An unpretentious variety with an unusual color and unique taste - the Black Prince tomato and the peculiarities of its cultivation

Summer residents love to experiment with plants that are grown in their beds. The unusual shapes and colors of vegetables attract the attention of gardeners, and the high yield of fruits unusual for our eyes causes a feeling of pride and envy among neighbors.

Try planting black prince tomatoes on your site. You will get not only unusual in appearance, but also amazingly sweet tomatoes that are easy to grow. In our review, read the characteristics and description of the variety, cultivation features and techniques used by farmers to get a larger harvest.

Description of the variety

We could not find exact information about the originator of the variety. It is known that tomatoes were included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2000. A few years later, the f1 hybrid with the same name appeared, so carefully study the packaging before buying - it will indicate whether you are buying varietal or hybrid seeds. The difference between them is that you can collect seeds from varietal tomatoes for subsequent planting, but the hybrid will not yield in the second generation.

Tomatoes are grown in different climatic zones of our country in shelters and open ground.

The dark skin color, which is unusual for these vegetables, gives the tomato its anthocyanin.

Important! It is not entirely true to talk about the existence of black tomatoes. In fact, due to the pigment, the skin and flesh acquire from brown-green to brown-red-brown color. Sometimes only the skin acquires a blue-violet color, while the flesh remains red.

Distinctive features

Mid-season, indeterminate grade. The bush reaches a height of 1.5-2.5 m. The first fruits ripen on the bush for 110-120 days. The stem is strong, light green tomato-type leaves. The roots of the plant grow wider.

Inflorescences are formed after 7-9 pairs of leaves, higher - after every third pair. No more than 5-6 flowers are left on the ovary.

Fruit characteristics and yield

In the photo below you will see what color the Black Prince tomatoes have.

Other characteristics:

• rounded, flattened at the top and bottom, multi-ribbed shape;
• the pulp is juicy, fleshy burgundy;
• the skin is smooth, thin;
• sweet, tomato flavor and aroma;
• average fruit weight - from 100 to 500 g;
• yield - 7 kg per 1 sq. m (3-4 bushes).

How to grow seedlings

Seeds are sown for seedlings 60-65 days before transplanting into the ground.

Seed preparation

Proper seed preparation will allow you to grow viable seedlings:

1. Calibration... Add the seeds and examine them. Select dense, large, even, not empty to the touch. Place them in saline solution. To do this, dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt in a glass of water. The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes. Select the seeds that have sunk to the bottom for planting, and discard those that have floated to the surface.
2. Warming up... Place the seeds on a cloth on a central heating radiator and heat for 36-48 hours. There is another way: a few months before sowing, hang a bag of seeds on the battery.
3. Disinfection... Prepare a 1% solution of potassium permanganate: dissolve 1 heaping teaspoon of potassium permanganate in 3 glasses of water. Place the seeds in the solution for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with clean running water.Disinfection is mandatory for self-harvested seeds. However, remember that it will not kill infections inside the seed, it will only kill pathogens that live on the surface.
4. Bubbling... In simple terms, this procedure is called "oxygen saturation". Place the seeds in water heated to + 26 ... + 30 ° C and stir them every hour or use an aquarium compressor. Stop bubbling after 15-18 hours or as soon as germs appear on the grains.
5. Soak... Place the planting material in warm (+ 20 ° C) water. Add to it any of the biostimulating drugs: "Zircon", "Epin", "Immunocytofit". Some summer residents recommend honey soaking. Dissolve a teaspoon of honey in a glass of cool water. Place the seeds on a cloth or gauze, pour 3-5 tablespoons of the solution on them and wrap the cloth in an envelope. The duration of the procedure is 3-12 hours, as the tissue dries, moisten it with a solution.
6. Hardening... Wrap the grains in cotton cloth and plastic wrap and place in a cool place where the temperature reaches -3 ... + 2 ° С (refrigerator, balcony). Alternate the temperature regime: 8 hours in the cold, 8 hours in the warm. Repeat the temperature change 5-6 times. If you are not sure that you will be doing the hardening procedure correctly, or are afraid of spoiling the seeds, skip this preparation step.
7. Germination... Place the grains on a cloth or cheesecloth on a flat, shallow dish (petri dish, saucer, lid). Soak a cloth in warm water and place the container with seeds in a warm (+ 25 ° C) place. Keep the fabric damp at all times.

