Slicer Tomato
Carbon Tomato is a celebrated heirloom that has earned taste awards across the country for its extraordinary depth of flavor. This indeterminate variety produces large, smooth beefsteak fruits in an arresting deep purple to nearly black color, each weighing 10 to 12 ounces. It reaches maturity in 90 days from transplant and thrives in full sun, making it a striking addition to any garden where both beauty and complex taste matter deeply.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
?in H x ?in W
Annual, Perennial
High
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The fruit's juicy, sweet, and slightly smoky character sets Carbon apart from typical red tomatoes, with an almost black skin that's as visually dramatic as it is delicious. These large slicers develop an extra dose of the complex flavor that dark heirloom tomatoes are famous for. Beyond taste, the smooth, beautiful appearance and consistent size make them exceptional for both the table and the garden display.
Carbon Tomato excels as a slicing tomato for fresh eating, where its large size and smooth surface make it ideal for thick, beautiful slices on the plate. The juicy, sweet, and slightly smoky flesh lends itself naturally to salads, sandwiches, and any preparation where the tomato's flavor can shine unadorned. Its complexity also suits slow cooking or reduction into sauces where the depth of taste deepens with time.
Sow seeds indoors about 5 to 6 weeks before transplanting. Plant seeds 1/8 inch deep in 20-row flats with 20 seeds per row, or in 200-cell trays with 1 seed per cell; lightly cover with soil. Maintain the seed-starting mix at 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit with moderate moisture; germination typically occurs within 5 to 7 days. At the first true leaf stage, pot up seedlings to 50-cell trays or 4-inch pots depending on your planned transplant timing. Grow seedlings at a constant 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit under bright light and apply complete fertilizer until hardened off.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days by exposing them to increasing outdoor light and temperature. Transplant once soil has warmed and all frost danger has passed. Avoid transplanting leggy, root-bound, or already-flowering seedlings, as these set back production. Space plants 24 inches apart in rows 48 inches apart.
Harvest Carbon Tomato fruits when they reach full size and display their characteristic deep purple to nearly black color. Pick fruits when fully colored but still firm to the touch for best flavor development. For peak ripeness, allow fruits to remain on the vine until they yield slightly to gentle pressure. Store blemish-free, near-ripe fruit at room temperature in darkness for 4 to 7 days. If you need longer storage, pick fruits less ripe and keep them at 45 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, though picking too green will sacrifice end-quality and flavor.
As an indeterminate variety, Carbon Tomato will continue growing throughout the season. Use basket-weave trellising with 5 to 6 foot stakes positioned every 2 to 3 plants, anchoring heavier t-posts intermittently and at bed ends for stability. Once the plant reaches the top of its support or becomes too tall for easy harvest, prune back growth or consider short extensions to manage size. Regular pruning of excessive suckers will direct energy into fruit production rather than excessive foliage.
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“Carbon Tomato emerged as one of the darkest and most visually striking purple-type heirlooms available today. Seed savers and breeders located a limited supply of this variety specifically because of its proven track record: it has won taste awards coast to coast in recent years, signaling a tomato worthy of preservation and celebration. Its journey into modern seed catalogs reflects a broader movement to rescue and maintain heirloom varieties whose exceptional flavor and appearance might otherwise be lost to commercial agriculture.”