How to Grow Black Krim Tomato
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Black Krim Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Krim'
vegetableBlack Krim is a heirloom beefsteak tomato originating from Crimea with dark purple-brown coloring and rich, complex flavor. This indeterminate variety produces large fruits (8-12 oz) with few seeds and exceptional taste, prized by gardeners and chefs alike. The plant grows tall and requires staking or caging for support.
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Example Black Krim Tomato timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Black Krim 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 Black Krim Tomato
Around Jul 1≈ 75 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Black Krim 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 and in zone 10 with afternoon shade
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Get my Black Krim Tomato timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
3-4 weeksSmall plants with 2-4 true leaves, 2-3 inches tall
Provide 14-16 hours of bright light daily; keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; maintain 70-75°F temperature
Vegetative/Transplant
2-3 weeksGrowing 6-12 inches tall with multiple true leaves; ready for transplanting outdoors
Harden off for 7-10 days before planting outdoors; plant after last frost when soil is warm (60°F+); install stakes or cages early
Flowering
4-6 weeksPlant reaches 3-4 feet tall; clusters of yellow flowers appear in leaf axils
Provide consistent water and nutrients; prune excess suckers on indeterminate varieties; support developing fruit with ties
Fruiting
3-4 weeksGreen marble-sized fruits form; gradually enlarge and begin color transition to dark purple-brown
Maintain even watering to prevent splitting; continue pruning lower leaves for air circulation; fertilize with lower nitrogen (phosphorus-potassium focus)
Harvest
Ongoing through seasonFruits reach full size (8-12 oz) with deep purple-brown color and slight give when squeezed
Harvest at pink or full color stage; allow to ripen on vine for best flavor; pick before first frost in cooler zones
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Hand-pick; use Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt); encourage parasitic wasps
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Remove infected lower leaves; improve air circulation; mulch to prevent soil splash; apply copper fungicide if needed
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Avoid wetting foliage; improve air flow; remove infected plants; apply sulfur or copper-based fungicide
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Use yellow sticky traps; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage beneficial insects
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Remove affected leaves; improve air circulation; mulch; use fungicide if severe
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Maintain consistent watering; ensure adequate calcium; mulch soil; avoid excessive nitrogen
Uses
Gourmet Slicing & Fresh Cooking
CulinaryBlack Krim tomatoes are prized for their rich, complex flavor with smoky and slightly salty notes. They excel sliced fresh in salads, sandwiches, and on crostini, and are exceptional in fresh salsas and Caprese-style dishes. [source]
Sauce & Paste Production
CulinaryDespite fewer seeds than some varieties, Black Krim's dense flesh and low water content make it suitable for concentrated tomato sauces, pastes, and cooking applications. The deep color imparts visual appeal to finished sauces. [source]
Seed Saving & Heirloom Preservation
HouseholdBlack Krim is an open-pollinated heirloom variety, making it excellent for home seed saving. Properly saved seeds produce true-to-type plants and preserve this historic Crimean cultivar for future generations. [source]
Garden Display & Ornamental Value
HouseholdThe dark purple-brown fruits with distinctive coloring create striking visual appeal in the garden. Black Krim plants with their abundant large fruits serve as attractive focal points in vegetable gardens. [source]
Antioxidant & Nutritional Content
MedicinalDark-colored tomatoes like Black Krim are rich in lycopene and anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants associated with cardiovascular and anti-cancer benefits. The deep pigmentation indicates high phytonutrient concentration. [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 tomatoes reach full dark purple-brown color and yield slightly to pressure; fruits can be picked at breaker stage (first blush of color) and ripened indoors; flavor is best when ripened on the vine in warm conditions; cut fruits from vine with stem attached; harvest before first frost by picking all remaining fruits and ripening indoors at 68-75°F
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Black Krim is named after its origin in Crimea and was nearly lost to cultivation until American heirloom seed savers rediscovered and preserved it in the 1990s
- 🌱 The dark purple coloration comes from high levels of anthocyanins, the same compounds that make blueberries blue, creating a unique tomato variety among common red varieties
- 🌱 Black Krim's flavor is often described as smoky, complex, and slightly salty with hints of licorice and wine—characteristics prized by high-end restaurants and sought after in heirloom tomato tastings
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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