How to Grow Chat Noir Tomato
Chat Noir Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Chat Noir'
vegetableChat Noir is a French heirloom tomato variety known for its deep purple-black color and rich, complex flavor. This indeterminate variety produces medium-sized fruits with a sweet, smoky taste and is highly prized by tomato enthusiasts. It typically grows 6-8 feet tall and requires staking or caging for support.
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Example Chat Noir Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Chat Noir Tomato
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Chat Noir Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Chat Noir Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can be grown as annual in colder zones with season extension
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Get my Chat Noir Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves; tender and pale green
Provide bright light under grow lights or in sunny window; keep soil moist but not waterlogged; maintain 65-75°F; protect from cold drafts
Vegetative
3-4 weeksRapid growth phase; plant develops strong stem, many leaves, and root system; reaches transplant size
Gradually acclimate to outdoor conditions; bury stem deeper when transplanting; install support structure early; pinch suckers on indeterminate varieties
Flowering
3-4 weeksPlant produces yellow flowers in clusters (trusses); flowers appear after 4-6 leaf sets
Maintain consistent watering and calcium levels to prevent blossom end rot; provide adequate phosphorus; avoid nitrogen excess; ensure pollination with gentle shake or bee activity
Fruiting
4-6 weeksMarble-sized green fruit emerges and grows; fruit gradually develops purple-black color as it matures; sugar content increases as color deepens
Maintain consistent moisture; provide balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks; remove lower leaves when fruit is golf-ball size to improve air circulation; prune selectively to prevent excessive shading
Harvest
Ongoing throughout seasonFruit reaches full dark purple-black color with slight give to gentle pressure; seeds inside fully developed
Pick when fully colored and ripe for best flavor; fruit will not develop full flavor if picked immature; handle carefully to avoid bruising
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick; encourage parasitic wasps; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); neem oil spray
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Reflective mulch; insecticidal soap; neem oil; yellow sticky traps; encourage beneficial insects
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Plant resistant varieties; improve drainage; avoid overhead watering; remove infected plants; rotate crops
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Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; fungicide application; reduce overhead watering
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Remove infected leaves; avoid overhead watering; apply fungicide; ensure good air circulation; sanitize tools
Uses
Fresh slicing and gourmet cuisine
CulinaryChat Noir's deep, complex, smoky-sweet flavor makes it ideal for fresh slicing in salads, on bruschetta, or as a centerpiece in gourmet dishes. The rich taste is best appreciated eaten fresh rather than cooked. [source]
Gazpacho and cold soups
CulinaryThe full-bodied flavor and dark color create visually striking and delicious cold soups. The balance of sweetness and acidity is ideal for this preparation. [source]
Seed saving
HouseholdAs a heirloom open-pollinated variety, Chat Noir produces viable seeds that can be saved and replanted, preserving the variety for future seasons. Proper fermentation and drying techniques ensure seed viability. [source]
Lycopene-rich antioxidant source
MedicinalTomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Dark-colored heirlooms like Chat Noir contain elevated anthocyanin levels as well. [source]
Garden exhibition and show variety
CraftChat Noir's striking dark purple-black appearance makes it a showpiece for farmers markets, garden exhibitions, and home garden displays. Its unique color and heritage status make it highly sought after. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick when fruit is fully dark purple-black in color with slight softness; fruits ripen on the vine and will not develop full flavor if picked green. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. For extended harvest, pick tomatoes at 'breaking' stage (first blush of color) and ripen indoors if frost is approaching. Chat Noir's flavor improves in the warm part of the season.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Chat Noir means 'Black Cat' in French, inspired by the tomato's deep, dark color and the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret poster
- 🌱 This French heirloom variety dates back to the 1970s and has become increasingly popular among tomato collectors and seed savers worldwide
- 🌱 The dark purple coloring comes from anthocyanins, the same compounds that make blueberries and dark grapes beneficial; this gives Chat Noir a more complex antioxidant profile than red tomatoes
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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