How to Grow Deep Black Tomato
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Deep Black Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Deep Black'
vegetableDeep Black is an indeterminate heirloom tomato variety known for its dark, nearly black coloring with rich, complex flavor. The fruits are medium to large, typically weighing 6-8 ounces, with a distinctive dark purple-black hue and deep flavor profile. This variety is prized by gardeners for both its striking appearance and exceptional taste.
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Example Deep Black Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Deep Black 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 Deep Black Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Deep Black Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9; can grow in zones 3-4 with season extension
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Seedling
6-8 weeksYoung plants with 2-3 sets of true leaves, pale green color, delicate stems
Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light 14-16 hours daily; maintain 70-75°F; thin crowded seedlings; avoid transplanting until 6-8 weeks old
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeksRobust plants with multiple branches, dense foliage, growing 2-3 feet tall; no flowers yet
Install sturdy stakes or cages early; prune lower leaves as plant grows; pinch off suckers for indeterminate varieties to direct energy upward; maintain consistent watering; feed with balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks
Flowering
3-4 weeksPlants producing yellow star-shaped flower clusters; buds and open flowers appear along stems
Maintain consistent moisture—irregular watering stresses plants; reduce nitrogen fertilizer, switch to phosphorus-rich formula to encourage fruiting; ensure adequate calcium intake; maintain 70-80°F daytime temperatures for good pollen viability
Fruiting & Development
4-5 weeksSmall green tomato fruits develop behind flowers; tomatoes gradually enlarge; fruits show first signs of color change (green streaking)
Continue consistent deep watering; remove some leaves to allow sunlight to reach developing fruit and intensify black coloring; support heavily laden branches; apply mulch to regulate soil temperature and moisture; reduce overhead watering
Maturity & Harvest
Ongoing throughout seasonFruits develop full dark purple-black coloring with slight softness to gentle pressure; flavor peaks; plant may decline in vigor
Harvest when fully colored and slightly soft; allow extra ripening time on vine for maximum flavor development; harvest before first frost; continue watering until frost; may harvest green tomatoes at season's end and ripen indoors
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) spray for small larvae; encourage parasitic wasps
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Spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; remove heavily infested leaves; encourage beneficial insects
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Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide; water at soil level only
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Provide excellent air circulation; avoid overhead watering; remove infected leaves immediately; apply chlorothalonil or copper fungicide; destroy infected plants
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Ensure consistent soil moisture; add calcium amendment (lime, gypsum, or crushed eggshells); maintain steady watering schedule; mulch to regulate moisture
Uses
Fresh eating and premium salads
CulinaryDeep Black tomatoes are celebrated for their rich, complex, slightly smoky flavor that makes them exceptional for fresh eating, gourmet salads, and slicing. Their striking dark color adds visual drama to dishes. [source]
Sauce and cooking
CulinaryThe dense flesh and deep flavor make Deep Black excellent for sauces, salsas, and cooked tomato dishes where the color and taste benefit from concentration. [source]
Lycopene and antioxidants
MedicinalDark-colored tomatoes like Deep Black contain high concentrations of lycopene and other beneficial antioxidants, compounds studied for their potential cardiovascular health benefits. [source]
Ornamental garden display
HouseholdThe distinctive dark purple-black fruits are visually striking in the garden, making Deep Black valued by gardeners for both productivity and aesthetic appeal. [source]
Seed saving and heirloom preservation
CraftAs an heirloom indeterminate variety, Deep Black produces viable seeds that can be saved and replanted, allowing gardeners to maintain genetic lines and participate in seed preservation. [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 tomatoes when fully colored dark purple-black and slightly soft to touch; for maximum flavor, allow extra ripening time on the vine even when fully colored; twist gently or use pruning shears to avoid damaging plant; harvest before first frost; can be picked at mature green stage and ripened indoors if needed
Fun Facts
- 🌱 The dark purple-black coloring in Deep Black tomatoes comes from high concentrations of anthocyanins, the same antioxidant pigments found in blueberries and blackberries, which develop more intensely in full sun.
- 🌱 Deep Black is an indeterminate variety, meaning it grows continuously throughout the season and produces fruit until frost, unlike determinate varieties that grow to a set size and produce all fruit at once.
- 🌱 The flavor and color quality of deep-colored heirloom tomatoes like Deep Black actually improve slightly with stress from consistent sunshine and well-managed water stress, which concentrates sugars and pigments in the fruit.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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