Lycopersicon 'Black Russian' |
Origin: Russian cultivar
Zone Range: all
Preferred Situation: Full sun; deep fertile evenly moist well draining soil.
Harvest Date: Tuesday 03 October, 2006
Description:
An indeteterminate Russian heirloom with mahogany red fruits where the color catches the sun’s heat creating larger, sweeter, and ripe fruit sooner than red types growing in the same region. Round smooth 4 ounce fruits possess a unique exceptional sweet taste with spicy and smoky undertones that are enhanced when dried. We had no disease problems and fruits were almost blemish free. Heavy producer and early! Black Russian is a must for black tomato fans and those liking complex flavors in their tomatoes. Prune only to promote air circulation as production will continue throughout summer. One customer said she didn't like this variety as 'the taste is too intense'! Like that's a bad thing....
Notes:
General tomato info: Bigger the roots at transplant (mid May) bigger the harvest. Prune sparingly. Protect from rain; water at plant base never foliage except foliar feeds. Heavy feeder; use balanced organic fertilizer. Excess nitrogen= leaves no fruit; no calcium=blossom end rot; extreme heat=blossom drop.
Cultivation:
Sow 5 mm deep. Keep moist; plastic cover improves success. Opt. germination temp: 18-25 C. Days to germ: 5-10. All tomatoes drop their blooms when temperatures reach 85 F or greater, so make sure your tomatoes don't get over heated. Blossom end rot is a nutritional disorder where a lack of calcium causes the fruit to rot from the blossom end so be sure you use something like rock phosphate (22% calcium) when amending your tomato beds/growing medium. Use mulch to retain moisture or prevent water from splashing up on your plants as tomatoes hate having their foliage wet...NEVER WATER FROM ABOVE...its like someone splashing a cold bucket of water on you! See our tomato article under 'Confessions of a Mad Gardener' for growing information.
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