The Black Bunch tomato is similar in appearance to a sprig of black currant, only slightly larger. And each fruit resembles plums, and I want to immediately try such a strange variety for us. These tomatoes, which are not yet included in the Russian state register, are the result of long development by domestic and foreign breeders.
About the emergence of an interesting shade of “Black Bunch”
Painstaking work on the emergence of hybrids containing anthocyanins began half a century ago.There was an attempt to cross the tomato crop with its wild version, growing in Chile and the Galapagos Islands. Some wild varieties of tomatoes have anthocyanin pigments in the fruits themselves, unlike ordinary tomatoes, where the leaves and stems have this pigment and are not eaten.
It turns out that modifications with genes have no place here. It is anthocyanin that gives tomatoes such an unusual dark purple hue, which is sensitive to sunlight. And the process itself is supported by a chemical reaction of changes in the acidic environment in cells. Moreover, the shade becomes more saturated as the plant develops.
This pigment characteristic provides evidence of an influence not only on the appearance of the plant. Such a useful natural oxidant that has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the nervous and circulatory systems, preventing cellular oxidation from spreading. The functioning of the heart and brain is normalized, blood vessels are cleared of cholesterol, and the risk of developing atherosclerosis is reduced. The appearance of the skin and overall mood improves.
Characterizing the Black Bunch variety
The description of the variety defines this variety as indeterminate and not standard of the artisanal type. The height of the crop does not grow more than one and a half meters. The plant climbs well, has a thick and strong stem, has good foliage and several clusters with a large number of fruits. The root system is well developed without deepening in all directions. The shape of the leaves is diamond-shaped, wrinkled structure without drooping, rich dark green hue.
As for the inflorescence, it is simple, intermediate, has an anlage above the seventh leaf and then, through one leaf.The cluster indicator of a tomato Black bunch is a dozen tomatoes or more. According to the degree of ripening, Black bunch f1 is an early ripening tomato. The growing season, counted from the emergence of seedlings to ripening, lasts 80 days.
The variety has high productivity. If you plant 3-4 plants per square meter, as recommended, then you can remove a little more than five kilograms from the bush.
We will not ignore the resistance of tomato to cladosporiosis and late blight, and the lack of predisposition to rot. And when moving in transport, tomatoes do not lose their fresh appearance and are suitable for long-term storage.
Fruit characteristics of the variety
Tomatoes of the “Black Bunch” variety have the following fruit traits:
- The shape of the fruits is characterized by low ribbing and roundness with a diameter of about 5 cm;
- Tomatoes weigh 60-70 grams;
- The skin of the fruit is smooth, thin, dense and shiny.
- The color of unripe tomatoes is dark green, gradually becoming pink, and then blue, followed by the appearance of dark blue spots.
- Tomatoes at maturity have a dark purple hue, close to black;
- The pulp is of medium density, fleshy, and dark red in color.
- The fruits have no more than two chambers, a small number of seeds, but the amount of dry matter is sufficient.
- Gardeners note the unusual taste: sweetness with a hint of plum flavor.
Versatility is another feature of the Black Bunch tomato variety. Such cocktail-type fruits are used fresh, for example, in salad preparations, sandwiches, and after appropriate processing - in main hot dishes. If vegetables are to be preserved, there will be no cracking.And the sauce variations will have an interesting aftertaste. The only thing you need to remember is that when canned, these tomatoes lose their original shade and turn brown
If these tomatoes are not grown on the sunny side, then they will taste like ordinary crops. That exotic note for which this variety is valued will not appear.
Features of growing "Black Bunch"
This variety grows both in greenhouses and in open ground. Cultivation takes place using the seedling method in Russia and neighboring countries. Sowing is carried out in early spring, and the seeds are first disinfected when placed in a solution of potassium permanganate. Sprouts develop in approximately 55-60 days at a temperature of 20 degrees or slightly higher. In the last spring month, with minimal risk of frost, seedlings are hardened before planting in open ground.
The ridges have standard tomato markings - tape or checkerboard methods. To prevent the bushes from inhibiting mutual growth, gaps of two or three tens of centimeters are arranged between the holes. This tomato requires soil with light fertilizer; therefore, when ripening, the beds should be fertilized no more than three times, with the first being done two weeks after planting in open ground. Tomatoes grow best in loose and moist soil, which is fertilized with manure and other nitrogen fertilizers.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews from gardeners were divided regarding the taste of the variety. Some people don’t like the “non-tomato” taste, while others consider it one of the main advantages of tomatoes. The same applies to the color feature of the “Black Bunch”.
The indisputable advantages of the variety are considered to be a good harvest, unpretentiousness of plants in care, rapid ripening of fruits and resistance to disease.This variety is a cluster variety, with many fruits on the branch, and the color of the tomatoes is truly black. And to understand its pros and cons for yourself, you need to plant several bushes for testing.
