Black tomato choices, need help

SharonRossy · February 22, 2014

So today I am going over the seeds that I want to germinate and when it comes to the blacks, I am stuck.
Last year I grew Black Krim and it wasn't great. Mind you, last year was a challenge. I decided to try Cherokee Purple and will grow Black from Tula again. I also have seeds from the dwarf variety - Perth Pride.
Any opinions are welcome. I found that the blacks in general did not hold up well once harvested. I did not let them ripen on the stem for the most part because of squirrel issues.
Thanks,
Sharon

b54red · February 22, 2014

Gary O' Sena is the black that I have had the best luck with at holding well once picked. Black Krim is probably the worst. Indian Stripe is a good black that falls in the middle as far as shelf life but it is near the top in production and taste.

Bill

Labradors2 · February 22, 2014

Sharon,

You beat me to it as I was just about to ask about black tomatoes!

I have grown Black Krim and Cherokee Purple. Both were tasty but I liked CP more because it was early and smoother (although not terribly productive).

Indian Stripe is on my list for this year. However, I can't decide between Paul Robeson, Black Early, JD's Special C-Tex and Sarah Black, so if anyone has any preferences, I'd love to hear about them!

Linda

charline · February 22, 2014

my favorite black is Lila Sari
and of course Black Cherry

livinonfaith · February 22, 2014

I've really enjoyed Black Cherokee, but Black Trifele is probably the most reliable black for me. It just keeps on pumping out those little pear shaped beauties! And if you pick them before they get too ripe, they also hold for a long time on the counter. (at least they do at my house)

I think Black Cherry will always be on my grow list from now on. It isn't quite as prolific as some of the other cherries I've tried, but we really like the size, color and taste.

PaulF · February 22, 2014

Cherokee Purple, Carbon, Gary O'Sena, J.D. Special C-Tex in that order.

SharonRossy · February 22, 2014

Thanks for the replies! Livinonfaith, thanks for reminding be about Black Trifele. I grew it a few years ago and it was on my list to order and I forgot. It did hold up well and it was prolific. Any one had any experience with Black from Tula? One of the worst blacks I ever grew was Black Russian. There was absolutely nothing redeeming about it and Black Pear, which is not even close to Black Trifele.

RobinB · February 22, 2014

Margaret Curtain topped the list last year, followed closely by Japanese Black Trifele, and Tasmanian Chocolate. Black from Tula was good, as I recall, but I've only grown it once. I remember a lot of cracking with that one.

discoprincess · February 22, 2014

Black Plum is yummy and prolific (and small).

I second the suggestions for Black Cherry and the Japanese Black Trifele.

Longlake · February 22, 2014

Black from Tula is a yearly staple in my Zone 3 garden. For me, it’s early, productive and less prone to gray mold than Black Krim. Pink Berkeley Tie Dye is another winner, for all the same reasons. Other favorites would be Vorlon and Big Cheef. Lots of good choices out there!

ChrisK · February 22, 2014

Carbon! Good tomato for my location and taste buds.

Black from Tula has also been a good tomato for me.

MissS · February 22, 2014

My grow every season is Paul Robeson. It tastes great and does not go soft very fast at all.

You might be having some trouble with the blacks taste wise. They taste best in the heat of summer and last season was quite cool for them. PR is not as sweet as Black Krim or CP, but it does have a great flavor to me.

I bet that you get a different answer to this question from anyone that responds.

Patti

ginger2778 · February 22, 2014

My favorites: Cherokee Purple, Spudakee, Daniel Burson. I grew Vorlon this season, as well as JDs, meh for both IMHO.

Marsha

FarmerShawn · March 14, 2014

Here in Northern Vermont, in sandy soil, I have had some successes and some failures. Both Black Krim and JD's Special C-Tex have not worked at all - after three years trying, I have yet to get a decent tomato from them. They're off the grow list. Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Black from Tula, and Paul Robeson have performed well most years, usually making my most delicious list. I'm still trying new ones - Amazon Chocolate and Carbon were pretty good. I love Kazachka (Courtney). I also am still fiddling around with a Vince PI from Carolyn's offer - when it works and I pick them just before they are fully ripe, they are transformingly scrumptious, but they split wide open at the mere whisper of humidity, even when still very green.

HoosierDaddy · March 14, 2014

I used to grow Black Krim every year, but last year was a bad year for that one in SE Michigan (zone 5). We had a lot of rain last summer and Black Krim did not taste good. It was one of my favorites the previous 3 years.
Black from Tula did great last year, my first year growing that strain.
I just started seeds for this year and my three blacks will be Black from Tula, Black Prince (first time with that one), and Black Krim.

JD's, Paul Robeson, and Cherokee Purple did not grow well for me the previous 3 years. I've given those up.

