Tomato Black Gourmet: characteristics and description of the variety, photos, reviews

The Black Gourmet tomato is a recently developed variety, but its popularity among gardeners is rapidly growing. Thanks to the experimental work of breeders, the chokeberry tomato has characteristics that are superior to those of previously bred varieties. The potential of the plant becomes interesting to both amateurs and professionals. To obtain a sustainable harvest, you need to become familiar with the characteristics, rules of growing and caring for tomatoes.

Description of the tomato Black Gourmet

All varieties of tomatoes are divided into determinate and indeterminate. The Black Gourmet tomato variety is unlimited in growth and can reach a height of about 2.5 m, so it belongs to the second group. The young plant is fragile and tender, but over time the stem becomes thicker, rougher and gradually becomes woody. The bush must be formed into 1 - 2 stems, removing excess stepsons. This is required so that the yield does not decrease, the plant does not thicken and is fully provided with nutrients. The stem of the Black Gourmet variety is fleshy, round in shape, with a pronounced “tomato” aroma, covered with vellus hairs. The tomato must be periodically tied to a strong support, otherwise it will be difficult for the plant to stand under the weight of the fruit.

The leaves of the tomato Black gourmet are alternate, laid on the stem in a spiral, their size depends on the growing conditions and soil fertility, they reach a length of 50 cm and a width of 30 cm. The leaf blade of a tomato has a dark green color, consists of several lobes, the surface covered with glandular hairs.

The flowers of the Black Gourmet variety are inconspicuous, yellow, collected in brushes of 10 - 12 pieces. Inflorescences form in the axils of every third leaf. Tomato is self-pollinating.

This is a tall, powerful plant with a strong root system that spreads to a depth of 1 m.

The Black Gourmet tomato is a mid-season tomato; the fruits reach technical maturity 110 - 120 days after germination.

Description of fruits

Tomato fruits are smooth and round. When unripe, there is an emerald-colored spot near the stalk, which changes color to brown after ripening. The usual color of the fruit is dark red, pomegranate or chocolate. The weight is 80 - 110 g, but according to reviews and photos of those who planted the Black Gourmet tomato in their greenhouses, in practice the fruits reach 200 - 300 g. When fully ripened, the tomatoes are fleshy, soft, have many chambers, have a fruity aroma and a sweet taste . It is believed that the Black Gourmet tomato variety is used for salad purposes. Although the skin of the fruit is tender, it does not burst when preserved as a whole. Tomatoes can be frozen, juice, puree, ketchup, vegetable caviar, and other dishes and preparations can be prepared.

Nutrient content

Chokeberry tomato is a dietary product; it is nutritious and contains many vitamins, minerals and organic acids. The calorie content of 100 g of product is almost 20 kcal. Other beneficial properties of black tomatoes include:

high fiber content;
presence of vegetable protein – over 1%;
many carotenoids;
high content of B vitamins;
high content of folic and ascorbic acid – up to 45 mg/100 g;
contain choline;
contain anthocyanins.

The dark color of the pulp and skin is due to a combination of pigments and the presence of a large amount of anthocyanins, which are beneficial for intestinal function.

Anthocyanins are natural colorants and are water soluble. The appearance of anthocyanin color depends on the acidity of the solution; they are produced as a food additive E 163.

Characteristics of the Black Gourmet tomato

The Black Gourmet variety is the result of the work of Russian scientists from a large breeding and seed production company. In 2015, it was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation with a recommendation for cultivation in greenhouses. Under such conditions, tomato grows equally well in central Russia, Siberia and the south.

has developed more than 500 new varieties and hybrids of vegetables. The Black Gourmet tomato is the result of crossing domestic tomatoes with the best characteristics.

The yield per square meter is about 6 kg, but the figure may vary depending on growing conditions and care.

According to the description, the tomato variety Black Gourmet is a mid-season tomato; the fruits are harvested 115 days after germination. The ripening period is long - from mid-summer to October. In the southern regions, cultivation of the variety is not limited to these periods and can continue all year round.

Black gourmet is a tomato with high resistance to leaf spot, gray mold, viral diseases and pests, provided that agricultural practices are followed.

It is necessary to distinguish the variety created from the tomato Black Gourmet F1 of the well-known agro. The hybrid of the latter ripens earlier, has larger fruits and higher yields. But a significant drawback is the inability to collect seeds: they must be purchased annually for sowing seedlings.

Assessing advantages and disadvantages

The color of black tomatoes has different shades - from light chocolate to purple. This color is obtained thanks to violet and red pigments. The red color is formed due to carotenoids and lycopenes, they are found in any variety of tomatoes. The purple hue is given by anthocyanins, which are abundant in eggplants and red cabbage. Due to its color, the Black Gourmand tomato variety has a number of features:

special taste due to the high sugar content;
the presence of antioxidants that help cleanse the body;
anthocyanins help strengthen blood vessels;
vitamin A has a beneficial effect on vision;
Lycopene in large quantities prevents the development of tumors.

In addition to the above advantages, the advantages of the Black Gourmet variety include:

ease of care;
disease resistance;
no tendency to crack;
ease of canning - due to the average size of the fruit;
Possibility of use for baby and diet food.

The disadvantages of the Black Gourmet variety include:

increased amount of sugar, which leads to softening of the fruit;
the impossibility of ripening tomatoes when grown in regions with cold climates.