Capacity and soil

For seedling pots, take special containers or cut PET bottles, cups.

Buy soil in the store - universal for tomatoes. It contains humus, peat and river sand.

For self-preparation of the soil, combine:

• peat - 7 parts;
• sawdust - 1 part;
• sod land - 1 part;

or

• peat - 3 parts;
• humus - 1 part;
• mullein and humus - 0.5 parts.

Treat planting containers and soil with potassium permanganate solution.

Sowing

Moisten the soil. Sow seeds every 2-3 cm. Sprinkle with 1.5-2 cm of earth. Cover containers with plastic wrap and place in a warm, bright place. Ventilate the mini-greenhouses daily and, as the soil dries up, moisten it with a spray bottle or syringe so as not to wash out the seeds.

Shoots appear on the 10-12th day, then remove the film.

Growing and care

In the phase of 2-3 true leaves, dive the plants: plant them in separate containers so that the seedlings can build up the root system. After picking for 2-3 days, place the seedlings in the shade. Maintain the temperature at 22-24 ° C.

Water the tomatoes as the soil dries up strictly under the root with warm, settled water.

If you notice that the seedlings are stretching, it means that they do not have enough light. Supplement your plants with fluorescent or LED lamps. Place them strictly on top of the seedlings.

Change the position of the lamps if:

1. There are burns on the leaves - increase the distance between the lamps and plants.
2. The leaves are paler and the stem is stretched out - bring the light closer.

For 10-14 days, start hardening the seedlings. To begin with, take it outside during the day for 3-4 hours, adding an hour every day. 2 days before planting on the beds, leave the seedlings overnight to accustom them to possible nighttime cold snaps.

How to grow tomatoes

Tomatoes are transplanted to the beds in May: in the middle of the month - in greenhouses, at the end - in open ground. If you are afraid of sudden changes in temperature, cover the beds with covering material. After a constant positive weather has been established, it can be removed.

Landing

A day before planting, treat the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water to destroy possible infections or pest larvae.

If fertilization was not applied in the fall, apply it before planting: 50 g of ammonium nitrate and 100 g of wood ash per bush.Plant tall seedlings at an angle. Then pour the bushes with warm water.

Planting scheme - 40 × 60 cm.

Care

Tomatoes love frequent watering... Water the bushes at the root: in hot weather - early in the morning, in cloudy - both in the morning and during the day.

After watering, weed out the weeds and spud the bushes so that the root system has access to oxygen.

Fertilize the tomatoes every two weeks. Alternate between two types of dressings: root and foliar.

Add under the root:

• humus;
• manure diluted with water.

For foliage use:

• calcium nitrate;
• urea;
• potassium monophosphate;
• "Epin";
• "Immunocytophyte".

Important! Summer residents note that with foliar dressing, nutrients are absorbed faster by plants (in 2-4 hours versus 2-4 days for root ones), the ability of leaves to withstand tomato diseases and harmful insects increases, 15-20% more inflorescences are formed, fruits ripen for a week earlier.

Do not spray tomatoes during the day in hot weather to avoid sunburn.

Form the black prince into 1-2 stems. In late July - early August, pinch the top.

Due to the high stem and the severity of the fruit, it is imperative tie up tomatoes as they grow.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Black Prince tomatoes are self-pollinating, so plant them 1-2 m away from other varieties. IN Otherwise, pollination and a change in the qualities of tomatoes are possible.

