If you are an experimental gardener, then you probably paid attention to black tomato varieties. We will analyze one of the most unusual and high-yielding - tomato Indigo Rose. Description of the variety, photos, planting and care features, reviews of gardeners - more.
Purple (dark) tomatoes
Selection of tomatoes with dark skin originates in the sixties of the last century. Bulgarian scientists crossed wild varieties of tomatoes from Chile and the Galapagos Islands with local dark varieties (Black Prince). However, in those days, newly bred varieties were not widely used.
Nowadays, when researchers have determined that the blue or violet color of such tomatoes is a sign of a high content of natural antioxidants in antioxidants in vegetables, violet varieties are gaining more and more popularity. Tomato Indigo Rose (reviews, a photo of him you will see later) is the darkest of them. In addition to it, the following blue tomatoes are popular:
- Original color.
- Blue Gold.
- Blueberries
- Dance with the Smurfs.
- Dark galaxy.
- Red coal.
- Stripes of the past.
- P20 Blue.
- Blot.
- Blue-green zebra.
- Cherry is wild.
- Amethyst.
- Amethyst Cream Cherry.
- Blue Chocolate
- Fiery blue.
- Cherry Blueberries.
- Blue beauty.
- Real jewel.
In addition to excellent taste, dark fruits have the following beneficial properties:
- Reducing the risk of vascular disease.
- Countering the formation of cancer cells.
- Strengthening the walls of blood vessels.
- Increased visual acuity.
Many botanists believe that the first tomatoes brought to Europe were of such a shade. They explain this by the fact that in the homeland of the plant, in South America, most of the wild varieties of tomatoes have the fruits of a purple color.
Description Indigo Rose
Tomato Indigo Rose (" indigo rose ") is a mid-season universal variety. Fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and for preservation. Tomatoes are sweet, fleshy, dense, smooth, dark purple in color, weighing up to 60 g. The best harvest time is when the fruit's color is poured to a saturated dark shade, it becomes soft to the touch. Since the Indigo Rose tomato does not taste too sweet, has a pleasant tart flavor, it is well suited for salads and frying.
Vegetative period of time from the moment of emergence of seedlings to ripening: 75 days. The bush is medium in size - up to 1 meter high. The plant is disease-resistant and high-yielding, an open type of pollination, suitable for planting both in greenhouses and in beds.
Black tomatoes were bred in Oregon (USA), in the laboratory of Professor D. Myers. According to the scientist himself, Indigo Rose is the first improved tomato variety containing anthocyanin. Since this is the darkest type of tomato, then, accordingly, the level of antioxidant in it is the highest. It was obtained by crossing purple tomatoes with the usual red varieties. It is believed that the antioxidant contained in Indigo Rose helps in the fight against obesity, diabetes, in general, improves the well-being of a person.
Features of cultivation and care
Tomato Indigo Rose is a very unpretentious plant, but the gardener needs to take note of some points:
- After swelling of the soaked seeds, it is necessary to keep them in a strong solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour, then they are washed and dried.
- Tomatoes are planted in a soft warm substrate at a distance of 10 cm from each other in grooves up to 1 cm deep. They are covered with soil sifted through a sieve.
- The first watering is from the spray gun, then you can use a regular watering can. Frequency of watering - daily until the emergence of sprouts.
- As the seedlings grow, two to three times should be added to the aisle, removing weak and painful sprouts.
- Indigo Rose tomato should be fed if the seedlings have not yet become sufficiently strong by the day of transplantation.
- Planting is carried out when there is no threat of frost on the soil. Aisles - from 70 to 100 cm, depending on the size of the bushes. In one row, plants are planted after 30-50 cm.
- Try to protect tomatoes from high and low temperatures, timely watering, top dressing, removing stepsons. Do not forget to mulch the soil around the roots with needles or wood chips.
Tomato Indigo Rose: reviews
Among the advantages of plants, gardeners note:
- bush power;
- productivity - up to 15 tomatoes per brush;
- juiciness of the fetus;
- unusual coloring;
- pleasant taste.
Indigo Rose reviews of disappointed people describe the tomato in a completely different way:
- Watery vegetables.
- Long ripening.
- Tall bush - inconvenient for maintenance.
- Small tomatoes.
Indigo Rose is a novelty for Russian gardeners. However, a high-yielding and powerful plant with unusual black fruits rich in useful antioxidants has already become a successful experiment for many.