The domestic variety of tomatoes Black Crimea is well known not only in our country, but also in Europe, and even in the USA. Even in Soviet times, these unusual tomatoes drew the attention of the Swiss breeder Lars Rosentrom. During the trip of this specialist in the Crimea, he, among other things, was presented with seeds of such black tomatoes. He really liked them.
Tomatoes Black Crimea: general description
This wonderful variety belongs to the indeterminate group. That is, the growth of these tomatoes during the season is unlimited. The length of the stalks of tomatoes of this variety can reach significant - up to 1.8 m. Especially high at the same time, such bushes grow in the greenhouse.
The root system in Black Crimea tomatoes, as in almost any other indeterminate, is very well developed. At the same time, bushes of this variety usually grow quite thick.
This feature of the Black Crimea tomatoes should be taken into account when growing. Space for each such plant requires a lot. Too much thicken plantings between tomatoes Black Crimea is not recommended, because in this case, first of all, they will miss the soil nutrients. Secondly, if plants are placed too often, plantings with them will subsequently be poorly ventilated. And this, in turn, can cause the development of fungal diseases.
Characteristics
Black Crimea belongs to the group of early varieties. The fruits ripen on the bushes of these tomatoes approximately 75-80 days after planting. To plant this old variety that has long been loved by summer residents is allowed both in open and in closed ground. However, since the Black Crimea does not differ in a special degree of resistance to frost, like any other southern tomatoes, it is recommended to grow it in central Russia only in a greenhouse. The same applies to Siberia and the Urals. It's just that Russian summer residents usually plant these tomatoes in the open-air beds only in the Crimea, in the Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories.
Among the pluses of this wonderful variety, gardeners include, among other things, a very good yield. With the only bush of the Black Crimea with proper care, you can get up to 4 kg of fruits per season. Also, this variety is characterized by a high degree of resistance to the main diseases of nightshade.
Fruit
Tomato bushes Black Crimea look very strong and impressive. However, the main feature of these tomatoes, which distinguishes them from the bulk of modern varieties, is the appearance of the fruits. These tomatoes got their name, of course, not in vain. At the last stages of development, the fruits of the Black Crimea are usually dark brown in color. Upon reaching maturity, they become almost black.
The fruits of this variety have an average weight of 300-350 g. Lower tomatoes can also vary in size - up to 500 g. The shape of the tomatoes of the Black Crimea is flat-round. Moreover, on the fruits, you can often see a slight ribbing in the area of the stalk.
The taste of tomatoes, according to most summer residents, are simply excellent. The pulp of the fruits of this variety is sweet, juicy, fleshy and very fragrant without acidity.
Seeds in tomatoes Black Crimea is usually quite a lot. However, the seed chambers themselves are not too large. The main part of the fruit of these tomatoes falls on the pulp.
Photos of tomatoes Black Crimea are presented on this page. As you can see, the shoots of these tomatoes are really very powerful, and the fruits actually have an unusual appearance.
Many gardeners attribute some of the disadvantages to the fact that although their fruits are covered by a fairly dense skin, they, unfortunately, do not differ in special transportability. When growing Black Crimea, it is important not to overdo it with watering. Otherwise, ripe fruits, among other things, may also crack right on the bushes. Toughness in tomatoes of this variety, unfortunately, is also not particularly good.
Fruit use
Summer residents cultivate Black Crimea primarily for fresh consumption. It is also believed that tomatoes of this variety are excellent for preparing summer salads.
The sizes of the fruits of the Black Crimea are large. Therefore, in general, they are not pickled and salted. In addition, during heat treatment, the skin of the fruit may burst. When harvesting vegetables for the winter, the fruits of this variety are usually used only for the preparation of juice and ketchup.
Tomatoes Black Crimea: reviews of summer residents
The pluses of this variety, gardeners, as already mentioned, primarily include high productivity, unusual appearance of the fruit and resistance to disease. Also, these tomatoes attract summer residents and their relative unpretentiousness. For southern tomatoes, this is, of course, a rarity. The only thing that you need to monitor when growing Black Crimea, according to summer residents, is to ensure that in late spring - early summer, bushes do not beat back frosts. Otherwise, the plants will die.
Judging by the descriptions of Black Crimea tomato varieties available on the Internet, the undoubted advantages include the fact that the fruits on it ripen gradually. This makes it possible in the summer to make salads using such tomatoes almost every day.
In addition to poor keeping quality, summer residents consider a certain disadvantage of this variety that it gives an ovary rather sluggishly. To increase the yield of this variety, experienced gardeners recommend forming its bushes in 2 stems.
Seedlings
Tomatoes grow Black Crimea, like any other, domestic gardeners seedlings. The seeds of these tomatoes are sown in boxes about 60 days before transfer to the open ground. That is, seedlings of the Black Crimea are usually planted in mid-March.
From the very first days, hatched sprouts of this variety begin to develop very intensively. Seedlings of the Black Crimea look, judging by the reviews of summer residents, usually much more powerful and larger than other tomatoes. Accordingly, it is worth pouring nutritious soil into the boxes for such tomatoes. For planting seeds of the Black Crimea, you can, for example, mix ordinary garden soil with a small amount of steamed manure.
Landing at a permanent place
By the time of transportation to the greenhouse or in the beds of seedlings of the Black Crimea, it usually reaches a height of about 20 cm. Experienced summer residents recommend planting tomatoes of this variety in a constant place in a checkerboard pattern. At the same time, gardeners advise doing this in such a way that a distance of approximately 60 cm remains between neighboring plants.
Immediately after planting, the bushes of the Black Crimea are recommended to be tied to supports. This will contribute to better survival of plants. A day after transferring to a permanent place, seedlings are preferably watered. Further, the beds can be mulched with well-rotted manure.
Permanent care
As already mentioned, tomatoes in the Black Crimea form in most cases in 2 stems. At the same time, experienced gardeners advise removing stepchildren from such tomatoes when they reach a height of about 5 cm.
Actually, the technology for caring for these tomatoes is usually used by gardeners as standard. That is, when growing summer residents use the same techniques that are suitable for any other indeterminate tomatoes.
The only thing is that when cultivating Black Crimea tomato varieties, it is recommended to slightly adjust the standard frequency of irrigation. As mentioned above, if the soil is moistened too often under such tomatoes, their fruits may crack when ripe. Moreover, judging by the reviews of summer residents on the Web, in this case, the pulp of tomatoes Black Crimea, although it remains sweet without sourness, still turns out to be somewhat watery. Gardeners usually water these tomatoes usually no more than 1-2 times a week abundantly.