Black Tomato, a treasure of the tomato family, derives its name from its distinctive red-black coloration both on the skin and the flesh. This versatile fruit boasts a delightful blend of fruity aroma, balanced sweetness, and tanginess, making it a delectable treat.
HOW TO PLANT BLACK TOMATO?
Seed Germination: Start by sowing the seeds in the ground or pots, water them thoroughly, and within three days, you'll see them sprout. Wait for them to grow into young seedlings.
Transplanting Seedlings: When the seedlings are around 15-20 centimeters tall with 5-7 true leaves or after about 50 days, choose a calm sunny day to transplant them.
Planting Density: Generally, plant 1500-2000 seedlings per 667 square meters. For black tomatoes, it's good to plant them in north-south rows. It's recommended to have rows that are 1 meter wide, planting 2 rows with a spacing of 30-35 centimeters between plants. Avoid planting too deep or too shallow. You can do horizontal planting (tilting the exposed stem tip slightly southward) to reduce the height above the ground, promote adventitious roots, and prevent lodging and sunburn.
Staking and Training: Balancing vegetative and reproductive growth, promote vigorous growth of both shoots and fruits. Black tomatoes are often staked using zigzag or four-corner frames. When the first flower clusters are setting fruit, stake and tie the vines. Keep the ties loose enough to accommodate stem growth.
Pruning and Removing Suckers: For field-grown black tomatoes, prune to maintain a single stem. Remove lateral shoots below the first flower cluster. Avoid pruning before rain or when dew is present to prevent disease spread. In the later stages of growth, remove lower old leaves, diseased leaves, and fruits to improve ventilation and light penetration and reduce pest and disease pressure.
Fertilization and Watering: During fruit setting, plants require sufficient nutrients and water. Apply thin and frequent fertilization along with proper watering to support the rapid growth of both the plant and fruits.
Harvesting: In about 60 days after transplanting, you can start harvesting black tomatoes. For storage or transportation, it's best to harvest during the turning color or semi-ripe stage. For fresh market consumption, harvest them when they're nearly ripe.
