How to Grow Full Black Tomato
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Full Black Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Full Black'
vegetableFull Black is a striking heirloom indeterminate tomato variety featuring deep purple-black fruits with rich, complex flavors. The plants are vigorous growers that produce medium to large-sized beefsteak tomatoes throughout the season. Known for their dark coloring and excellent taste, they're a favorite among tomato enthusiasts.
When should you plant Full Black Tomato in your zone?
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Example Full Black Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Full 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 Full Black Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Full Black Tomato dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-9, can be grown in 3-4 with protection
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny sprouts emerge with cotyledons (seed leaves), followed by true leaves. Plants are delicate and light green.
Provide bright light (14-16 hours) under grow lights or on sunny windowsill. Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Maintain warmth (70-75°F). Thin seedlings to strongest one per cell.
Vegetative Growth
3-4 weeks indoors, 1-2 weeks hardening offYoung transplants develop 4-6 sets of true leaves and establish strong root systems. Leaves are deep green and stems thicken.
Harden off seedlings before transplanting outdoors over 7-10 days. Transplant when 6-8 inches tall and have 4-6 true leaves. Plant deep, burying stem up to first leaves to strengthen root system. Prune lower leaves after transplanting if desired to reduce disease.
Flowering
4-6 weeks until first fruit setIndeterminate plants grow continuously, producing yellow flowers in clusters. First flowers appear 3-4 weeks after transplanting into garden.
Install sturdy cages or stakes early (indeterminate varieties grow 5-7 feet tall). Pinch off lower leaves as plant grows to improve air circulation. Fertilize every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer or tomato-specific formula. Ensure consistent water to prevent flower drop.
Fruiting
4-5 weeks from fruit set to harvestGreen fruits develop from pollinated flowers, gradually enlarging. Fruits transition from green to dark red-purple, then deepen to nearly black at full maturity. The dark color is most pronounced in fruits receiving maximum sunlight.
Support heavy fruits with slings or cages as they enlarge. Maintain consistent watering to prevent cracking and blossom end rot. Continue light pruning of lower leaves but don't remove excessive foliage (provides fruit protection from sunscald). Monitor for pests and diseases. Full Black's dark color can make ripeness harder to assess—fruits should yield slightly to gentle pressure.
Harvest & Succession
8-12 weeks of harvest (until frost)First fruits mature 75-85 days after transplanting. Indeterminate variety continues producing until first frost, with new flowers and fruits at different stages simultaneously.
Pick fruits when dark purple-black and slightly soft to touch. Harvest regularly to encourage more production. In late season, remove apical meristem (top growing point) 4 weeks before first expected frost to redirect energy to ripening existing fruits. Remove diseased foliage promptly.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick large caterpillars; encourage parasitic wasps; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) for smaller infestations
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Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; use yellow sticky traps; encourage native predators
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Remove lower infected leaves; improve air circulation; apply copper fungicide or sulfur; avoid overhead watering
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Remove infected plant parts immediately; apply preventive fungicide (copper or chlorothalonil) in wet conditions; ensure good drainage
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Spray with strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap; release ladybugs or other natural predators
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Increase humidity; spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil; encourage predatory mites
Uses
Fresh slicing and salads
CulinaryFull Black tomatoes have a rich, complex, slightly smoky flavor with low acidity, making them exceptional for fresh eating, slicing on platters, and in salads. Their deep color and robust taste elevate simple tomato-forward dishes. [source]
Sauces and preservation
CulinaryThe meaty texture and intense flavor make Full Black ideal for homemade pasta sauces, salsas, and canning. Their concentrated taste produces deeply flavored, complex sauces. [source]
Antioxidant health benefit
MedicinalDark-pigmented tomatoes like Full Black contain elevated levels of anthocyanins and other polyphenolic compounds in addition to standard lycopene, offering enhanced antioxidant potential. Regular consumption may support cardiovascular and cellular health. [source]
Ornamental garden display
HouseholdFull Black's striking dark fruits and vigorous indeterminate growth make it a visually stunning addition to vegetable gardens or landscape plantings, often grown as much for appearance as for production. [source]
Seed saving
CraftAs an heirloom variety, Full Black is an excellent candidate for seed saving. Seeds can be fermented, dried, and saved for multiple seasons, preserving this unique variety for years. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest when fruits are deep purple-black and yield slightly to gentle pressure (slightly softer than conventional red tomatoes). The dark color makes ripeness assessment challenging compared to red varieties—use gentle squeeze and color as indicators. Pick fruits in early morning for best flavor. Fully ripe fruits can be left on the plant for maximum flavor development. In cooler climates, harvest any remaining green fruits 2-3 weeks before first frost and ripen indoors in a paper bag.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Full Black is a Russian heirloom variety with origins in Eastern European tomato breeding, prized for its intense flavor and unusual dark coloration that develops from high anthocyanin content—the same compounds that make blueberries blue.
- 🌱 The dark purple-black color intensifies when plants receive maximum sunlight; fruits grown in partial shade will be noticeably lighter in color and may appear more burgundy than black.
- 🌱 Indeterminate Full Black plants can reach 6-7 feet tall and produce continuously until frost, making them prolific producers that can yield 50-100+ tomatoes per plant in favorable conditions.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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