Tomatoes of the “Blue” variety attract with their unusual appearance. It’s difficult to find a gardener who didn’t want to try growing such a crop on his plot. Fortunately, everyone has the opportunity to plant a tomato with a characteristic unusual color.
To achieve success when growing blue tomatoes, it is enough to follow the recommendations of experienced farmers and take into account the varietal characteristics of “Blue”. Just think how unusual the vegetable will look on the table, and besides, this is an excellent option for commercial purposes.
Features and characteristics of the variety
A striking dark purple tomato made available through the work of Jim Myers at Oregon State University. The unripe green fruits gradually turn dark purple when exposed to sunlight. The fruit is small in size and has a round shape.
According to the description, the “Blue” tomato variety is characterized by red flesh with a rich taste. The fruits are dense, not soft, which allows them to retain their presentation for a long time. The plant's foliage turns purple in cold conditions.
Ripening takes from 80 to 90 days. Tomatoes can be harvested earlier and left to ripen.
Blue tomatoes are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, and the seeds are rich in fiber. The green parts are slightly poisonous, which is not surprising since tomatoes are closely related to both nightshade and tobacco. The tomato was originally considered poisonous and was used as an ornamental plant in the 16th and 17th centuries. The first information about its use as a food product dates back to the first half of the 13th century. Tomatoes are now a tasty ingredient in many dishes, whether fresh, canned, stewed or sun-dried.
The “Blue” tomato variety, according to all reviews available on the Internet, is in demand among its “blue brothers.” The color becomes much richer when the temperature is cooler. For many, this tomato resembles an eggplant in color. It is an anthocyanin that gives the tomato its characteristic “Blue” color. It is a similar compound found in eggplant, blueberries, and other fruits and vegetables with similar colors.
Tomatoes can weigh from 100 to 170 grams. Tomatoes with large weight are obtained by those gardeners who are serious about choosing a site for planting crops and fertilizer. Popularly, these tomatoes, whose bushes can reach a maximum of two meters in height, are known as healers. It has been scientifically proven that they can have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. The compounds in the “Blue” tomato, according to detailed characteristics, are beneficial for people suffering from diabetes and many pathologies of the digestive system.
Tomatoes are distinguished by a good level of productivity if they are provided with the most comfortable conditions for the development and formation of fruits. You can grow up to ten bushes per square meter. Each bush will bear fruit well and delight you with an excellent harvest.
What provides the color range
Purple tomatoes get their unusual hue from red and purple pigments. The process of producing pigments is provided by lycopene, carotenoids (found in red varieties) and anthocyanins (present in eggplants and blue cabbage). Anthocyanins were found in tomatoes through long-term selection.
Positive sides
Purple tomatoes have many advantages:
Flaws
The black tomato was bred as a result of long selection in China, and adapted to Russian weather conditions, so it has practically no disadvantages. It is resistant not only to many diseases, but is also able to withstand even slight frosts and bears fruit until late autumn. There are only a couple of disadvantages that gardeners point out: the taste is not as bright as in the descriptions and in the jar after seaming it becomes the usual red color. In comparison with all the advantages, this cannot be called a disadvantage.
Growing
Main stages:
- Seeds must be processed using a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
- Soaking is carried out for 40 minutes.
- Additionally, for excellent pecking, gardeners also use growth stimulants. Their processing takes no more than 20 minutes. Such seeds demonstrate better germination.
- Nothing beats the juicy taste of a ripe Blue tomato from the garden. These delicious fruits are not only attractive in appearance, they do well in different climatic zones (with the exception of regions with extreme temperatures).
- They require enough space for bush development and fruit formation. There are many options for planting periods depending on individual preference and hardiness zones.
- Seeds germinate in 6–8 weeks and should produce strong seedlings. They can be grown on windowsills. Then transplant into small pots, paper cups with suitable drainage holes, or containers once the seedlings are established.
- Tomatoes will not survive in open ground and cool conditions. They require an average temperature of 180 C. The temperature for ripening should be higher. Therefore, it is worth waiting to plant until the threat of frost has passed.
- During planting, you need to water the seedlings well and then loosen the soil, which will allow the root system to develop better.
- Gardeners are reminded of the need to use high-quality fertilizer to stimulate ovary production. Towards the end of the growing season, you can also pick green tomatoes, which are stored in a warm, humid environment for four weeks until fully ripe.
