Tomatoes with custom colors are becoming increasingly popular. The Black Russian tomato will delight hardworking gardeners with beautiful, tasty fruits. The bountiful harvest is stored for a long time and adds brightness to assorted vegetables.
What does it look like
Breeders developed a variety for indoor soil. Tomato grows well in film, glass, and plastic unheated greenhouses. In the southern regions, under favorable climatic conditions, the fruits ripen in open ground.
Description of tomato:
- bush up to 180 cm high (outdoors < 120 cm);
- the color of the leaf blades is dark green;
- average ripening period (120 days from germination to first harvest);
- the bush forms clusters of up to 5 berries each;
- severe fouling of shoots;
- small leaves.
The average tomato yield is 5 kg/bush. Competent agricultural technology can increase it by 20%.
What fruits
The bush is beautiful when it is full of fruit. The berries gradually turn from light green to chocolate red. Black tomato has a subtle sweet taste. There is no characteristic acid.
The berry is different:
- large size: 200-300 g;
- weak ribbing;
- round, slightly depressed shape;
- a large number of chambers with seeds;
- dense, rough skin.
The pleasant taste of the fruit is determined by a large amount of mono and poly sugars. The high content of vitamin B, provitamin A, and choline make tomato healthy. The color of tomatoes is determined by anthocyanin. The intensity of the color depends on the light. The brighter the sun's rays, the darker the skin.
The substance itself is an excellent antioxidant. Regular inclusion of fruits in the menu improves immunity, relieves swelling, and cleanses blood vessels.
Agrotechnics of cultivation
The rules for growing tomatoes are common:
- sowing for seedlings on March 15-20;
- planting in a permanent place in early May (in open ground - after late spring frosts);
- applying fertilizing during planting (2 tablespoons of double superphosphate under the plant);
- timely watering (after the soil has completely dried, 5 liters per bush);
- mulching beds;
- formation into 2 stems;
- stepsoning;
- lightening of the ovaries;
- obligatory garter of stems and brushes;
- removal of leaves before the ovary fills;
- Nitrogen application is recommended before flowering;
- then feed with mineral complexes every 10 days;
- stop applying a month before the harvest ripens;
- ventilate the greenhouse;
- Remove ripe fruits in a timely manner.
It is necessary to regularly monitor the temperature in the greenhouse. When the temperature rises above 30 ⁰C, the pollen is sterilized and the tomato does not set fruit.
How to protect crops from diseases and pests
Black Russian is an old variety. It is affected by rot, TMV, downy mildew, and spotting. For protection you should:
- avoid waterlogging and water getting on the leaves;
- apply timely fertilizing: they strengthen the bushes;
- ventilate the greenhouse;
- observe crop turnover;
- green manure the soil;
- use copper-containing preparations;
- use folk remedies (whey, ash).
Egg shells and mulching the soil with straw will help repel slugs. Insecticides will save bushes from whiteflies and spider mites.
What gardeners say
People share their impressions of the Black Russian tomato. Positive reviews:
- wonderful taste;
- original color;
- good yield from the bush;
- high transportability;
- ripening ability.
Gardeners complain about: the capriciousness of the plant, its spreading nature (you can plant 3 bushes/m² maximum). Some get from their seeds bushes with strange fruits: black-pink and red-black.
The variety occupies a strong place in the collections of summer residents. The tomato is delicious, ideal for decorating juices, pastes, purees, and salads.