Black Prince tomatoes, their features and growing rules

Tomato Black Prince gained popularity and love of gardeners due to its unusual color, bright sweet taste and relative simplicity in growing. The fruits have a noticeable and unusual color, for which the variety got its name - the pale red shade at the bottom gradually turns into a rich purple-black color on top.

The Black Prince tomato was bred by Chinese breeders as a result of crossing wild and cultivated varieties, it is intended for cultivation in a temperate climatic zone. Residents of Russia met him in 2000. The variety quickly gained popularity and has since been actively cultivated in personal and summer cottages.

Description of the variety

Self-pollinated plant with an average level of immunity. On average, the height of the bush reaches 1.5 meters, but growth up to 2 meters is possible. Tall shoots and heavy brushes require garters to prevent breakage. The growth of tomato liana must be limited, since too high a stem consumes a lot of nutrients, which negatively affects the yield.

The plant has green leaves, typical for tomatoes, with a characteristic shape, wrinkled, without pubescence. Inflorescences begin to form after the 9th leaf and have many flowers. To improve the taste and increase the yield, no more than 6-8 pieces are left in each.

Do not confuse Black Prince and its first generation hybrid of the same name. Hybrid seeds are not suitable for growing new plants, you need to buy new ones next year.

Variety advantages:

• suitable for cultivation in greenhouses and open ground;
• is a mid-season species - the first fruits appear in 3.5-4 months (110-115 days) after sowing the seeds;
• long fruiting period until late autumn;
• unique taste characteristics;
• large-fruited - the mass of fruits varies within 100-500 g and largely depends on natural conditions, soil type and compliance with agrotechnical requirements;
• high yield - 4–4.5 kg can be harvested from one bush.

The disadvantages of the fruits of this variety include poor transport tolerance and the impossibility of long-term storage - tomatoes must be eaten or processed immediately after ripening.

Black Prince tomatoes are a dessert vegetable and have a unique sweet taste. It is best to use them raw, in salad or vegetable slices. They are also used for making sauces, adjika, lecho, soup dressing. The variety is not suitable for pickling and pickling due to its thin peel - during heat treatment, the fruits are not able to maintain their shape. Tomatoes contain a large amount of dry matter and are therefore not recommended for juicing.

Growing features

To get a rich and beautiful harvest of Black Prince tomatoes, simple conditions must be observed. The description of the conditions and requirements for the care of this variety is also true for many other varieties of tomatoes.

Before planting, seeds are disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate and soaked in a growth stimulator. This variety sprouts for a relatively long time (about 10 days), but then the shoots quickly gain strength. Planting seedlings is carried out in mid-March in a wide container to a depth of 2 cm with 2 cm intervals between plants.

It is useful to pre-steam the soil for seedlings in the oven. This will help get rid of many germs and prevent disease and seed death.

The inoculated container is poured with warm water, covered with plastic wrap to create the required level of humidity and placed in a warm, bright place. The optimum temperature is +25 ° С. After the sprouts appear, the cover can be removed. Watering the seedlings often is necessary, avoiding drying out.

After the appearance of the first 3-4 leaves, you need make a pick - transplant the shoots into separate paper or plastic cups. Some gardeners carry out several picks as the plants grow, and are transplanted into larger containers.

Before planting, it is useful to harden young plants - for this they open a greenhouse or take containers out into the open air in the daytime.

Tomatoes are planted in open ground in mid or late May, depending on the region (you need to do this when there are no more night frosts). Since the Black Prince variety is self-pollinated, it should not be planted next to other tomato varieties in order to avoid over-pollination and changes in the taste characteristics of the fruit.

The work is carried out in the evening or in the afternoon in cloudy weather according to the following algorithm:

• you need to mark on the section of the hole according to the 50 * 40 scheme;
• pour 1 liter of water into each, pour 50 g of potassium fertilizer (wood ash can be used) and 50 g of ammonium nitrate;
• put the sprout vertically, straighten the roots, cover with soil and lightly tamp.

How to properly care for a Black Prince tomato?

The variety description defines the Black Prince tomato as an indeterminate plant, that is, its shoots do not have end points of growth. Therefore, special attention must be paid to the formation of the correct bush - as it grows, set pegs and tie up shoots and brushes. The lateral processes are pinned so that growth goes into the main stem. Stepsons need to be carefully cut with a knife, and not cut off - this will prevent infection of the plant through wounds.

Black Prince is a warm and moisture-loving variety. The ideal temperature for a good harvest is + 28 ° C. Continuous root watering or drip irrigation is required. In this case, it is important not to pour the tomatoes, otherwise the fruits will be watery and tasteless. Regular loosening of the soil increases the access of oxygen to the root system, which is good for the growth and yield of the crop.

Top dressing is introduced with the beginning of flowering and spend every 2 weeks, alternating organic and mineral fertilizers. Root dressing is applied in the evening in a pre-moistened soil to avoid root burns.

The variety is distinguished by good immunity and disease resistance. Nevertheless, the plants should be periodically inspected, and the leaves with black spots should be removed.

Tomatoes Black Prince is an unpretentious variety in cultivation. Subject to all the simple care recommendations, the culture gives a good harvest and pleases gardeners with fresh sweet fruits until late autumn. An unusual tomato will become a decoration of the garden and a highlight of the summer table.