Tomatoes "Black Cluster" on the branch looks very much like a bunch of black currants in an enlarged size. Individually, the fruits look so appetizing that you want to try them.
The Black Cluster is the result of the long work of our compatriot breeders and their foreign colleagues. It is not yet included in the State Register of the Russian Federation, but it is popular in private gardening farms.
If you are interested in learning more about the Black Cluster variety, read our article for a full description of the variety, get acquainted with its characteristics, learn about the features of cultivation.
Black Cluster Tomato: variety description
Grade name | Black bunch |
general description | Early, indeterminantny grade with high productivity |
Originator | Russia |
Ripening | 80 days |
The form | small, round fruits |
Colour | dark violet |
Average tomato mass | 50-70 grams |
Application | Suitable for both fresh consumption and whole-canning. |
Yield varieties | 6 kg from a plant |
Features of growing | Sown on seedlings in March to a depth of about 2 cm in rows, with a distance between them of 2 cm |
Disease resistance | Resistant, but prevention of major diseases is required |
Black Cluster Tomatoes are a hybrid of the first generation F1. Breeders crossed a “domesticated” small-fruited tomato with wild-growing dark-colored brethren from Chile. Suitable for growing in greenhouse conditions and open ground with insulation in case of cold weather.
As you know, the seeds of hybrids can not be used for growing plants in the next year. The variety is indeterminate, not stemming like a bush. Plant height is not higher than 150 cm. The stalk is thick, strong, strongly curly, well leafy, has several brushes (simple) with many fruits.
Read about determinant, semi-determinant and super determinant varieties here.
The root system is well developed in all directions without deepening. The leaves are not peculiar to tomatoes diamond-shaped, dark green color, wrinkled structure without pubescence. The inflorescence is simple, intermediate, laid over the 7th leaf, then - through one leaf. From one inflorescence, clusters of more than 10 fruits are obtained.
According to the degree of ripening, the Black cluster is an early ripening variety, the vegetative period lasts about 80 days (from the emergence of seedlings to the ripening of fruits). It is well resistant to all known diseases.
Despite the small size of the fruit, there is an excellent yield due to the amount - about 6 kg per plant. Productivity is good also at open cultivation.
Grade name | Yield |
Black bunch | 6 kg from a plant |
Golden anniversary | 15-20 kg per square meter |
Pink spam | 20-25 kg per square meter |
Gulliver | 7 kg from a bush |
Red Guard | 3 kg from a bush |
Irina | 9 kg from a bush |
Lazy man | 15 kg per square meter |
Nastya | 10-12 kg per square meter |
Apples in the snow | 2.5 kg from a bush |
Samara | 11-13kg per square meter |
Crystal | 9.5-12 kg per square meter |
Specifications
One of the main features of the variety is its taste. It does not look like a “tomato”, some consider it a virtue, on the contrary, it seems to someone a disadvantage. There are also different opinions about color. The black cluster is the only variety that has truly black fruit. At the plant itself, the color is also much darker than usual.
The advantages of the variety include:
- high yield;
- unpretentiousness;
- fast ripening;
- disease resistance.
Fruit characteristics are as follows:
- fruit shape - low-ribbed, round, with a diameter of up to 5 cm;
- average weight about 50 - 70 g;
- the skin is smooth, dense, thin;
- the pulp is of medium density, fleshy, in color - dark red;
- the color of immature fruits is dark green, with time it begins to turn pink, then turn blue with the appearance of dark blue spots. The mature fruit has a dark purple, “eggplant” color and softness appears;
- some seeds, chambers 1-2;
- the amount of dry matter is large.
Grade name | Fruit weight |
Black bunch | 50-70 grams |
Crimson Viscount | 450 grams |
Verlioka | 80-100 grams |
Valentine | 80-90 grams |
Altaic | 50-300 grams |
The baron | 150-200 grams |
Sensei | 400 grams |
Fatima | 300-400 grams |
Bella Rosa | 180-220 grams |
Broody | 90-150 grams |
The president | 250-300 grams |
Kostroma | 85-145 grams |
Banana red | 70 grams |
Gardeners celebrate the unusual taste of tomatoes - sweet with hints of plum fruit. It is considered a universal grade.
Use fresh cocktail fruits - in salads, sandwiches, and after heat treatment - in hot dishes. In preservation, no cracking of the fruits is noted. For juice are not suitable in large-scale production standards. Tomato paste or sauces will be exquisite with an unusual aftertaste.
It is stored for a long time because of its density, it transports transportation well.
A photo
Further you can get acquainted with the photo of the Black Grape tomato variety:
Features of growing
Grown throughout the territory of the Russian Federation and in nearby countries. Seeds before planting seedlings are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate, sown in March to a depth of about 2 cm in rows, with a distance between them of 2 cm. The temperature during germination should be at least 25 degrees. As a place for planting it is good to use mini-greenhouses. And to enhance germination, use growth promoters.
Picks are done when 3 well-developed sheets appear. Picks are carried out in a container of about 300 ml. Possible fertilizing seedlings with mineral fertilizer. 2 weeks before planting, the seedlings need to be hardened - open the vents for several hours.
At the age of about 50 days, when the frost will pass, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place. It is necessary to form a bush in one stem, pasynkovanie - every 10 days. Top dressing schedule. Most likely you will need to be tied to individual supports.
To control weeds and preserve the microclimate, use mulching between rows. Remember the importance of proper watering.
As for fertilizers, you can use for this purpose a lot of funds available "at hand". Read more about how to feed tomatoes:
- Organic.
- Iodine
- Yeast
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Ammonia.
- Boric acid.
Diseases and pests
In general, the variety is resistant to the main diseases of tomatoes in greenhouses. But preventive actions from diseases and pests are necessary - spraying with microbiological substances.
Read about the main diseases of tomatoes in greenhouses and measures to combat them:
- Alternaria
- Late blight and protection from it.
- Verticillosis.
- Fusarium
Tomatoes that are not completely prone to late blight.
Conclusion
Tomatoes variety "Black Cluster" suitable garden-exclusives. Newly sounding notes of tomatoes will be a highlight in the dishes.
We also offer you useful materials on such topics: how to get a good harvest in the open field, how to successfully grow tomatoes in the greenhouse all year round and what subtleties of early varieties cultivation technologies exist.
We also suggest that you familiarize yourself with other tomato varieties that have different ripening terms:
Early maturing | Middle late | Medium early |
Crimson Viscount | Yellow banana | Pink Bush F1 |
The Tsar Bell | Titanium | Flamingo |
Katya | F1 slot | Openwork |
Valentine | Honey salute | Chio Chio San |
Cranberries in sugar | Miracle of the market | Supermodel |
Fatima | gold fish | Budenovka |
Verlioka | De barao black | F1 major |