What do you appreciate about tomatoes? Perhaps, first of all, you pay attention to the taste of fruits or to the requirements for conditions and care? Or maybe you appreciate the look? If you prefer unusual tomatoes, we recommend that you pay attention to the Black Baron tomato. Growing in a greenhouse and open field, care features and reviews about this variety - this is the topic of today's article.
Characteristic variety
"Black Baron" can definitely be called one of the most delicious varieties of dark-fruited tomatoes. Tomatoes are sweet when ripe and incredibly juicy, perfect for juicing and salads. Of course, sprawling bushes will need shaping and regular feeding, but you can be sure that the tomato will thank you for your efforts with an excellent harvest.
So what is the characteristic of the black baron tomato? Let's talk about it in more detail!
Detailed description
This variety is indeterminate, which means that under favorable climatic conditions the bush is able to reach a height of about two to three meters, giving about 50 brushes! It should be said that tomatoes of this type do not have to wait for ripeness on the bush, the fact is that they can reach in a dark place. The main condition is that it must be dry.
The Black Baron tomato was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 2010. It is noted that this plant can be grown throughout the country. True, in some regions of Russia, the "baron" will feel good only in greenhouses.
During its growth, the "black baron" reaches a fairly large size, its stems become denser, and the leaves become so large that they require frequent shaping. Bushes should be tied to strong and reliable supports. During flowering, large flowers of rich yellow color appear on the plant.
Fruits: color, weight, shape
Black Baron tomatoes are large in size: the average weight of one fruit reaches 250 grams, but there are also larger tomatoes. Gardeners say: one ripe tomato can hardly fit in a man's palm!
Besides the dark color, the "black baron" has another distinctive feature - the surface is slightly ribbed next to the stem. Taste characteristics make the variety ideal for cooking:
- fresh salads;
- ketchup and lecho;
- tomato juice;
- fillings for sandwiches and shawarma.
Sliced tomato of this variety looks incredibly appetizing, they have a bright red core, a large number of large seeds and deep yellow veins.
Features of the "Baron"
The manufacturer reports that the Black Baron tomato is mid-ripening. The first harvest from the bush can be harvested 115 days after the appearance of the first shoots. In one ovary, 5-7 fruits are formed. From one square meter you can collect about seven kilograms of fragrant fruits. Of course, when grown outdoors, these figures may be somewhat lower - this is about 3-5 kilograms of tomatoes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the "black baron" include the following:
- high yield;
- large fruit size;
- sugary and juicy tomatoes;
- dense skin that allows transporting tomatoes;
- high resistance to diseases and pests that are typical for the nightshade family;
- Black Baron doesn't need to be sprayed with chemicals;
- amazing appearance of the fruit - the color goes from crimson to a shade of dark chocolate.
However, it is worth noting that the "black baron" tomato also has its negative sides. So, due to its high growth, the variety is not suitable for growing small greenhouses or apartment conditions. In thatcase, he simply does not have enough space to form a full-fledged root system and fruits.
Rules for caring for the Black Baron tomato
Almost all varieties of tomatoes grow very poorly in the shade, they require a large amount of sunlight to grow and develop. Moreover, the light should be diffused, because direct rays lead to burns and the death of seedlings. Another important condition is regular watering of the bushes. The lack of moisture leads to the fact that the culture dries up and no longer recovers. The best option is automatic watering in the greenhouse. It is important not to overmoisten the ground so that fungal diseases do not develop, the number of ants and wood lice does not increase. In addition, we must not forget that too much water leads to cracking of the fruit.
In order for the fruits to be sweet and sugary, you will have to make mineral supplements. Complexes of minerals that are selected correctly will allow the "black baron" to grow faster. The required number of dressings per season is 5-7.
It is impossible to imagine the care of this variety without loosening the soil around the stem of the bushes, this will enrich the upper layers of the soil with oxygen, which will enable the roots to develop faster. Experienced gardeners talk about the benefits of mulching the soil surface with bark and gravel. This layer will retain moisture and prevent weeds.
Sowing seeds of the "black baron"
Experienced gardeners recommend starting work with seedlings infavorable days for this according to the lunar calendar. It is believed that only in this case more seeds will germinate, their quality will be higher, they will all take root in a greenhouse or open ground.
Before planting seeds, soak them in plain water at room temperature or in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The latter, by the way, will disinfect the seeds and remove any fungi. You can use special growth stimulants - in order to accelerate the appearance of sprouts, just a couple of drops are enough. Leave the seeds for 10-12 hours. Make sure that the water does not completely evaporate and the seeds do not dry out!
Soil selection
For the Black Baron tomato, you can prepare the soil yourself, or you can purchase a suitable one in a specialized store. In order for the plant to develop and bear fruit better, a composition of 2-3 parts of fertile land and one part of sawdust and peat is suitable. Nightshades prefer airy loose soil, which should not contain stones, dense lumps, old roots.
Experienced gardeners recommend using small cardboard cups for planting small shoots, because this material decomposes well when transplanted into the soil. Plastic containers are allowed. You need to pour earth into the cups, make a small depression, put a seed, sprinkle with a thin layer of soil and moisten with a spray bottle. After that, it is worth covering the seeds to ensure the greenhouse effect.
Transfer
When seedlings begin to growapproaching 20 centimeters, it is worth starting to harden the seedlings: every day you need to put it on an open window or even take it out to the balcony. At first, the time should be minimal - just a couple of minutes, every day you need to increase the time spent in the fresh air. This will help the "black baron" to transfer the transplant more easily.
If you plant tomatoes of this variety in open ground, the distance between the bushes should be about 40-50 centimeters, there should be no more than three bushes per square meter. This number in the greenhouse decreases - there should not be more than two bushes per meter. The optimal distance between plants should be at least 60 centimeters. This step will ensure the normal development of the root system. It will also be more convenient to process tomatoes, remove yellowed leaves, water and loosen. Immediately after planting the "Baron", a support should be dug into the ground in order to tie the plant.
Tomato "Black Baron": reviews of gardeners
People who decide to grow tomatoes of this variety on their site note their excellent germination, the minimum number of defective seeds. They also say that the distance between the bushes recommended by the manufacturer should be observed - otherwise the greenhouse turns into an impenetrable jungle.
Inhabitants of the southern regions of the country plant tomatoes in open ground. Gardeners of the Volga region say that neither cold summer, nor prolonged rains, nor even droughtmay adversely affect this variety. Gardeners also note the yield of “black baron” tomatoes: on one branch there can be six fairly large fruits at the same time, you can’t do without a garter. Tomatoes are very juicy and fleshy, perfect for making sauces and juices.
