The Indigo Rose tomato variety is special because of its unusual color: its skin is black or dark purple in color. Their taste is also peculiar - sweetish. For the first time, selection was brought out in the 60s of the last century by scientists from Bulgaria, who tried to cross wild varieties of tomatoes from Chile and the Galapagos Islands with the local variety Black Prince. But the resulting hybrids have become popular only in our days. The blackest of them is the Indigo Rose tomato. It was he who was bred in the American state of Oregon by the breeder - Professor D. Myers.

It is believed that it was the dark shades of the tomatoes that were first brought to Europe from South America. All wild varieties of tomatoes native to the South American mainland are purple in color. This is apparently due to the abundance of sunlight and ultraviolet radiation.

Characteristics of the variety of tomatoes Indigo rose

The Indigo tomato hybrid belongs to a mid-season universal variety. Since the ancestors of the plant are from the south, the tomato is not frost-resistant. Experts note the high yield, resistance to various fungal diseases of this variety. This is an open type of pollination. The growing season from the moment of germination to the collection of the first fruits is 75 days. The height of the bushes reaches 1 meter, but in the greenhouse you can grow Indigo tomatoes of a giant two-meter growth.

Description of bushes and fruits

The plant is not rich in foliage, grows in height, and does not bush. The leaves on the tomatoes are bright green and medium in size. The variety is recommended for growing in open ground in the south, and in greenhouses - in any region of the Russian Federation.

Tomato indigo rose

Fruits at the time of full ripening are not very large, round, dark purple or black with pink flesh inside. An average tomato weighs 50-65 grams. Tomatoes are fleshy, fragrant and sweetish in taste. On one hand, 7 to 12 fruits can set and grow. Although they are not quite suitable for pickling, these tomatoes can be used to make great salads and sauces and simply enjoy their taste raw.

It is important! It is better to collect grown tomatoes when they are fully ripe, that is, they have acquired a rich dark color and become soft. They should ripen on the bush. By this time, they will taste sweet.

Growing features

Sowing

Barberry Thunberg Rose Glow

To grow a rich harvest of Indigo tomatoes, you need to buy quality seeds and prepare them. Although this variety is not capricious and unpretentious, there are agricultural rules that should not be neglected:

  • firstly, you need to soak the seeds for two days in warm water;
  • secondly, it is good to dry it after this procedure and soak it again for 30 minutes in a 1% manganese solution;
  • thirdly, sow in shallow dishes (pots or plastic cups);
  • fourthly, sprinkle the seeds with thermally treated soil;
  • fifth, first water the seedlings from a spray bottle with warm water, do it daily.

It is important to know! In the process of growing, seedlings do not need to be fed. But if at the time of planting in the ground the plant has not grown by 25 centimeters, it should be fertilized.

Transfer to soil

It is possible to plant young bushes in open ground only when stable warm weather sets in. Tomato seedlings are placed in the prepared trenches at a distance of 65 centimeters from each other. The row spacing must also be at least 100 centimeters.Bushes grow large, so you need to adhere to these requirements for convenient plant care.

Tomato Indigo Rose in a greenhouse

The soil under the tomatoes should not overheat or, conversely, overcool. Timely watering of seedlings is the key to a successful harvest.

Stepping

There are many ways to achieve good results in growing Indigo tomatoes.

One of them is the removal of stepchildren (additional stems on the main one). Their removal is carried out when they have reached a length of 6 centimeters. Pinching (breaking off) is carried out most often by hand, in medical gloves. The most suitable time is morning: it is fresh and the stems break easily. The wound, which remains at the site of the break, will be dried and "healed" by the sun's rays.

It is important! All removed stems should not be left on the path, but removed from the site in order to avoid infection of plants with fungus.

In addition to removing additional stems, care must be taken not to dry out or rot the lower leaves. If such appeared, also cut off. Do this carefully so as not to damage the main stem.

Watering

Since all tomatoes love to "drink" their fill, and the Indigo Rose variety is also a thermophilic southerner, it should be watered rarely, but abundantly. Pour at least 3 buckets of warm water under each adult bush. It is strictly forbidden to pour it directly from the hose. This is harmful to the roots and to the entire bush. On cooler days, the watering rate can be cut in half. Water should not be allowed to stagnate in the trenches at the roots. This favors the development of infections and fungal diseases in tomatoes.

Fertilization

Tomato Indigo rose black outside chocolate inside

The soil in which tomatoes grow must be periodically fed. So that the soil does not dry out and does not become coarse, it is necessary to mulch it occasionally, using crushed humus, needles or sawdust for this. Periodically it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. There are instructions on the packaging for how to use these dressings. You can also buy them in specialized stores. But the main thing is everything in moderation. With an excessive dosage of fertilizers, tomatoes may die.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Tomato Chocolate

The Indigo rose tomato hybrid has many advantages over other varieties:

  • powerful tall bush;
  • high productivity;
  • juiciness and pleasant taste;
  • peculiar color;
  • unpretentiousness;
  • possession of beneficial properties due to the presence of beneficial antioxidants.

Of course, not everyone is enjoying the new experimental tomato variety. The inconvenience of care due to the tall bush, the small size of the fruits, their wateriness and others were noted.

Indigo rose tomato is very productive

But all these arguments for the benefits that tomatoes of this variety have become simply unconvincing.

This benefit cannot be overemphasized:

  • Reduce the risk of vascular disease;
  • Help in the fight against the formation of cancerous tumors;
  • Strengthens the immune system;
  • Improve vision and increase its acuity;
  • Burn excess fat in the body;
  • Lowers blood sugar levels.

Indigo rose tomatoes are a novelty in Russian gardening. But in the future, it is believed that this variety will win the hearts and stomachs of more than one gourmet, a true connoisseur of everything new and unusual, as well as tasty and healthy.