Content
The Black Elephant tomato is one of the representatives of exotic varieties that surprise with their appearance. Gardeners give preference to the crop not only because of the beauty of the fruits, but also the taste of the tomatoes.
History of selection
In 1998, the originator of the variety, the Gisok company, submitted an application for a new variety - Black Elephant tomatoes. Since 2000, the culture has been registered in the Register and allowed for cultivation in Russia.
The variety was obtained experimentally by crossing wild tomatoes with ordinary ones grown by gardeners.
Description of the tomato variety Black Elephant
The variety is indeterminate and can grow throughout the season. More often the bush is semi-spreading, reaching a height of 1.4-1.5 m.
The leaf blades are large, dark green in color, and resemble potato leaves in appearance. The first inflorescences form above 8-9 leaves, and then every 3 leaves.
Tall shoots need to be formed and tied up, since under the weight of the fruit they can break or bend to the ground.It is recommended to regularly plant the Black Elephant tomato and plant it in 2 stems.
Fruit formation begins 105-115 days after sowing raw materials for seedlings
Description of fruits
The fruit shape of the Black Elephant variety is flat-round with strong ribbing. The skin is dense, green at first, but as it ripens it turns red and then red-brown. The dark shade predominates at the stalk.
The pulp inside is juicy, fleshy, red in color. In the seed chambers the shade is brownish-brown with greenery. The taste of the vegetable is sweet, there is practically no sourness. From the photo of the Black Elephant tomato, you can evaluate the attractiveness of the harvested crop, but the fruit is also characterized by a pleasant, pronounced aroma.
The weight of each fruit varies from 100 to 400 g
Characteristics of the Black Elephant tomato
You can grow tomatoes in any region of Russia, but in most of them it will be necessary to install a greenhouse. Without shelter, the Black Elephant tomato is cultivated in the Rostov region, Krasnodar region, the North Caucasus and other areas with a warm climate.
Black elephant tomato yield and what affects it
The variety is usually classified as high-yielding. In unprotected ground from 1 m2 You can collect up to 12-15 kg of fruit. The average yield from 1 bush from an open bed is 4-5 kg.
In greenhouse conditions it is possible to collect up to 15-20 kg from 1 m2. From 1 bush the yield is 5-7 kg.
To get the maximum possible values for fruiting, it is not enough to transfer the tomato to a greenhouse.The yield of the Black Elephant tomato is negatively affected by refusal of formation and pinching, lack of fertilizing and support.
The more main stems the gardener leaves, the smaller the fruits will be.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Tomato does not have strong immunity. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture well, so it is susceptible to late blight and rot. This feature is associated with both the long ripening period and excessive watering of the Black Elephant variety without subsequent ventilation of the greenhouse.
Fusarium on tomatoes is often recognized at the height of the disease, mistakenly assuming a lack of fertilizing. Starting from the lower leaf blades, one can notice yellowing of the foliage, gradual wilting and curling, and a white coating on the roots. If you cut the stem, the “vessels” will be brown.
Often the height of the disease occurs during flowering or ovary formation.
Rot is characterized by the appearance of white or brownish spots on the plant and a change in the color of the fruit.
Black elephant tomatoes affected by rot become deformed, turn brown, and fall off the branch.
Among the pests there is a risk of attack by the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, slugs and whiteflies.
Area of application of fruits
The main purpose of the variety is salads. In addition to adding to various dishes, medium-sized fruits are suitable for whole-fruit canning. Tomatoes make delicious juices and ketchups. And although tomatoes are transportable, they do not have a high shelf life, it is only 1-2 weeks.
Advantages and disadvantages
The variety attracts the attention of gardeners with its unusual decorative appearance. But tomatoes are also valued for their taste and high content of nutrients.
The advantage of the variety is its abundant, long-term fruiting, which allows you to enjoy the fruits throughout the season.
Advantages of tomatoes:
- the plant grows successfully both in open ground and under cover;
- the fruits contain a high content of substances beneficial to the body;
- exotic look.
Disadvantages of culture:
- low immunity to late blight;
- the need for shaping, gartering;
- poor keeping quality.
Features of planting and care
Planting begins with sowing seedlings. All raw materials are treated with a solution of manganese and a growth stimulator, the containers are washed, and ventilation holes are made.
The soil is prepared in advance by mixing soil from the garden with ash and compost. To make the soil mixture looser, it is recommended to add sand or peat. As a replacement, you can use soil from the store.
Sowing is carried out at the beginning of March if it is planned to cultivate the variety in a greenhouse, and at the end of March if the Black Elephant tomato will be grown in open ground.
Sowing:
- pour earth into the box;
- moisten the soil and make rows with a distance of 1.5-2 cm;
- sow the raw materials, cover the top of the container with film.
Care during this period consists of ventilating the seedlings, watering them, and providing sufficient lighting.
As soon as shoots appear, the cover from the container must be removed
The appearance of 2-3 true leaves is a signal for picking seedlings into separate containers. Further care consists of watering and fertilizing. 2 weeks before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place of residence, they should be taken outside for hardening.
At 1 m2 It is allowed to place up to 3 bushes. The distance between each plant should be at least 50 cm.
It is recommended to add lime or organic fertilizers to the dug holes. It is better to transplant seedlings at the age of 50-60 days in the evening. To do this, remove the bush from the pot along with a lump of earth, place it in a hole, cover it with earth and water it abundantly.
It is recommended to cover the Black Elephant tomatoes with material immediately after planting to help the plants adapt
Tomato care includes the following steps:
- watering as needed;
- loosening followed by mulching;
- organization of support or garter.
Throughout the entire season, the stepsons of the Black Elephant tomato need to be removed, and the tomato itself should be formed into 2 stems. You need to tie up a seedling 80-100 cm high.
It is recommended to build a trellis as a support or use metal stakes
There are no special features in applying fertilizers: the first fertilizers should be added to the soil 2-3 weeks after planting, then provided with useful substances every 5-7 days. If the Black Elephant tomato is grown in a greenhouse, then it is enough to feed it once every 10 days. Complex mineral and organic mixtures can be used as fertilizers.
Pest and disease control methods
Even before transferring the seedlings to open ground, it is recommended to treat the plants prophylactically with any fungicide: Topaz, Profit, Fundazol.
For insects, you can use insecticides such as Aktara, Karate, Fufanon.
Treatment of bushes should be carried out according to the instructions, on the leeward side, using personal protective equipment, irrigating the bushes with a spray bottle
If signs of disease are detected, it is necessary to remove all damaged parts of the plant and treat the bushes with the drug. Loosen the soil around them and ventilate the room if the crop grows in a greenhouse.
Conclusion
The Black Elephant tomato can be grown in any region of Russia. The variety is indeterminate, large-fruited, with abundant fruiting. The plant is demanding on humidity and has low resistance to late blight. The fruits are sweet, sour, and have a greater volume of nutrients compared to other varieties of tomatoes.
