportions) with turf soil (take 2 times more of it).
The soil mixture, compiled independently, must be shed with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or a 3% hydrogen peroxide composition. The seeds are first checked for germination in 5% salt: if any grains float, they are immediately removed.
Standard instructions for growing seedlings:
- Seeds are planted immediately in separate containers or in wooden boxes to a depth of 1.5 cm with an interval of 3 cm.
- Moisten, cover with film with holes, place in a warm place at a temperature of 25 degrees.
- Illuminated with a lamp for 12-13 hours and watered regularly.
- Dive after 2-3 leaves appear, gradually reduce the temperature to room temperature.
- A week before transplanting, seedlings are hardened at a temperature of 16-18 degrees.
Dark chocolate tomatoes are transferred to open ground in mid-May, and to a greenhouse - 1 week earlier. Planted in a line or in a checkerboard pattern, maintaining a distance of 40-50 cm between bushes and 60 cm between rows. It is important to immediately moisten the soil well, adding water for 3 days in a row.
It is best to grow Dark Chocolate tomatoes in a greenhouse
Further care is carried out as follows:
- Watering regularly, 2 times a week.
- Mulching the soil with hay or straw to retain moisture.
- Fertilize every 2 weeks. To do this, use superphosphate mixed with an infusion of wood ash or a complex mineral fertilizer. It is advisable to alternate root and foliar feeding.
- A garter to the trellis is required.
- Pruning is carried out regularly, the bush is formed into 1 or 2 stems.
Advice! During flowering, it is recommended to spray Dark Chocolate tomato bushes with a mixture of whey (1 liter) with 15 drops of alcoholic iodine per 10 liters of water. This supplement promotes rapid formation of ovaries.
Growing tomatoes
“Chocolate Bunny” and “Dark Chocolate” are mainly cultivated in greenhouse conditions, where it is convenient to garter and where the plants produce maximum yield.
How to prepare seeds?
Varietal seeds (especially those collected independently) require seed preparation according to all the rules. For this purpose the following activities are carried out :
- Sorting of planting material . At this stage, empty (floated during soaking) seeds, moldy, cracked or with traces of chips are discarded;
- Warming up for 24 hours on a radiator (for this, the seeds are collected in a gauze bag);
- Etching in 3% hydrogen peroxide for 15-20 minutes;
- Soaking in growth stimulants (Epin, Kornevin).
Sowing seed material
“Chocolate Bunny” and “Dark Chocolate” are sown at the end of March - the first half of April. The substrate for seedlings is fertilized with a large amount of humus, and vermiculite is additionally added. For the first week, before germination, the seedlings are kept under film, then opened and placed in a lighted place. When the plants have formed their second full-fledged leaf, they can be planted in individual containers.
When cultivating seedlings, the temperature regime should be observed.:
- Before emergence – 28-30* C;
- After pecking the seeds – 22-24* C.
IMPORTANT : It is advisable to carry out picking in paper glasses or in separate peat pots. This will avoid stress on the root system when planting for permanent residence.
Rules for planting seedlings
Planting is carried out when the soil warms up to 12*C and the daylight hours are at least 12 hours. Each plant needs at least 0.4-0.5 square meters of free space. 200 grams of peat and humus are placed in the planting holes.
Pest and disease control
As a preventive measure against fungal diseases, Dark Chocolate tomato bushes can be treated with any fungicide at the end of May:
- Bordeaux mixture;
- "Topaz";
- "Ordan";
- "Tattu."
You can also use a universal remedy that helps cope with both infections and insects. Take a package of dry yeast or 2 tbsp. l. ordinary (50 g) and dissolved in 10 liters of water. Add 2 tbsp. l. sugar, infuse for several hours in a warm place. This product can be used to treat bushes 1-2 times a month.
If the insect infestation is too active, you will need to spray the Dark Chocolate tomatoes with insecticides:
- "Fitoverm";
- "Aktara";
- "Confidor";
- "Green Soap"
Solutions of baking soda, soap shavings, wood ash, infusion of onion peels, garlic and other recipes are used as folk remedies. Treatment is carried out in the late evening, in the absence of rain and wind.
Important! If you spray plants with chemicals, the fruits can be collected only after the waiting period (usually 5-10 days), which is always indicated in the instructions.
