Large black tomato?

kevn357 · September 16, 2012

My Mother in law goes to a csa weekly and she brought home a massive black tomato but doesn't know the variety. It was at least 24 ounces. I figure I'll email the farm and hopefully they will tell me what it is and try to get some seeds.

I was just curious what everyone's largest black tomato was. All the blacks of tried (not many) have been medium sized but taste fantastic. My dad also loves the taste but likes LARGE tomatoes for some reason. So i'm curious if this large black tomato from the csa is something rare or are there a few large black heirlooms out there.

Thanks for any help.

dice · September 17, 2012

I have never had a 2-lb black tomato, but Huge Black, JD's Special C-Tex,
a big Cherokee Purple or Cherokee Chocolate (lots of water), and
Gary'O Sena all fill the palm of my hand. It could have been from
a double/triple flower of any of those.

Could have been Black Brandywine, too.

Best to ask the farmer and hope he/she remembers.

b54red · September 17, 2012

I also have never had a 2 lb black tomato but I have had quite a few 1 1/2 lb ones from Gary O' Sena and a few from JD's Special C Tex.

PA_Julia · September 17, 2012

I grow for size competition and I also grow a black tomato called Paul Robeson.
A Paul Robeson came close to 2.00 LBS this year so perhaps this is the one you are speaking of?

Julia

tam91 · September 17, 2012

Save a few seeds from that tomato, in case they won't tell you. Maybe it's an heirloom and will produce the same.

Tania · September 17, 2012

kevn, is it purple (clear epidermis) or brown (yellow epidermis)?

Most of the black tomatoes I know are purple/black, with fewer being brown/black.

My largest black usually comes from Paul Robeson plants - never 2 lbs - but many over 1 lb. Paul Robeson is brown/black.

There are so many black tomatoes available from commercial sources these days that I think the safe guess would be that it is a known black variety.

Tatiana

Tormato · September 17, 2012

My largest was 28 1/2 ounces.
It is from a natural cross of an unknown black beefsteak with an unknown pink beefsteak. I haven't decided yet on calling it U2 or Elbonian Mud Ball.

Tormato

PaulF · September 17, 2012

Two years ago I grew a large Cherokee Chocolate that weighed in at 25 ounces. All other large blacks have been in the 16-20 oz. range. I didn't weigh the tomatoes grown in Iowa; the first half of my tomato growing career have no records (is it natural to become anal about records keeping later in life?)

halleone · September 17, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulF

(is it natural to become anal about records keeping later in life?)

Unfortunately, yes.

meadowyck · September 18, 2012

did you take a picture that you could post, might help folks here figure out what it is.

September 16, 2012	#1
kevn357 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Parma, OH Posts: 147	Large black tomato? My Mother in law goes to a csa weekly and she brought home a massive black tomato but doesn't know the variety. It was at least 24 ounces. I figure I'll email the farm and hopefully they will tell me what it is and try to get some seeds. I was just curious what everyone's largest black tomato was. All the blacks of tried (not many) have been medium sized but taste fantastic. My dad also loves the taste but likes LARGE tomatoes for some reason. So i'm curious if this large black tomato from the csa is something rare or are there a few large black heirlooms out there. Thanks for any help.

September 17, 2012	#2
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	I have never had a 2-lb black tomato, but Huge Black, JD's Special C-Tex, a big Cherokee Purple or Cherokee Chocolate (lots of water), and Gary'O Sena all fill the palm of my hand. It could have been from a double/triple flower of any of those. Could have been Black Brandywine, too. Best to ask the farmer and hope he/she remembers. __________________ -- alias Last edited by dice; September 18, 2012 at 04:08 AM. Reason: sp

September 17, 2012	#4
PA_Julia Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Princeton, Ky Zone 7A Posts: 2,208	I grow for size competition and I also grow a black tomato called Paul Robeson. A Paul Robeson came close to 2.00 LBS this year so perhaps this is the one you are speaking of? Julia __________________ Personal Best- 4.46 LB Big Zac 2013

September 17, 2012	#5
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Save a few seeds from that tomato, in case they won't tell you. Maybe it's an heirloom and will produce the same. __________________ Tracy

September 17, 2012	#6
Tania Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Anmore, BC, Canada Posts: 3,970	kevn, is it purple (clear epidermis) or brown (yellow epidermis)? Most of the black tomatoes I know are purple/black, with fewer being brown/black. My largest black usually comes from Paul Robeson plants - never 2 lbs - but many over 1 lb. Paul Robeson is brown/black. There are so many black tomatoes available from commercial sources these days that I think the safe guess would be that it is a known black variety. Tatiana __________________ Tatiana's TOMATObase

September 17, 2012	#3
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I also have never had a 2 lb black tomato but I have had quite a few 1 1/2 lb ones from Gary O' Sena and a few from JD's Special C Tex.

September 17, 2012	#7
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	My largest was 28 1/2 ounces. It is from a natural cross of an unknown black beefsteak with an unknown pink beefsteak. I haven't decided yet on calling it U2 or Elbonian Mud Ball. Tormato

September 17, 2012	#8
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Two years ago I grew a large Cherokee Chocolate that weighed in at 25 ounces. All other large blacks have been in the 16-20 oz. range. I didn't weigh the tomatoes grown in Iowa; the first half of my tomato growing career have no records (is it natural to become anal about records keeping later in life?) __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

September 18, 2012	#10
meadowyck Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Brooksville, FL Posts: 1,001	did you take a picture that you could post, might help folks here figure out what it is. __________________ Jan “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” -Theodore Roosevelt