February 22, 2014	#1
SharonRossy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Montreal Posts: 1,140	Black tomato choices, need help So today I am going over the seeds that I want to germinate and when it comes to the blacks, I am stuck. Last year I grew Black Krim and it wasn't great. Mind you, last year was a challenge. I decided to try Cherokee Purple and will grow Black from Tula again. I also have seeds from the dwarf variety - Perth Pride. Any opinions are welcome. I found that the blacks in general did not hold up well once harvested. I did not let them ripen on the stem for the most part because of squirrel issues. Thanks, Sharon

February 22, 2014	#6
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Cherokee Purple, Carbon, Gary O'Sena, J.D. Special C-Tex in that order. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

February 22, 2014	#10
Longlake Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: MN Posts: 142	Black from Tula is a yearly staple in my Zone 3 garden. For me, it’s early, productive and less prone to gray mold than Black Krim. Pink Berkeley Tie Dye is another winner, for all the same reasons. Other favorites would be Vorlon and Big Cheef. Lots of good choices out there! __________________ My garden is like a teenager - One minute I'm basking in it's glow and the next I'm cursing it's attitude and headstrong independence.

February 22, 2014	#11
ChrisK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 1,448	Carbon! Good tomato for my location and taste buds. Black from Tula has also been a good tomato for me. __________________ Blog: chriskafer.wordpress.com Ignorance more frequently begets knowledge: it is those who know little, and not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science. --Charles Darwin

February 22, 2014	#12
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	My grow every season is Paul Robeson. It tastes great and does not go soft very fast at all. You might be having some trouble with the blacks taste wise. They taste best in the heat of summer and last season was quite cool for them. PR is not as sweet as Black Krim or CP, but it does have a great flavor to me. I bet that you get a different answer to this question from anyone that responds. Patti __________________ ~ Patti ~

February 22, 2014	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Gary O' Sena is the black that I have had the best luck with at holding well once picked. Black Krim is probably the worst. Indian Stripe is a good black that falls in the middle as far as shelf life but it is near the top in production and taste. Bill

February 22, 2014	#3
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,896	Sharon, You beat me to it as I was just about to ask about black tomatoes! I have grown Black Krim and Cherokee Purple. Both were tasty but I liked CP more because it was early and smoother (although not terribly productive). Indian Stripe is on my list for this year. However, I can't decide between Paul Robeson, Black Early, JD's Special C-Tex and Sarah Black, so if anyone has any preferences, I'd love to hear about them! Linda

February 22, 2014	#4
charline Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: France Posts: 688	my favorite black is Lila Sari and of course Black Cherry

February 22, 2014	#5
livinonfaith Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina Posts: 1,332	I've really enjoyed Black Cherokee, but Black Trifele is probably the most reliable black for me. It just keeps on pumping out those little pear shaped beauties! And if you pick them before they get too ripe, they also hold for a long time on the counter. (at least they do at my house) I think Black Cherry will always be on my grow list from now on. It isn't quite as prolific as some of the other cherries I've tried, but we really like the size, color and taste.

February 22, 2014	#8
RobinB Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Near Reno, NV Posts: 1,621	Margaret Curtain topped the list last year, followed closely by Japanese Black Trifele, and Tasmanian Chocolate. Black from Tula was good, as I recall, but I've only grown it once. I remember a lot of cracking with that one.

February 22, 2014	#9
discoprincess Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57	Black Plum is yummy and prolific (and small). I second the suggestions for Black Cherry and the Japanese Black Trifele.

February 22, 2014	#13
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	My favorites: Cherokee Purple, Spudakee, Daniel Burson. I grew Vorlon this season, as well as JDs, meh for both IMHO. Marsha

March 14, 2014	#14
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	Here in Northern Vermont, in sandy soil, I have had some successes and some failures. Both Black Krim and JD's Special C-Tex have not worked at all - after three years trying, I have yet to get a decent tomato from them. They're off the grow list. Black Cherry, Cherokee Purple, Black from Tula, and Paul Robeson have performed well most years, usually making my most delicious list. I'm still trying new ones - Amazon Chocolate and Carbon were pretty good. I love Kazachka (Courtney). I also am still fiddling around with a Vince PI from Carolyn's offer - when it works and I pick them just before they are fully ripe, they are transformingly scrumptious, but they split wide open at the mere whisper of humidity, even when still very green. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

March 14, 2014	#15
HoosierDaddy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Zone 5 SE Michigan Posts: 50	I used to grow Black Krim every year, but last year was a bad year for that one in SE Michigan (zone 5). We had a lot of rain last summer and Black Krim did not taste good. It was one of my favorites the previous 3 years. Black from Tula did great last year, my first year growing that strain. I just started seeds for this year and my three blacks will be Black from Tula, Black Prince (first time with that one), and Black Krim. JD's, Paul Robeson, and Cherokee Purple did not grow well for me the previous 3 years. I've given those up.