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Tomato Black Elephant is one of the representatives of exotic varieties that surprise with their appearance. Gardeners prefer culture not only because of the beauty of the fruit, but also the taste of tomatoes.
History of breeding
In 1998, the originator of the variety, Gisok, applied for a new variety – Black Elephant tomatoes. Since 2000, the culture has been registered in the Register and allowed to grow in Our Country.
A 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, able to grow throughout the season. More often the bush is semi-spreading, reaches a height of 1,4-1,5 m.
The leaf plates are large, dark green in color, outwardly resemble potato leaves. The first inflorescences form above 8-9 leaves, and then every 3 leaves.
Tall shoots need to be formed and tied up, as under the weight of the fruit they can break or bend down to the ground. Tomato Black Elephant is recommended to stepchild regularly, lead in 2 stalks.
The formation of fruits begins 105-115 days after sowing raw materials for seedlings
Description of fruits
The shape of the fruit of the Black Elephant variety is flat-round with strong ribbing. The skin is dense, green at first, but as it ripens it becomes red, and then red-brown. The dark shade prevails at the stem.
The pulp inside is juicy, fleshy, red. In the seed chambers, the shade is brown-brown with greens. The taste of the vegetable is sweet, sourness is practically absent. From the photo of the Black Elephant tomato, one can appreciate 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 tomato Black elephant
You can grow tomatoes in any region of Our Country, 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, the Krasnodar Territory, the North Caucasus and other areas with a warm climate.
Tomato yield Black elephant and what affects it
The variety is considered to be 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 fruiting values, it is not enough to transfer the tomato to the greenhouse. Negatively affects the yield of the Black Elephant tomato, the refusal to form and pinch, the lack of top dressing and support.
The more the gardener leaves the main stems, the smaller the fruits will be.
Disease and pest resistance
Tomatoes do not have strong immunity. The plant does not tolerate excess moisture, therefore it is prone to late blight and rot. This feature is associated with a long ripening period, and with immoderate 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 top dressing. Starting from the lower leaf plates, yellowing of the foliage, gradual wilting and twisting can be noted, and a white coating on the roots. If you cut the stem, then the “vessels” will be brown.
Often the peak of the disease falls on the period of 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.
Tomatoes affected by rot Black elephant are deformed, turn brown, fall off the branch
Among pests, there is a risk of attack by the Colorado potato beetle, aphids, slugs and whiteflies.
Scope 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. Delicious juices and ketchups are obtained from tomatoes. And although tomatoes are transportable, they do not have high keeping quality, 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, high content of nutrients.
The advantage of the variety is also abundant, long-term fruiting, which allows you to enjoy fruits throughout the season.
Advantages of tomatoes:
- the plant successfully grows both in open ground and under cover;
- in the fruits there is a high content of substances useful for the body;
- exotic look.
Culture Disadvantages:
- low immunity to late blight;
- the need for formation, garters;
- 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 earth is prepared in advance by mixing the soil from the garden with ashes and compost. To make the soil mixture looser, it is recommended to add sand or peat. As a substitute, you can use soil from the store.
Sowing is done in early March, if it is planned to cultivate the variety in a greenhouse, and at the end of March, if the Black Elephant tomato is grown in open ground.
Sowing:
- pour earth into a box;
- moisten the soil and make rows with a distance of 1,5-2 cm;
- sow raw materials, cover the top of the container with a film.
Care during this period consists in airing seedlings and watering, providing sufficient lighting.
As soon as shoots appear, the shelter from the container must be removed.
The appearance of 2-3 true leaves is a signal for picking seedlings in separate containers. Further care is watering and fertilizing. 2 weeks before transplanting seedlings to a permanent place of residence, it should be taken out to the street for hardening.
At 1 m2 up to 3 bushes are allowed. The distance between each of the plants should be at least 50 cm.
It is recommended to add lime or organic fertilizers to dug holes. Seedlings at the age of 50-60 days are best transplanted in the evening. To do this, the bush is taken out of the pot along with a clod of earth, put in a hole, covered with earth and watered abundantly.
It is recommended to cover 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 season, the stepchildren of the Black Elephant tomato must be removed, the tomato itself must be formed into 2 stems. You need to tie a seedling with a height of 80-100 cm.
As a support, it is recommended to build a trellis or use metal stakes
There are no peculiarities in the application of top dressing: the first fertilizers should be added to the soil 2-3 weeks after planting, then provide 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 1 days. As fertilizers, complex both mineral and organic mixtures can be used.
Pest and disease control methods
Even before the transfer of seedlings to open ground, it is recommended to treat the plants prophylactically with any fungicide: Topaz, Profit, Fundazol.
From insects, insecticides such as Aktara, Karate, Fufanon can be used.
The treatment of bushes should be carried out according to the instructions, from the leeward side, using personal protective equipment, irrigating the bushes with a spray gun
If signs of the disease are detected, it is necessary to remove all damaged parts of the plant, treat the bushes with the preparation. Loosen the soil around them, ventilate the room if the culture grows in a greenhouse.
Conclusion
The Black Elephant tomato can be grown in any region of Our Country. The variety is indeterminate, large-fruited, with abundant fruiting. The plant is demanding on moisture, has a weak resistance to phytophthora. The fruits are sweet, sour, have a larger amount of nutrients compared to other varieties of tomatoes.
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