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Dark coloured Tomato with smoky flavour
Pete.8
Posts: 11,340
in Fruit & veg
A few years ago I bought some toms labelled Black Russian. They were a very dark colour and about the size of a Shirley tomato (bit bigger than a golf-ball). The flavour was the best I've had, a good acid/sweet balance, full-on tomato flavour with a wonderful smokey taste, and just melted in the mouth.
I've grown Black Russian every year since, the flavour seems right, but the toms are huge, weighing 700g+ - a bit much for a cheese and tom sarnie! So I guess the original plants were probably not Black Russian due to the size difference.
Any suggestions for next year for a tomato with a smoky flavour that's not too big?
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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I've not grown them, but I've heard that Paul Robeson have a fantastic smoky flavour, and they don't look too big.
https://www.nickys-nursery.co.uk/product_info.php/tomato-paul-robeson-seeds-p-6254
If you try them let us know how you get on
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
My brother grew Black Cherry this year, a small cherry tomato which is delicious but its really difficult to describe a flavour.
Last edited: 31 August 2016 13:45:36
There are a number of varieties sold as 'Black Russian' so you could try a different seed supplier. T&M say theirs are 'medium sized'. The Black Russian I know are indeed large fruits.
I would also look at suppliers which specialise in heritage varieties such as realseeds, jungleseeds & plantsofdistinction.
Thanks very much for your suggestions and I'll have a go with the new varieties you've mentioned next year.
Will also have a look at the sites you mentioned Bob.
I'm forever amazed how different one tomato can taste from another, yet in the shops they generally taste of nothing. I look forward to the July-Oct tomato season, then back to 8 months of flavourless shop-bought ;(
I'm planning on growing about 18 plants next year.
I love Gardeners Delight and Shirley is always reliable and a good flavour.
I've grown some lovely yellow toms this yr labelled Sungold, but they're plumb shaped, so obviously not Sungold, and one of my Tumbling Toms grew to about 4ft before breaking and now producing what looks like Shirley....
Also grew Ferline for the 1st time - nice toms but only about 10 fruits on a whole plant. I'm getting 30+ on each truss on the yellow ones.
If I grow from seed hopefully I'll have more chance of getting what's on the tin as it were.
I've got 4 huge Black Russian's just ready for picking, so as usual this time of year I'll be having something with tomatoes for dinner - again
Pete
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Thanks Philippa - Black Cherry sounds good, will def try that.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I grow both 'Black Krim' and 'Black Cherry' tomatoes every year because I like the taste. The 'Black Krim' are very large and are not the prettiest of tomato (prone to cracking and catfacing) but the flavour is incredible.
Note to Pete8: You might also consider heritage tomato "Indigo Apple" for 2017 season - I'm growing several this year in a tiny unheated greehouse: VERY dark in colour - all the way through the fruit & to my mind 'quite smokey' in flavour. [fruit is 4" diameter]
Last edited: 31 August 2016 21:06:13
Didn't know tomatoes could taste smokey, I'm keen to try one now, l love home grown tomatoes but have had mixed success myself. There's always next year.
I like Purple Cherokee, but it's probably larger than you want.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.