Solanum lycopersicum
Black Krim tomato, Black Krim, Russian black tomato: originating from the shores of the Black Sea, this heirloom variety owes its dark color to a green pigment that persists in the flesh while the red develops. The result is purplish flesh that is almost black around the shoulders, with an unusually rich flavor that is slightly salty and very sweet.
Characteristics:
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Unique color: purplish flesh turning black in a warm, sunny climate.
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Exceptional flavor: very sweet and complex, often ranked among the best heirloom tomatoes.
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Large fruit: commonly 120 to 150 g, reaching up to 500 g on the first fruits.
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Reproducible heirloom variety: you can sow your own seeds year after year.
Sowing advice:
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Exposure: full sun and warmth — this is what develops its characteristic dark color. In the shade, it remains reddish and loses its appeal.
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Soil: deep, rich, loose, and well drained. Tomatoes are heavy feeders: a generous supply of well-rotted compost genuinely benefits them.
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Method: sow from February to April under cover, at a minimum of 20°C — below this temperature, the seeds will not germinate. Cover with 5 mm of soil and keep moist. Transplant into pots at the two-true-leaf stage. See how to sow seeds.
Planting advice:
- Transplant outdoors after the last frosts, spacing plants 60 to 80 cm apart.
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The step that makes all the difference: bury the stem up to the first leaves, or even lay it slightly on its side. Tomatoes produce roots along the entire buried section, resulting in a much more vigorous and drought-resistant plant.
- Install the stake at planting time so you do not damage the roots later.
Care advice:
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Always water at the base, never over the foliage, preferably in the morning: water on the leaves provides an entry point for blight. Apply a thick mulch to prevent soil from splashing onto the plant.
- Water regularly and evenly: alternating drought and watering causes the fruit to split.
- Remove suckers — the shoots that emerge from the leaf axils — to concentrate the plant’s sap on the fruit.
- Do not grow tomatoes in the same place two years in a row: follow a three- to four-year rotation.
Harvesting advice:
- Color alone is not enough to judge ripeness in this variety: rely on touch—the fruit should yield slightly under your finger—and on the color of the shoulders, which turn brown.
- Store at room temperature, never in the refrigerator, which destroys its aromas.
Beneficial companions:
Benefits for biodiversity:
- Its yellow flowers are pollinated by vibration: only bumblebees, which can vibrate their wing muscles at the right frequency, make full use of them. Welcoming them directly improves your harvest.
- Growing reproducible heirloom varieties helps preserve cultivated diversity. See our heirloom tomatoes to sow.
Uses:
- Raw in a salad with a simple drizzle of olive oil — this is when it is at its best — or stuffed. Its juicy flesh makes it less suited to sauces than to eating raw.
Harvesting your own seeds:
Take the pulp from a beautiful, fully ripe fruit and let it ferment for two to three days in a little water — this step breaks down the gelatinous coating that inhibits germination — then rinse: the healthy seeds will sink to the bottom. Dry them flat. Since tomatoes are self-pollinating, cross-pollination is rare. See how to save your seeds.
Commitment to Quality: at SemiSauvage - Permaculture, we grow and select our seeds with respect for living things as our guiding principle. Based near the Auvergne Volcanoes, we choose reproducible, non-hybrid varieties, test them for germination rates, and carefully sort and package them without any chemical treatment. Our belief is that gardeners should regain the ability to resow, year after year, seeds that truly belong to them.
One of the most flavorful heirloom tomatoes, best enjoyed raw.
