Black Plum Tomato

10 Seeds

Black Plum Tomato is a unique heirloom tomato variety that produces small, elongated plum-shaped fruits with a beautiful deep mahogany, reddish-brown to dark purple color. The fruits have a rich, sweet flavor with mild acidity and are excellent for fresh salads, roasting, sauces, drying, and snacking. This vigorous indeterminate variety produces heavy clusters of fruit throughout the growing season and performs exceptionally well in the Gulf region when planted during the cooler months. It is suitable for gardens, greenhouses, containers, and hydroponic systems.

Best Planting Time

• August to October (recommended)
• January to February (for protected greenhouse cultivation)
• Avoid outdoor planting when daytime temperatures consistently exceed 38–40°C.

Seed Preparation

• Soak seeds in warm water (25–28°C) for 6–8 hours before sowing (optional).
• No cold stratification is required.

Soil Preparation

Use fertile, loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter.

Recommended mix:

• 40% Coco peat
• 30% Compost
• 20% Garden soil
• 10% Perlite

Ideal soil pH:

• 6.0–6.8

Sowing Method

• Sow seeds in seed trays or nursery pots.
• Plant seeds 0.5 cm deep.
• Cover lightly with fine soil or vermiculite.
• Keep the growing medium consistently moist until germination.

Temperature & Light

• Ideal germination temperature: 22–28°C
• Ideal growing temperature: 20–28°C
• Requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
• During very hot Gulf afternoons, provide 30% shade cloth.

Watering

• Keep the soil evenly moist during germination.
• Water deeply when the top 2–3 cm of soil becomes dry.
• Avoid wetting the leaves to reduce fungal diseases.

Germination Time

• 5–10 days

Transplanting

• Transplant seedlings when they have:
  • 4–6 true leaves
  • Height of 15–20 cm
• Space plants:
  • 50–60 cm apart
• Space rows:
  • 75–90 cm apart

Harvesting

• Harvest begins:
  • 75–85 days after transplanting
• Harvest fruits when they develop a rich dark mahogany to reddish-brown color and become slightly soft.
• Harvest frequently to encourage continuous fruit production.

Gulf Climate Tips

• Plant during August to October for the best harvest.
• Support plants with strong stakes, trellises, or tomato cages, as this is an indeterminate variety.
• Remove lower leaves to improve air circulation and reduce fungal diseases.
• Fertilize every 2 weeks with a balanced fertilizer, then switch to a fertilizer rich in potassium and phosphorus during flowering and fruit development.
• Apply organic mulch to conserve soil moisture and keep the root zone cool.
• Black Plum Tomato performs exceptionally well in greenhouses, hydroponic systems, raised beds, and large containers.