Nutrient content

high fiber content;
presence of vegetable protein – over 1%;
many carotenoids;
high content of B vitamins;
high content of folic and ascorbic acid – up to 45 mg/100 g;
contain choline;
contain anthocyanins.

The dark color of the pulp and skin is due to a combination of pigments and the presence of a large amount of anthocyanins, which are beneficial for intestinal function.

Anthocyanins are natural colorants and are water soluble. The appearance of anthocyanin color depends on the acidity of the solution; they are produced as a food additive E 163.

The dark color of the pulp and skin is due to a combination of pigments and the presence of a large amount of anthocyanins, which are beneficial for intestinal function.

Growing rules

In order to grow a rich harvest of tomatoes, you need to follow a few simple rules of agricultural technology:

observe sowing dates;
grow strong seedlings;
use ash when planting;
plant tomatoes no closer than 60 cm from each other;
Water abundantly only for the first week;
start feeding after the ovaries appear;
periodically carry out pinching, forming a bush of 1 - 2 stems;
remove yellow or spotted leaves in a timely manner;
When watering, do not wet the tomato leaves;
in mid-July, pinch the crown;
As soon as the fruits of the first cluster begin to ripen, the lower leaves must be removed.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

A guarantee of a good harvest is high-quality seedlings. To do this you need:

Prepare the soil by mixing peat (2 parts), garden soil (1 part), compost (1 part) and sand (0.5 parts).
Sift the soil mixture and disinfect it.
Prepare containers for seedlings and carry out disinfection.
Check the seeds for germination using a saline solution and harden them.
50 days before planting in the greenhouse, sow the seeds to a depth of 1.5 cm.
Cover the soil with film and place the boxes in a warm place.
The temperature for seed germination should be no lower than +25 ⁰C.
After germination, the temperature should be reduced to +16 - +18 ⁰С.
To prevent seedlings from stretching, it is necessary to organize additional lighting for 14 - 16 hours a day.
Watering must be done carefully, at the root, observing moderation.
After the first true leaf appears, pick up the seedlings.
Loosening should be carried out some time after watering.

Transplanting seedlings

Tomato variety Black Gourmet requires light, fertile soil with peat and humus. Forest and garden soil have a positive effect on crop productivity. In spring and autumn, the soil is dug up to ensure that pests and larvae in the soil freeze out.

Tall tomatoes are very demanding on nutrition, so if there is a lack of it, it is worth adding fertilizer to the soil: the first time - during planting, for rapid rooting and development of the root system.

Transplantation into a greenhouse is carried out at an air temperature of +20 ⁰C, soil temperature - at least +13 ⁰C. Night readings should not be lower than +16 ⁰С.

In central Russia, the approximate timing of planting tomatoes depends on the type of greenhouse:

transplanted into a heated room in April-May;
in unheated - in May–early June.

For proper landing you need:

Make holes in a checkerboard pattern: 4 per 1 square meter.
Add ash to each well and mix.
Sprinkle with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Carefully, without disturbing the root system, remove seedlings from boxes and pots.
Plant the seedlings, deepening the stem no more than 2 cm.
Remove a few lower leaves.
Water again with warm, settled water.

Rules of care

The tomato variety Black Gourmet is indeterminate and grows quickly. As soon as it reaches a height of 0.5 m, the tomato should be tied up. In the future, this should be done at least once every two weeks, so that when the fruits ripen, the plant has strong support. This is important because from videos posted on the Internet about the Black Gourmet tomato, it is clear that the fruits can grow much larger than average.

During the growth process, the tomato should be periodically pinched, forming a bush of 1 - 2 stems. Carry out the procedure with a disinfected knife or scissors twice a month.

Watering should be moderate, about three times a week, in the morning or evening. To preserve moisture and protect the soil from weeds, it is worth loosening it and mulching it with peat, grass, straw, and leaves.

Tomatoes are fertilized when fruit sets, and also after 2 - 4 weeks, using organic and universal fertilizers.

Disease Control

The Gourmand tomato is practically not susceptible to most diseases. However, with improper care, some of them may appear. It's better to know about this in advance to prevent this from happening:

Blackleg is a seedling disease that most often appears during heavy watering. If this happens, water the plant with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Altenaria blight is a leaf disease that affects the leaves with dry spots; if timely treatment is not carried out, subsequent damage to the fruit occurs with black depressed formations. To combat this scourge, ready-made products are produced.
Late blight is brown rot throughout the plant. As a rule, the cause of this disease is also excessive watering. An effective way to combat late blight is to treat tomatoes with a weak solution of boric acid. After two weeks, the procedure should be repeated.

Note! Tomato Gourmand perfectly avoids all the diseases listed above. The main thing is not to overdo it with watering.

Fertilizer after planting seedlings in the ground

Properly prepared soil provides tomato plants with nutrients for a long period. However, during the period of fruit growth, fertilizing is necessary, and since Black Gourmet tomatoes have an extended fruiting period, this variety needs several fertilizing, at least three. Nitrogen should predominate in the first feeding before harvesting - the plant needs enhanced growth.

Closer to harvest, potassium should predominate in the fertilizing - this element will help to obtain even, round fruits with a high content of dry matter and sugars. In addition to potassium, microelements need to be added to the fertilizer - sodium, magnesium, zinc. The tomato will not get sick in the presence of these trace elements. At least two such feedings are needed.

Reviews from those who planted Black Gourmet indicate that this tomato deserves to be grown annually. Its main advantage was the high yield and excellent taste of the fruit.