The benefits of purple tomato varieties
Purple tomatoes contain such an amount of anthocyanin that regular consumption of such fruits will be an excellent prevention of diabetes and treatment of the digestive system. A similar composition of vitamins is found only in eggplants and blueberries, however, you need to go to the forest for blueberries, and eggplants are more difficult to grow than tomatoes.
These tomatoes will also appeal to those who suffer from allergies and cannot treat themselves to red tomatoes. There are no allergens in purple tomatoes, which is why they are so loved by children and are included in the diet.
Purple fruits have an interesting taste, it is more like plum than tomato, they do not have a sour taste. Purple tomatoes are considered one of the most shelf-stable tomatoes; at the stage of absolute ripeness they are dark red or burgundy. Purple tone is evidence of technical ripeness.
| Note: Often gardeners do not wait for the fruits to fully ripen, tasting tomatoes at technical ripeness, when they are purple, and are disappointed in their taste. The full flavor of tomatoes is revealed when they are fully ripe. |
A pleasant feature when growing purple tomato varieties is their high resistance to disease compared to others.
Care
When fertilizing Blue tomatoes, it is recommended to mix the plant fertilizer with the soil at the bottom of the planting hole at the time of planting. Next, add some unfertilized soil before completing the fertilizing process.
You may be interested in: Dates for planting tomato seedlings in open ground and greenhouses according to the garden calendar Favorable days for planting tomatoes for seedlings in 2022 according to the lunar sowing calendar Favorable days for picking tomatoes in 2022 after germination: timing of picking tomato seedlings in the table by day
Important! If raw fertilizer comes into contact with the roots of the plant, it may burn the tomato plant.
When fertilizing Blue tomatoes, when the first fruits have formed on the plant, gardeners should make sure that the plant is well watered. If the soil is not moist before the fertilization process, the nutrients will be absorbed by the tomato roots for a long time. After watering, the fertilizer is spread on the ground, starting about a few centimeters from the base of the plant. Applying fertilizer close to the plant can cause the fertilizer to flow down to the stem and ruin the crop.
It is enough to water the plant twice a week. It is worth changing the frequency of watering only in drought conditions. Timely weeding and loosening is a prerequisite for the successful development of the plant.
Would you eat blue tomatoes?
Maria Putilina
If I lived near Chernobyl, I wouldn’t even be surprised.
Daniil *****
Well, if you want to sit on the push all day then yes
Grigory Monosov
I will assume that this is a variety of eggplant.))
Valentina Timofeeva
No. only eggplants
Lyuben Simeonov
This is our popular name for eggplants. If you mean them, then the food from the “blue ones” is very tasty.
Hedgehog
If they are tasty, then I would. . better than blue potatoes
Normal Man
I have a black apricot growing at home, in theory, apricot is yellow-reddish in color, and this is a hybrid of apricot and cherry plum, it has a completely normal taste, so give me your blue tomato, I’ll be happy to have it)
Lyudmila Gushchina
No. The blue in eggplants is enough for me
Svetlana Klochkova
Here is a description of the variety from one of their sites. Blue (OSU Blue, USA). Indet. A rare miracle variety, bred at Oregon State University (OSU). At the stage of technical ripeness, the fruits are first blue-light purple, then dark purple, and when fully ripe, the shadow part of the fruit turns red and the fruit becomes two-colored: red-dark purple. The flesh is red-pink. The fruits are dense, tasty, weighing up to 100 g. These “chameleons look amazing in jars!! ! This variety is often offered under the name Indigo Rose. Well, why not eat it?
Tatyana Pavlova
I don’t really respect black tomatoes either, but I’ll definitely refuse blue ones. I am for the natural color of vegetables!
[[ ]]
No, I'll survive without them.
Orchid
American scientists in the state of Orngon also worked on the creation of blue tomatoes; breeder Jim Myers is the author of the Bleve P20 variety. The uniqueness of this tomato variety lies in the fact that it contains a high content of natural pigments called anthocyanins. For this reason, the skin of tomatoes is very dark in color. The dark color on the tomato fruit appears under the influence of direct sunlight; in places where the sun hits less, the fruit will be less dark or red.
Elena Orlova
Yes, we know about blue tomatoes, but I don’t really want to try GMOs. but for some reason I want to try purple potatoes
VERA LYUBIMOVA
I would definitely try it. If you liked it, then why not? I eat (and with pleasure) purple and brown peppers, white cucumbers, “black” tomatoes and striped eggplants.
