Recommend a black tomato

[smallblueplanet]

We've grown a fair few black tomatoes over the years - can't remember the names of them all! Which is why I'd like some recommends for some to grow, preferably not cherry. We do grow Ananas Noire which although not black is multi-coloured and very flavourful.

[annie8]

Black Russian or black icicle ?

[smallblueplanet]

Black Russian or black icicle ?

Grown black russian, but not heard of black icicle.

[Bren In Pots]

I grow Black Cherry they’re small and sweet.

[mrbadexample]

I grow Black Cherry they’re small and sweet.

Mine (closest) grew tomatoes out of my reach. I don't normally have that problem.

[annie8]

Black icicle are a heritage plum variety. I got some seeds from folk on this forum and have grown them ever since. I always grow them in the gh dont think they would work outside here.

[Snadger]

Black Russian for me. I've tried the black cherry types and wasn't impressed. The Black Russian aren't a heavy cropper but the few I do get are worth it for the taste.

[Bren In Pots]

Black Russian for me. I've tried the black cherry types and wasn't impressed. The Black Russian aren't a heavy cropper but the few I do get are worth it for the taste.

I'm growing Black Russian for the first time this year what sort of size are they Snadger?

[Grafitti]

Last year I grew Blue Keyes, which genuinely looked like little aubergines. Tasted like a beefsteak tomato, but they had a really long growing period so unfortunately frost got 50% of the crop. I grew black Russian my first year at the allotment, good sized fruit but suffered from blossom end rot, I think that was more to do with poor soil though

[Nicos]

I’ve just bought a ‘chocolate’ from the market and have saved the seeds. It’s apparently a heritage variety.
fleshy and sweet and slightly ribbed.
The black is actually very dark green/ brown when you hold it up to the light and it has vague orange/ dark brown between the stripes.
From a distance it looks pure black .

I’ll definitely be growing those this year

lovely to see you SBP

[smallblueplanet]

I’ve just bought a ‘chocolate’ from the market and have saved the seeds. It’s apparently a heritage variety.
fleshy and sweet and slightly ribbed.
The black is actually very dark green/ brown when you hold it up to the light and it has vague orange/ dark brown between the stripes.
From a distance it looks pure black .

I’ll definitely be growing those this year

lovely to see you SBP

They sound v interesting, will look forward to a report (and a picture - of the tomato that is!). It's good to see you too Nicos, some older faces resurfacing in lockdown (pt1&2)?!

[Babru]

I grew Black Russian two years ago. Good sized tomatoes, good flavour, but not a huge number.

I grew Black Icicle last year. Lots of tomatoes, and larger than cherry sized but I don't think we even got one to eat. They all developed weird brown bases and slowly rotted off. It wasn't blossom end rot. I don't know what it was. I have quad grows for all my tomatoes, so watering is consistent, and no other tomatoes had BER or weird brown rot.

To be honest, it's put me off trying new varieties (I sacrificed two of my eight quad grow pots to these wasters). This year it will be Gardener's Delight, Sungold, and maybe Ailsa Craig or Shirley. Reliable, or so I hope!

[Chippy Minton]

Not sure it counts as a "black" but chocolate cherry is delicious

[bramble]

I grew Black Icicle last year and it did really well.
It wasnt the fastest to ripen but it was worth the wait.
I also grew Black Vernissage...A cherry variety but with quite a smokey flavour.
I would recommend them both.

[SimpleSimon]

Purple Cherokee is my fav. Don't keep very well tho unfortunately. Worth it for the flavour though.