Gardeners who have already tried to grow the Black Prince variety refer to watering as a difficulty. As we have already said, the variety loves moisture, needs frequent and abundant watering, but excess water is also harmful: the plants will hurt, and the fruits will crack. Focus on weather conditions to find the optimal watering frequency.

Diseases and pests

The growers claim that tomatoes are moderately resistant to disease. For the prevention of fungal diseases in greenhouses or in a cool summer with abundant frequent rains in the open field, treat plantings with "Fitosporin".

In the hot summer, spider mites, aphids or thrips attack tomatoes. From aphids and thrips, use the drug "Bison", for spider mites - "Apollo".

Treat with any preparation in dry, calm weather. Preventive and medicinal products should stay on the leaves for at least 24 hours.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

When growing tomatoes, remember that every year you either need to change the location of the greenhouse (if it is portable), or disinfect the soil with potassium permanganate or boiling water and change the topsoil (if the greenhouse is stationary).

In the greenhouse, pinch the bush after 7 brushes, in an open garden - after 5, so that the fruits have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather.

When growing indoors, pay special attention to ventilation and watering frequency. Do not be lazy and check how dry the soil is before each watering.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Harvest tomatoes for 110-120 days... Use fresh fruits within 10-14 days. Tomatoes are not suitable for long-term storage, transportation and pickling in whole-fruited form due to the skin, which cracks easily, but they are ideal for lecho, canned salads. They are also not used in the manufacture of juice due to the increased dryness of the fruit; some summer residents use it for sauces and ketchups.

Important! If the fruits from the upper branches do not have time to ripen before the onset of cold weather, remove them and put them to ripen or use in preparing snacks.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Russian gardeners fell in love with the Black Prince variety for its unusual color and ease of cultivation. The pluses also include:

• mid-maturity;
• immunity to tomato diseases;
• high yield (7 kg from 3-4 bushes);
• taste qualities.

The disadvantages include:

• the need for molding;
• frequent watering;
• impossibility of long storage and transportation.

Farmers reviews

In their reviews, summer residents note that tomatoes have a sweet taste. In the southern and central regions, they give a bountiful harvest, but in the north of Russia, the yield is falling.

Nikolay Sychkin, Oryol region: “I grow these tomatoes every year at my dacha, too much effort is not required, they are unpretentious, and the harvest is pleasing to the eye. I carry the bucket home almost every day. They grow up, occupy a small area, and there are enough ripe tomatoes for our entire large family. "

Alina Soldatova, Ural: “I like the Black Prince tomato variety. The taste is sweet, I eat such tomatoes just like a fruit. Very tasty. Growing, yes, it's difficult - I can't say that they are more susceptible to diseases or pests, but it turns out not enough on the bush. And seedlings are difficult to grow - whimsical. Plus seeds in a bag - one or two and missed. "

Daria Nosova, Rostov region: “I don’t know why everyone took up arms against this variety of tomatoes. I always grow several bushes. Last year they ripened first (!!!), a week earlier than the frankly early varieties. We filmed the first ripe tomato (270 grams!) On 10.07. In a salad, it is both beautiful and tasty. The pulp is juicy, soft, velvety. Does not go into seaming - yes. Cracks with ripeness. But it's good when there are DIFFERENT varieties for different delicious dishes. One of these days I will take a picture on a bush and will definitely post a photo. So, I am FOR the Black Prince! "

Conclusion

Black Prince tomatoes are suitable for growing both in open and closed beds, but in the Urals and Siberia it is recommended to grow it in greenhouses. The bushes are formed into 1-2 stems, after 5-7 brushes are pinched so that the fruits have time to ripen. Productivity - 7 kg per 1 sq. m. Black fruits weighing 100-300 g are used fresh.

They are not subject to long storage and transportation because of the delicate, easily bursting skin. For the same reason, tomatoes are not used in whole-fruit canning, only for rolling salads, lecho, sauces and ketchups. For the production of juice, the fruits are too dry. The tomatoes of this variety were especially loved for their unusual color and high immunity.