Tomato Black Prince

Avid gardeners love experimenting with growing exotic varieties on their plots. The unusual-looking tomato Black Prince won great popularity among farmers. This was facilitated by such qualities as stable yield and gastronomic qualities of the fruit. But in order for the indicators to correspond to those declared by the authors of the variety, it is important to apply the correct cultivation techniques. The variety should be studied well before starting to plant it.

The authors of the unusual tomatoes of the Black Prince variety are three breeders: S. A. Korotkov, V. M. Nalizhity and A. V. Dynnik. In 2000, the variety they created was allowed for use and zoned throughout the country.

The black prince is an indeterminate variety, that is, tall, without a final point of growth. The maximum height is considered to be 170-200 cm. If you do not pinch the bush in time, it can stretch up to 2.5 meters.

In the unripe stage, the skin of the fruit is colored green. There is a large dark green spot at the peduncle. Ripe fruits become purple-brown in color. They are flat-round in shape and large in size. The weight of the fetus is 110 g (in some cases it can reach from 200 to 400 g).

The pulp of the Black Prince tastes sweet and fleshy, with a unique aroma. There is an increased dry matter content. Inside the fruit there are 6 seed nests with a moderate number of medium-sized seeds. Due to their size, their presence does not affect the taste of tomatoes. The fruits are declared as an environmentally friendly product, non-GMO. Therefore, you can safely eat them even for children.

Self-pollinated large-fruited tomato ripens 110-115 days. Harvesting is done in July-August.

The variety is high-yielding, yields 6.2-7.0 kg of fruit per square meter. The yield depends on the environmental conditions.

Sowing for seedlings takes place from 1 to 15 March. Seedlings are planted in the ground from May 15 to June 5.

It is recommended to leave between the rows from 1 m, and between the bushes - 60 cm. The planting hole is prepared deep enough, based on the volumetric root system of tomatoes. In width, it should be less than 50 cm.

Seeds are sown in pre-prepared planting boxes and soil.The depth of the container should be from 10-12 cm and deeper. The containers must be treated with a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate.

It is convenient to purchase the substrate in the store or prefer the ready-made option to prepare a suitable potting mix on your own. You will need 1 part of sod land, the same amount of sawdust and 7 parts of peat. Homemade substrate must be calcined in the oven.

Seeds to be prepared for sowing:

• leave only undamaged large copies;

• pour the seeds into a bowl of water - those where there is an embryo will settle at the bottom;

• carry out a 15-minute procedure for disinfecting the planting material in a 2% solution of potassium permanganate.

Seeds are sown in grooves 2 cm deep, and laid out 3 cm apart. Between the rows, you need to maintain a distance of 5 cm. The plantings are carefully sprinkled with soil, watered and placed under glass, leaving for germination away from sunlight, in a warm place. The soil must be moistened daily with a spray bottle.

Seedlings can be expected 10 days after planting. Then it's time to rearrange the containers in a well-lit place and harden the sprouts several times a day. For this, the glass is removed for 20-30 minutes.

Taking care of young seedlings is easy. They need timely watering and a constant air temperature within +25 degrees. Water the seedlings under the root only once a day using water at room temperature.

With the appearance of the first pair of leaves, the first feeding is to be carried out. You will need a complex fertilizer designed for nightshade crops. When there are already 4 pieces of leaves. seedlings must be dived into separate pots. The next fertilization is done when 6-7 pieces appear. leaflets.

In warm regions, seedlings are transplanted into open ground in mid-May. In cooler climates, this stage is left at the end of May - early June.

Seedlings are planted in the greenhouse at the end of the second spring month or at the beginning of May.

The Black Prince variety is quite moisture-loving, therefore, a prerequisite for its successful growth is high-quality watering. The volume and frequency are determined based on precipitation and weather conditions.

On too waterlogged soil, plants will begin to weaken and hurt, and tomatoes are more likely to crack. Water the bushes in the morning or evening. This is an important point, the observance of which will prevent foliage from burning in the sun.

Plants should be fertilized once every two weeks with organic fertilizers (humus, manure) and mineral complexes (Fertika Universal-2 and the like).

Against weeds, as well as to prevent the development of fungal diseases, it is necessary to mulch the bushes to a height of 7 cm. For this, hay, straw or compost are suitable.

At each stage of planting growth, it is necessary to tie up. At the same time, it is necessary to tie up not only in the area of ​​the trunk, but also the hands, so that they do not break from the weight of the fruit. For this purpose, you can use twine and strips (twine with pegs).

In addition, it is important to shape the bush correctly. Usually it is led in 1-2 stems, removing all other lashes.

The plant has a relative resistance to late blight. The variety is resistant to most diseases common among nightshades. It is rarely affected by fungal infections. In addition, the plant is capable of releasing toxins, so the bushes are rarely attacked by pests.

But in order not to risk the harvest, it is better to treat it with special preparations.

In addition, the Black Prince's juicy fruits often attract slugs. You can get rid of this trouble by periodically treating the bushes with soapy water, at a concentration of 1: 5.

The variety is not considered universal, since it is unrealistic to fit such large tomatoes into jars.

Transportation has a bad effect on the fruits - the thin skin breaks and the marketability of the product deteriorates.

Tomatoes with dense pulp and bright taste are most often used in salads. In addition, they make delicious dressings, sauces, lecho and tomato paste perfectly. The increased concentration of dry matter in the pulp makes the production of juice impractical. There is little liquid and a lot of waste.

The dark skin of Black Prince tomatoes contains a lot of anthocyanins. These substances are valued for their ability to stop the growth of cancer cells.

The tomato is unpretentious to care for, and even among inexperienced gardeners it gives a stable and high yield. And the unusual color of the fruit and the taste of self-grown tomatoes pleases the eyes and stomachs of every gourmet.