Black Russian toms

[taff]

I bought a heritage tomato variety from the gc too[also lured by the name...purple something], it produced one massive flower, then the stem forked, it grew loads of foliage, but didn't set any trusses at all.
I just had to chop it down now as it was in the blight bed, but standing at 4 ft plus, and still no toms on it. Won't be buying those again.
The seed should be viable if you leave it to ripen.

[kiwirach]

thanks for the replies.....i will continue as planned and see how it goes next year!.

[murphy99]

my first blackrussian tomatoes are now ripening and going a dard red.... EXCEPT they are all splitting I have picked 6 large tomatoes which are all split at the stalk and starting to go rotten!

These are the early ones so maybe the change in weather has affected them?

Does anyone have any advice here, I am thinking I should pick the others as they start to turn and ripen them off the plant, or should I leave them alone and see how they go... what do you think?

[hamsterqueen]

I grew Black Russian last year and had a grand total of TWO tomatoes, the first of which got blossom end rot!

[TEB]

my first blackrussian tomatoes are now ripening and going a dard red.... EXCEPT they are all splitting I have picked 6 large tomatoes which are all split at the stalk and starting to go rotten!

These are the early ones so maybe the change in weather has affected them?

Does anyone have any advice here, I am thinking I should pick the others as they start to turn and ripen them off the plant, or should I leave them alone and see how they go... what do you think?

Yep mine are cracking also, cracking can be caused by different things, irregular watering, heat fluctuations especially if you are getting warm days and cold nights (warm days, not much of that in the UK these days), or fast growing, not one for excessive boasting but my black russian toms are huge absolutely enormous, not seen anything like it and this coupled with the heat fluctuation is what I am putting my problem down to. All I am doing is removing them before fully ripe and finishing them off on a window sill with a banana as company.

[sarraceniac]

I'm not growing Black Russians this year but a lot of my other colours are either cracking or simply rotting off before they manage to ripen. My Marmandes seem to be the only type not affected. I reckon TEB is right with heat fluctuations. We are getting warm clammy days here but rather chilly nights. My best truss of whites was about 25 fruits, so far 8 have just dropped off and rotted where they have cracked.

[sarraceniac]

I'm not growing Blacks this year but many of my other 'novelty' toms are showing similar symptoms. My Whites had 25 fruits on the biggest truss. This week I have lost 8 to cracking from that truss alone. The only ones not affected are my Marmande. Reckon TEB is right. We usually don't get wild temperature swings here on the coast but this year inside the greenhouse has been up into the high 30s during the day and down to 12 or 13 at night on some 24 hour periods.

Just editing to say that I am not going mad. But my computer is. Refused to post so I redid it - and now it's posted both drafts.

[murphy99]

yep, mine are huge too

I am thinking I may need to do this too, It maybe the only way I actually get to taste one, they have gone from plant to bin so far

I am new to this and not sure if I am watering them correctly. I don't water when we get torrential rain... most of the time recently! but have watered a few mornings and then it has rained later in the day... or usually 2 mins after I come inside I had a good routine when the sun was shining!

My other toms are doing ok though so must be doing something right somehwere, either that or they are less fussy about care

Thanks Helen

[TEB]

yep, mine are huge too


I am new to this and not sure if I am watering them correctly. I don't water when we get torrential rain... most of the time recently! but have watered a few mornings and then it has rained later in the day... or usually 2 mins after I come inside I had a good routine when the sun was shining!


Thanks Helen

Mine are in the greenhouse but I dont think its overwatering at least in my case, still reckon its fast growing and heat fluctuation. Are yours in the ground or containers/grow bags, if containers/grow bags then as long as they have good drainage all the excess water should drain away.

PS We have had a couple raw and they are nice and beefy but we tend to use them for a Roasted Tomato and Garlic passata

[murphy99]

mine are in growbags cut in half and turned on their side. They are against a wall so protected from winds(mostly) and I was hoping the wall would retain enough heat to keep them warm(ish) throughout the night of we did get a cold snap!

I guess they are just difficult to look after and need lots of care, probably not the best ones to start with as a novice

They are predicting a few warmer days over the next few days, I will keep an eye on them

[sarraceniac]

mine are in growbags cut in half and turned on their side. They are against a wall so protected from winds(mostly) and I was hoping the wall would retain enough heat to keep them warm(ish) throughout the night of we did get a cold snap!

I guess they are just difficult to look after and need lots of care, probably not the best ones to start with as a novice

They are predicting a few warmer days over the next few days, I will keep an eye on them

You did remember to put some drainage holes in the bottom didn't you Murphy. Sorry if this sounds patronising, it isn't meant to be, but if your memory is like mine..............

[murphy99]

yep.. plenty holes