Black Tomato is an indeterminate variety that produces deeply colored fruit packed with lycopene and antioxidants. Growing 85 days from transplant to first ripe fruit, it thrives in full sun across hardiness zones 3 through 11, making it accessible to gardeners nearly everywhere. The plant requires moderate watering and prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil, settling easily into most garden conditions once established.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
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High
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Summer's first ripe tomato marks a turning point in the gardening year, and Black Tomato delivers that milestone with juicy, nutrient-dense fruit. Each plant produces an abundance of tomatoes loaded with lycopene, the compound responsible for supporting eye health, cardiovascular function, and the body's natural cancer-fighting capacity. The extended harvest window from an indeterminate growth habit means continuous picking rather than a single concentrated crop.
Black Tomato is grown for fresh eating and culinary use, valued for its nutritional profile rich in lycopene and other antioxidants that support overall wellness. The juicy, flavorful fruit lends itself to slicing fresh into salads, cooking down into sauces, or simply eating straight from the vine at peak ripeness.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Maintain soil temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors once they have developed true leaves and all danger of frost has passed.
Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Move plants outdoors when soil temperatures have warmed and frost danger has passed. Space transplants 3 inches apart in rows and plant slightly deeper than they grew indoors to encourage a stronger root system.
Harvest Black Tomato when fully ripe for the best flavor; the fruit will feel slightly soft when gently squeezed. For the most concentrated taste, pick tomatoes during the cooler parts of the day. If you harvest green fruit before the first frost, ripen them indoors in a cool, dark area away from direct sunlight, making sure the fruits do not touch one another during ripening.
As an indeterminate variety, Black Tomato will benefit from pruning suckers (shoots that form between the main stem and branches) to direct energy into fruit production rather than excess foliage. Remove lower leaves as the plant grows to improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Pinch off the growing tip in late summer to redirect the plant's energy toward ripening existing fruit rather than producing new flowers.
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