Black cherry tomatoes have a pleasant sweet taste. The variety is also called Black Cherry, Black Cherry or Black Cherry tomato. The fruits of the variety resemble chocolate candy in appearance. The variety was selected by specialists in the USA in 2003. The decision to enter the tomato into the State Register of Russia was made in 2009. Tomatoes of this variety are successfully grown in central Russia. In the northern regions and Siberia, tomatoes are grown only in greenhouses.
Varietal characteristics
Black cherry bushes are quite tall. The tomato stems resemble a grapevine, with dense bunches of tomatoes shaped like ripe cherries.The time from the appearance of the first shoots to the harvest ranges from 112 to 120 days. Tomato is resistant to cladosporiosis. The yield from one bush, subject to compliance with agrotechnical measures, can be more than 5 kg.
The attractiveness of the variety lies in the unusual appearance and high taste of tomatoes. The main disadvantage is the need for constant inspection of plants and bush formation, possible cracking of the tomato skin during ripening.
Cherry tomato is quite sensitive to lack of light and nutrients. Fast-growing stems must be tied up in a timely manner, otherwise they may break off or bend to the ground.
Cherry tomato has a peculiarity - on the bush the side stems are thicker than the main one. The greatest number of ovaries with fruits are on the side shoots. This variety is not a hybrid - having purchased seeds once, you can get them from your harvest for planting the next year.
Description of fruits
Cherry tomatoes are small in size: diameter is about 3 cm, and weight is usually less than 20 g. The pulp has a medium density of a cherry hue; when ripe, the shades of the upper skin present a black palette with a dark purple tint.
This color is formed due to the presence of a large amount of anthocyanin in the fruits - a substance that has a therapeutic effect against colds, has an antiviral effect and increases immunity. Regular consumption of these tomatoes improves vision. It has been observed that anthocyanin acts as a cancer prevention agent.
Each Cherry tomato fruit has 2 – 3 seed chambers. Up to 9 tomatoes can ripen simultaneously in one bunch.
The main advantage lies in the originality of the taste of tomatoes.Their description notes that the tomatoes are sweetish, with an unusual aroma.
The fruits must be collected when they reach biological ripeness. If tomatoes were harvested ahead of schedule, the fruits, which reached technical ripeness on the bush and only then went through the ripening process, have lower taste and fewer nutrients.
Black cherry tomatoes can be stored for quite a long period. They are pickled and preserved as pickles, and added to vegetable or fruit salads. Black cherries are used as decorations for ready-made dishes when serving. Tomatoes are dried and dried for the winter. If fresh tomatoes are moved to a room with a temperature of +5 to +8 degrees, they can be stored for 1 month.
Growing Cherry Tomatoes
The description of the variety includes information about the resistance of tomato bushes to low temperatures. Tomatoes sprout quickly and are highly resistant to diseases. To grow this tomato variety with the best results, Black cherry tomatoes are planted in the soil using seedling method.
The seeds are sown approximately 2 months before planting the seedlings in open ground or in a greenhouse. The distance between bushes should be at least 60 - 70 cm, and between rows - at least 1 meter. The peculiarity of tomatoes is that the plants require pinching.
The characteristics of the variety note that the bushes can grow up to 180 cm, and in greenhouse conditions - up to 2 meters in height. Reviews from those who planted these tomatoes confirm the need to tie the stems to a trellis. An important task for gardeners is to timely remove the shoots of Black cherry tomatoes.
Usually 1 - 2 stems are left. The stepsons are cut off in a timely manner, leaving a cutting of no more than 2 centimeters.Powerful bushes and a large number of fruits force the use of fertilizing.
Irregular watering leads to cracking of the fruits at the moment of ripening. Fruiting continues for a long period, until autumn frosts.
Possible tomato diseases and pests
There is a danger of infection of Black cherry tomatoes with diseases, viruses, and fungi characteristic of nightshades.
The most common infection with phytosporosis is the loss of leaves. The cause of the disease is often high humidity. To avoid the problem, the bushes are treated with Fitosporin, and greenhouses with tomatoes are frequently ventilated.
You can cope with phytosporosis using the traditional method: whey is diluted with water in equal proportions and sprayed on tomato bushes. If the previous options did not have the desired effect, every 15 days the bushes are sprayed with a solution consisting of 1 tablet of Trichopolum per liter of water. Treat the beds with Bordeaux mixture or Mikosan.
The disease blossom end rot appears as darkening on the top of the bush. As a preventive measure, when planting seedlings, add a handful of wood ash and calcium nitrate to each hole - just take 1 tbsp. l. each substance. A lack of microelements and moisture in the soil is indicated by the process in which the foliage of tomato bushes curls.
Plants grown in greenhouse conditions can be affected by aphids and whiteflies, and in open beds bushes are eaten by spider mites. Tomato pests can be controlled by using ready-made insecticides Fufanon or Verticillin.
Traditional methods will also help - spraying the bushes with herbal infusions of chamomile, yarrow or regular tobacco.
