Tomato Black Heart Delirium

The modern assortment of tomatoes is striking in its variety. In addition to the already familiar round red tomatoes, there are other, more exotic varieties. One of these is Brad's black heart.

This article provides detailed information on how to grow this unusual variety on your site.

This indeterminate (that is, tall) variety was named in honor of the Californian breeder Brad Gates, who first discovered its seeds among the Black Crimea tomatoes at the beginning of the 21st century. Despite its American origin and the fact that the variety has not yet been entered into the Russian state register, it is actively cultivated throughout the territory of our country.

Unfortunately, the seeds of this tomato are not available in stores, but planting material can always be purchased from private farmers or collectors.

Lush bushes, 160-180 cm high. Large fruits in the shape of a heart with a "nose" or a round apple. Color - dark pink or burgundy with a purple tint. There is a green spot near the stalk, from which small strokes go to the middle of the fruit, and the entire surface has a slight ribbing.

The pulp is very juicy, fleshy, with a low content of seeds. Weight is about 300-500 grams, but in some cases it can reach a kilogram.

The dark color of tomatoes is due to their high content of anthocyanin, a natural antioxidant, the regular use of which has an extremely beneficial effect on the health of the heart and blood vessels, and also improves the functioning of the liver and intestines.

The taste is sweet, with a pronounced fruit and berry acidity. Ideal for preparing adjika, lecho, sauces, pasta and tomato juice, as well as for fresh use as an ingredient in vegetable salads. Considering the unusual color of the fruit, dishes with it look beautiful and original. For preservation as a whole and in slices, this variety is not used.

The fruits ripen within 90-150 days after seed germination. In addition, they ripen well even after picking from the bush, without losing their taste.

This variety has an extremely high yield. Provided that the content is correct, up to 20 kg of tomatoes can be obtained from one bush. Since the variety is mid-season, the first harvest is obtained about three months after planting the seeds, and the bushes bear fruit until the very cold weather. It is recommended to pick vegetables in warm, dry weather and do not allow moisture to get into the box where they will be stored.

The harvest is stored for quite a long time, and due to the thick skin, these tomatoes tolerate transportation very well.

To prepare a soil suitable for seedlings, you need to mix black soil and humus in equal proportions, and then add the same amount of sand or sawdust to the resulting composition. Or buy special soil in the store. Regardless of whether your soil is purchased or homemade, it must be disinfected with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate or calcined in an oven at a temperature of 100 degrees. Seedling containers are also thoroughly disinfected.

Seeds begin to be planted in mid-February. When the first two leaves appear, the sprouts dive into separate cups. After a week, you can carry out the first fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. 7-10 days before planting plants in open ground, the bushes are hardened in the fresh air, gradually increasing the "walking" time.

In open ground, the sprouts are transplanted from mid-May to early June, and in greenhouses - in early or mid-May. In the southern regions, transplantation can be performed as early as mid-April. The main thing is to exclude the possibility of frost.

It is recommended to plant tomatoes at the rate of 1-2 bushes per 1 m2, forming bushes into two stems, but planting can be made denser in a greenhouse. The soil should be light, loose and nutritious, with a neutral or slightly acidic pH. It is best to prepare the soil in the fall by mixing it with manure, and just before planting add a mixture of manure with superphosphate and sylvin.

Choose the sunniest place in your garden for planting, but away from potatoes or other plants in the nightshade family to avoid infestation with common parasites. The best neighbors for tomatoes are onions, cabbage, cucumbers and any legumes.

The Black Heart Breda variety can be grown with equal success both in the garden and in closed greenhouses. To avoid kinking the stems, it is necessary to make a garter after flowering, as soon as the fruits begin to form. The lower leaves are removed so as not to obstruct air circulation and to reduce the risk of fungus. And, of course, you need to regularly water the tomatoes with drip irrigation or small portions of warm water. Make sure that no water gets on the leaves!

The plants are fed with organic fertilizers. For this purpose, diluted slurry of manure or ash is well suited if the seedlings do not have enough sunlight.

Based on the reviews, often the leaves of the Black Heart of Breda variety are curled. This usually happens due to uneven watering, in addition, the reason may be a deficiency of certain substances. To eliminate this problem, it is necessary to use complex mineral fertilizers and change the irrigation scheme. If desired, soil analysis can be performed to determine the exact cause.

In addition, surface rot may appear on the plants, so it is important to remove the affected parts in time and treat the soil with a disinfectant solution.

Otherwise, the Black Heart of Breda is one of the most unpretentious black-fruited tomato varieties that even novice gardeners can handle.

The plant is resistant to most diseases typical for nightshade crops, including late blight, but has no immunity to top rot. To reduce the likelihood of infection, all tools in contact with the plant must be disinfected, disinfected the soil and seeds, and also spray the bushes with a solution of calcium nitrate every week.

Dandelion decoction and soap solution have proven themselves well as protection against pests, while large insects are removed by hand.

Initially, tomatoes of this variety are intended for cultivation in the southern territories, but the plant takes root well in Siberia and the Urals due to its excellent resistance to extremes of summer temperatures and to the dry season. The only caveat is that in the northern regions it is better to plant these tomatoes in a heated greenhouse.