Black Krim tomato: cultivating Noire de Crimée tomatoes

Regina

I studied horticultural sciences at university and in my free time you can find me in my own patch of land, growing anything with roots. I am particularly passionate about self-sufficiency and seasonal food.

Favourite fruit: quince, cornelian cherry and blueberries
Favourite vegetables: peas, tomatoes and garlic

Ever heard of the ‘Black Krim’ tomato? Here, we introduce you to this black tomato variety and help you to cultivate, care for and harvest the ‘Black Crimea’!

Black Krim tomatoes lie on a table — ‘Black Crimea’ tomatoes have dark flesh [Photo: JPC-PROD/ Shutterstock.com]

The dark red-brown ‘Black Krim’ beef tomato has a delightful aroma and wonderful complexion. Here is everything you need to know about the history and characteristics of this curious tomato variety.

Contents

‘Black Krim’ tomato: key facts
Origin and history of the ‘Black Krim’ tomato
Taste and characteristics of ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes
Cultivation and care
Harvesting ‘Black Krim’

‘Black Krim’ tomato: key facts

Other names	'Black Crimea'; 'Noire de Crimée'
Fruit	Beef tomato; dark red to purple-brown, with olive-green shoulders
Flavour	Very aromatic, fruity
Ripening time	Late
Growth	Indeterminate, grows to 180cm in height
Location	Greenhouse or protected, open area

Origin and history of the ‘Black Krim’ tomato

The beautiful, dark ‘Black Krim’ tomato was first bred in Ukraine. Though no one knows exactly when, it is definitely an old, heirloom variety. Named after the Crimean Peninsula, ‘Black Krim’ is often marketed under the pseudonym ‘Black Crimea’.

Taste and characteristics of ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes

‘Black Krim’ grows to 180cm in a greenhouse, and slightly less outside. ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes are round, ribbed and purple-brown. The shoulders that form around their stems remain olive-green, even when ripe, and each sweet and spicy tomato should weigh-in at around 350g apiece. The fruit is normally ready to harvest from early to mid-August. You can tell when because the thin skin that wraps around the dark, red flesh will become very soft.

Black crimea tomatoes hing from a branch — ‘Black Krim’ tomatoes turn a deep red to purple-brown when ripe [Photo: MostSecretGarden/ Shutterstock.com]

Cultivation and care

‘Black Krim’ is a low-maintenance, robust, flexible beef tomato, suitable in the greenhouse and outside. From the beginning of May, plant ‘Black Crimea’ in a greenhouse, or wait a little and plant it outside after mid-May. To plant your ‘Black Krim’ tomato, dig a fairly deep hole and place the young plant in. Fill the hole with a speciality soil, such as Plantura Organic Tomato & Vegetable Compost, press and water. Speciality soil like this contains important nutrients for the young plants, and supports their growth.

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Tip: A rain canopy will prevent fruit bursting outside and reduce the chances of tomato blight.

It is vital that you regularly prune any side shoots, so that the plant concentrates on producing fruit and not more stems. For the best fruit, support your ‘Black Krim’ tomato plant with a stake and be sure it only ever grows two shoots.

It is also important to support your plant’s soil, particularly if it is outside. Add a layer of mulch to the soil to save on water. If you are unsure how much to add, have a look at some best practices for watering and mulching tomato plants.

As soon as the fruit begins to grow, the plants will need even more nutrients. To support them, reach for a slow-release fertiliser, like our Plantura Tomato Food. Simply work the plant-based granules into the surface of the soil around the tomatoes and let them decompose over the next two months. Following this, you need only fertilise your plants once more, and they will be happy till the end of the season!

Liquid Tomato Food, 800ml

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Perfect for tomatoes & other vegetables
Liquid fertiliser for healthy plant growth & an abundant harvest
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Harvesting ‘Black Krim’

Once the skin of your ‘Black Krim’ fruit is soft and tender, it is ready for harvest. If the fruit is also purple-brown, it is ripe. This beef tomato variety tastes best freshly sliced on bread or in a salad. In fact, they are so aromatic, it would be sacrilege to process them… but you can if you want! This variety works well in soups and sauces.

Looking for more colourful tomatoes? Then green tomatoes might be for you! Here is a list of the best green tomatoes for the garden, and all the tips you need to recognise a ripe fruit.