Sergei Kudryashov
Where can I get the seeds that sit in the store for half a year without refrigeration at all with the gene of fish and not what people eat.
Mityai Bukhankin
come up with a more interesting fairy tale. otherwise with cornflower it’s not very plausible. You can make tomatoes of any color in Photoshop.
Tatiana Bondarchuk
This is GMO. I do not advise.
[I Am Your Legend]™
No
Marfa Ivanovna
No
Diseases and pests
Based on the official description of the “Blue” variety in the registry, this tomato has excellent defenses when it comes to resisting various diseases and pests. Tomato canker may threaten the “Blue” variety. In the first stages of the appearance of signs of the disease, special medications can be used. They will help avoid further development of cancer and harm to the fetus.
Even experienced gardeners can have problems with fruits and vegetables that they have grown successfully for years. While diseases and insect pests are not a big problem for Blue tomatoes with proper care, some less common issues arise.
Sometimes “Blue” produces small fruits, smaller than what is described in the varietal characteristics. The most common cause of small tomatoes is stress. When plants are grown under stressful conditions, such as excessive drought or heat, insect infestation or disease, they stop sending energy to the fruit.
Instead, plants focus their energy on the roots and, despite what happens to the above-ground part, the roots will survive. Lack of water or improper fertilizer is the number one reason. Blue tomato fruits will not grow in such conditions. The soil must be constantly moist. Lack of water contributes to wilting, falling leaves, and slow growth.
Do you believe that blue tomatoes exist?
Mityai Bukhankin
Our people have been growing it for three years now, nothing surprising. ps this is not news in Ukraine. Online stores are filled with such varieties.
Natalia Malkova
No. for this you need to see
Eva Eva
judging by your name/nickname - if you swell - then there are
Ilmer
If only “in the shirt” is the Vegetable Physalis, also known as the Mexican tomato, which can be really blue. And your tomatoes are dark burgundy.
Bagheera
I somehow don’t care whether they exist or not)))
Razor
This piece of saltpeter is needed to make a tomato like this???
republic
nothing surprising. I had purple potatoes. Beautiful .
dissenter
It’s quite possible that genetics have worked.
Irina Shabalina
I’m rarely surprised by anything anymore—in our time—it costs geneticists nothing to put a gene from the same eggplant or nightshade into a tomato. Moreover, the tomato is one of the objects of modern genetic engineering.
Yulia Yamusheva
I've eaten yellow, pink, green and black-brown ones)) everything is delicious))
Elena Lyakh
Very interesting! But they are not blue, but dark purple, almost black, you can see the godfather is an eggplant, and the godmother is a nightshade! I wonder what color they will be when prepared and in salads. I’m making jam from black nightshade - it’s dark purple in color. Share your observations and seeds, but I live in Novosibirsk! Do you not send for Russia?
Seryoga Soghomonyan
look here [link blocked by decision of the project administration]
Lyudmila Chaevnikova
It grows like this. Variety "Paul Robeson"
Reviews
Konstantin
I have been growing the Blue tomato variety for a long time. I have no complaints about this plant. The crop produces a high yield, the fruits are very juicy and tasty. They have a very interesting shade, which is what immediately attracted me to this variety. The only drawback is the damage to the root system by rot. Therefore, when growing this variety, it is important to strictly monitor soil moisture. It is better to water plants rarely, even if the top layer of soil is dry. I deal with this problem by introducing drip irrigation.
Sofia
This variety delighted me as soon as I saw it in my neighbor’s garden bed. The tomatoes have a very original appearance. But it turned out that they are also incredibly tasty: sweet, juicy, meaty. Now this variety is my favorite among other tomatoes. My family just loves him. Very tasty tomatoes in salads. I also can the fruits. It turns out just great.
What's special?
Consider, for example, “lilac lake”. This is an early ripening tomato variety. It has the following characteristics:
- semi-determinate;
- medium height – from 130 to 150 cm;
- universal in purpose;
- the color of the ripe fruit is brownish-burgundy;
- flat-round in shape;
- weight from 200 to 350 grams.
Dark varieties of tomatoes, especially purple tomatoes, can satisfy even the most demanding tastes. However, you should be careful, as unscrupulous entrepreneurs often invent hybrid varieties and package everything in a row.
