I have planted 3 Black Russian plugs this year. I posted my concern and a photo of a rogue plant last week and found the advice welcome and reassuring. I noticed that these posts are dated 2014. I would be interested to know how the people involved in this debate found their final tomatoes. I have grown Gardeners Delight and Tumbling Tom in the past. Decided to have a change this year so have sown Alicante and Tumbling Tom but bought 3 plugs from a local nursery.
I I studied Botany and Zoology for a degree many years ago and taught Biology for many years so I remain interested in a the science and genetics behind gardening.
Hi Barbara. Black Russian is one of the many, many "black" varieties. Not to be confused with Russian Black, a smaller variety. The "black" varieties - they're not really black - originated in and around Crimea. Hence the variety Black Krim, basically Crimean Black.
There are so many "black" varieties, with many almost indistinguishable from each other, that a number of tom afficionados think that their boom in popularity a few years ago led to the re-naming of established varieties to cash in.
They're not my favourite tom. I find the taste a bit thin and harsh.
Thanks. Will see what we think when we have fruit. We normally grow gardeners delight and Tumbling Tom which are always very tasty compared to tomatoes in the shops. This year I am growing Alicante for a change, plus Tumbling Tom and 3 plugs which were supposed to be Black Russian but one has turned out to be a rogue heritage , as confirmed by photo on earlier post. So we are waiting to see how that fruits.
I had the same experience though it was general rot rather than BER. Flavour was fantastic, but very few fruits per plant. The fruits were very heavy and bent the branch.
Update, I've now had 4 ripe (ish), but split from the top down. Trimmed up the edges and roasted with basil very nice but they'll need to do better than that to be grown again.
Some varieties are prone to splitting, particularly concentrically - around the shoulders rather than vertically. Vertical (radial) splitting like yours is more often than not a moisture issue, often the result of a burst of moisture the plant - well, the fruit - wasn't expecting. Sudden heavy rain when the fruit is virtually ripe can cause it. The tomato's skin doesn't have the capacity to expand quickly enough.
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I have planted 3 Black Russian plugs this year. I posted my concern and a photo of a rogue plant last week and found the advice welcome and reassuring. I noticed that these posts are dated 2014. I would be interested to know how the people involved in this debate found their final tomatoes. I have grown Gardeners Delight and Tumbling Tom in the past. Decided to have a change this year so have sown Alicante and Tumbling Tom but bought 3 plugs from a local nursery.
I I studied Botany and Zoology for a degree many years ago and taught Biology for many years so I remain interested in a the science and genetics behind gardening.
Hi Barbara. Black Russian is one of the many, many "black" varieties. Not to be confused with Russian Black, a smaller variety. The "black" varieties - they're not really black - originated in and around Crimea. Hence the variety Black Krim, basically Crimean Black.
There are so many "black" varieties, with many almost indistinguishable from each other, that a number of tom afficionados think that their boom in popularity a few years ago led to the re-naming of established varieties to cash in.
They're not my favourite tom. I find the taste a bit thin and harsh.
Thanks. Will see what we think when we have fruit. We normally grow gardeners delight and Tumbling Tom which are always very tasty compared to tomatoes in the shops. This year I am growing Alicante for a change, plus Tumbling Tom and 3 plugs which were supposed to be Black Russian but one has turned out to be a rogue heritage , as confirmed by photo on earlier post. So we are waiting to see how that fruits.
I've got 2 Black Russians. Never had them before.
So far unimpressed, few fruit and blossom end rot as soon as the smallest colour change occurs. Nothing to eat yet,
In the sticks near Peterborough
Won't grow them again.
Yes Welshonion, weight of fruit in relation to strength of vine is another issue
In the sticks near Peterborough
I have to tie up individual branches - and sometimes even trusses - with some of my larger beefsteaks.
Update, I've now had 4 ripe (ish), but split from the top down. Trimmed up the edges and roasted with basil very nice but they'll need to do better than that to be grown again.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Some varieties are prone to splitting, particularly concentrically - around the shoulders rather than vertically. Vertical (radial) splitting like yours is more often than not a moisture issue, often the result of a burst of moisture the plant - well, the fruit - wasn't expecting. Sudden heavy rain when the fruit is virtually ripe can cause it. The tomato's skin doesn't have the capacity to expand quickly enough.
Thanks Italophile. I'll stick with the varieties suitable to my lack of expertise.
Gardeners Delight and Piccola are doing very well.
In the sticks near Peterborough