Black Beauty Grow Diary

[PureHarvest]

So I was smitten with the look and description of Black Beauty from Wild Boar Farms when I saw it back in January.
Besides the stunning color, it is supposed to taste top notch: "Dave Kaiser tasted it at the 2015 National Heirloom Exposition and proclaimed it as the BEST tomato he had ever eaten."
I was looking for tomatoes with a visual WOW factor to go along with great taste to sell to chefs. So I am trialing it this year with high hopes.

I wanted to organize my progression of this beauty from seed. I am nearing the harvest of fruit #1 in the next couple of weeks on a plant I started on 2/21.
That would put the first fruit at about 90 days from seed.
I also started 12 plants for my main crop the first week in March, but they are just starting to bloom.

Stock Photo from WBF
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This truss has 30 something flower/buds on it.
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BB is on the left, in with one of the early Sweet Scarlet Dwarfs I started
Not an impressive plant, but I just wanted to get one going to get an early taste and was limited on space at the time, so the two got potted together
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About two weeks ago. Starting to color up
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This morning, and that much color change with almost no sun for 9 days in a row.
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One of the fruits is starting to feel a little soft when I give it a very gentle squeeze, but I am absolutely waiting till I see some red/pink/orange blush on the bottom.

[Gardeneer]

That is some pretty plant and beautiful fruits, inside and out.
Please tell us how they taste.

Gardenner

[maxjohnson]

I'll steal the thread a bit. Mine didn't get enough sun to become all blue, the part that didn't get enough sun turns dark red. It taste similar to a well ripen Indigo Rose, except it is surprisingly sweet. I believe it's due to the fact it has a lot of green juices even compared to a typical black (ie. not blue) tomatoes.

Unfortunately I have no luck with growing blue tomatoes so far as they are all diseased. I will grow these again, but won't invest too much in them.

[Mike723]

Can't see the images Pure =/ .. lol
I'm doing a few Black Beauties this year myself! I'll have to get some pictures together.. I did blue beauties a few years ago, but wasn't too impressed with their flavor (ime of course)...

[PureHarvest]

Tasted my first this morning!

Very good texture and meatiness with just enough juice to not be anywhere near mealy.

Strong tomato flavor. Low on the sweetness, although I think they could have used a few more days.

I waited until there was no bright green on the shoulders. You will see where they are a coral/red color there instead of green when they are ripe.
Also, the interior is more pink than red, where the stock photo shows darker red.

All in all a very good tomato. This one was 7 out of 10.

It was 12 ounces. Also have an 8 and a 14 on the counter.

And lastly, as we all say, it blows away anything you can buy anywhere around here right now!

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[Labradors2]

Thanks for sharing. It looks like a winner!

As Steve Irwin might have said "Whata little BEAUUUUUTY!"

Linda

[MissS]

What a nice thread! I love your tomato diary.

Thank you for sharing your tomato adventure.

[ginger2778]

Those are such great looking photos.