Japanese Black Trifele

[Fert1]

I am growing Japanese Black Trifele for the first time this year. My plant is loading up with tiny little pear-shaped tomatoes. They are sooooo cute! I hope they taste as good as they are cute. Anyone else here tried that one?

[nctomatoman]

I am going to give it another shot. Some years ago, in a major black tomato comparison grow out, Japanese Trifele Black didn't really stand out - except in its unusual shape on a potato leaf plant and brownish fruit. It was in a pretty poor garden spot - we shall see how it does this year.

[rnewste]

Fert,

I am growing it for the first time this year (courtesy of "sprtsguy"). Plant on the right:



Very prolific and a really healthy plant. Now about 66 inches tall tonight. Loaded with pear shaped fruit:



Will be interesting to do the taste test.

Raybo

[sprtsguy76]

I've mine in a 4 gallon bucket with three vines. Just topped it yesterday. Its loaded with fruit, but I'm a bit concerned about the weight of the fruit which usually means the fruit could be a bit hollow. But I'm not sure so we will see what happens.

Damon

[frozengirl]

I grew it last year (and also this year too) and it did well here. Lots of cute juicy little tomatoes. This year I have it in buckets andexpect the fruit will get bigger.

[GunnarSK]

You never go wrong by looking at Tatiana's Tomato Base, especially as this is a Russian commercial variety which comes in several colours sold by "Biotexnika" among others:
http://tatianastomatobase.com/wiki/Japanese_Trifele

[TZ-OH6]

I grew it a couple of years ago with several other blacks. It was my second favorite tomato behind Black Krim. The flavor was similar to Black Krim, but not as intense. It is meatier/less seeds than BK, so easier to make sauce.

[heirloomdaddy]

I've grown this once, but it was delicious and produced like a crazy man. the best of last year.

[rnewste]

Wow! I never see JBT show up on anybody's "Top 10" list, yet you guys give it rave reviews. I'm growing it this year by accident, as "sprtsguy" had an extra plant and talked me in to trying it.

Raybo

[velikipop]

It is a regular in my garden, for some of the same reasons mentioned above. A solid steady producer with decent tasting fruit that makes great salad and the best suace.

Alex

[Fert1]

Well, it certainly is one productive little plant from all I can tell. I will let you know what I think about the flavor once I get some ripe fruit. They are terribly cute little fruits!

[heirloomdaddy]

I agree with the sauce comment. Very, very good. It made a very thick and rich sauce.

[eyolf]

Well, I've grown it, and wasn't impressed. Not here in the tomato growing capitol of the known universe, anyway, LOL!

Actually, I've had few blacks do very well, flavor-wise, here in N. MN. I think they like more warm weather, and maybe even don't get off on the 16 hrs-of-sunshine-plus days. Mine were insipid, watery and seedy little greenish-grayish-red bags of ick. But there were a lot of them!

I'm not just trying to be a curmudgeon, but it IS useful to have one around once in a while. Keeps everything honest!

[jsuperchi]

Really sounds hit or miss in terms of people liking it. This is the first year that I will be growing the JBT here in CT.

Only time will tell.

It is good to know that sauce is a solid option if we don't like it right off the vine.

-Josh

[goodwin]

People might want to try Bedouin for comparison. I'm growing the two side-by-side again this summer. In past years, Bedouin has been a better producer and the flavor was great. Here is a photo of what they look like - at the market they're one of my best sellers.
Lee