To avoid such tricks, you need to approach everything with knowledge and special attention. It is better to give preference to trusted manufacturers and a well-known variety included in the register
In principle, purple tomatoes, like dark varieties, are no longer a curiosity. Today they are grown not only in greenhouses, but also in open ground. Both the skin of the fruit and its pulp are colored in an unusual color. The shade varies from light chocolate to purple-black.
Brief information about the variety
- Fruits and bush : tomatoes have a flat-round shape, the weight of one fruit is 90-120 g, the skin is dense, red; determinate bush, height – 60-70 cm, compact.
- Productivity : average - 2.5-3 kg of fruits are collected from one bush.
- Resistance : the variety is resistant to blossom end rot, tobacco mosaic, and late blight, but during the peak of viral disease activity it requires preventive treatment.
- Distribution : growing regions - Rostov region, Krasnodar, Stavropol territories, Ingushetia, Moscow region.
- Application : the fruits are universal, they are used for preparing fresh salads, canning (pickling, pickles), creating juice, pastes, and sauces.
- Planting : the timing of sowing seeds is the end of February or March, transfer to the beds is carried out 55-60 days after emergence; Tomatoes are grown using seedlings, the recommended size is 45x70 cm.
- Soil : loose, nutritious, fertile.
- Care : timely watering, additional fertilizing with nutrient mixtures, pinching, thinning of green mass. Tying is recommended.
- Ripening period : from the moment the sprouts appear until the first harvest is harvested, 85-95 days pass; The fruits are stored for up to 30 days.
The main thing about tomato
The bushes of the plant have a powerful stem, are tall, reaching 1.5 m, the leaves are slightly pubescent, bright green. It is usually formed into 1-2 stems, especially when grown indoors.
Small fruits have the following features:
- The shape is round - approximately 5 cm in diameter.
- The color is dark purple, almost blue.
- The pulp is juicy with a very pleasant original taste.
- The skin is thick.
- Tomato weight – 20-25g.
- They are used fresh and for canning - they look very nice in jars.
Advantages and disadvantages
The fruits have excellent taste characteristics
The main feature of the Anyuta tomato variety is their very early ripening. This property is often used to obtain a double harvest in one season: the first wave occurs at the end of June, the second in mid-August. Other advantages of the hybrid include the following:
- the bushes of the plant are compact, low-growing, which makes them easier to care for and saves space in the beds;
- dense fruits are well stored and can be transported over long distances without losing their presentation;
- the plant has strong immunity against diseases;
- the taste of the fruit is high, despite the low percentage of sugar content;
- The fruits are universal in use.
Among the disadvantages of the variety are the sour taste of tomatoes, which not everyone likes, and restrictions on the regions of tomato cultivation.
Features of purple tomatoes
First of all, dark varieties attract gardeners due to their taste. Purple tomatoes differ from red and pink varieties in their rich sweet taste with fruity notes and bright aroma. This feature is also due to the high content of anthocyanins.
In addition, the “blue” gene ensures longer preservation of the tomato crop. The anitoxidant property allows the pulp not to spoil longer, and the dense peel, characteristic of all varieties, reliably protects against cracking.
In order to gain color, colorful tomatoes need a lot of sunlight. In shaded beds, the blue pigment practically does not appear, so it is recommended to plant purple varieties in the most illuminated places in the greenhouse or garden. In terms of ripening time, most varieties are classified as mid-season. At the same time, the fruiting period lasts longer than most traditional varieties, due to the fact that purple tomatoes are resistant to cold and temperature changes.
The history of the Blue Charm tomato
The tomato variety Blue Beauty, translated as Blue Beauty, Blue (Blue) Beauty, Blue Beauty, was created in 2013 by the famous American breeder Brad Gates. The parent varieties for Blue Charm were black tomato and Beauty King. The Blue Charm tomato is not listed in the Russian State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use. However, seeds of this variety can be purchased from hobbyists or in a variety of online stores. There are currently no verified sellers; you should rely on reviews.
Having appeared on the plots of collectors, this anthocyanin variety is increasingly appearing in other gardeners. The Blue Charm tomato is a varietal variety, so at the end of the season you can take the seeds for subsequent plantings.
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September 14, 2022 Minusinsk Tomatoes!
© Author: V. ADAMCHUK, agronomist Photos courtesy of V. Redko
