Crimean Black Tomato: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow 'Noire de Crimée' tomatoes under cover?
Plan 'Noire de Crimée' sowings around six to eight weeks before frost-free planting becomes possible. In a cool region, allow room to wait for warmed soil and mild nights. Growing under cover requires space and good light. An early start is useful only if you can provide those conditions.
Choose clean containers with drainage holes and fine, free-draining seed compost. Moisten before sowing one or two seeds per module or small pot. Cover lightly following the packet and water without displacing seeds. Label cultivar and date.
For ‘Noire de Crimée’, aim for germination around 20–25 °C. Keep compost moist without standing water. Remove any lid after emergence and provide plenty of light to avoid stretched stems. An unheated greenhouse may be too cold at night, so check conditions around the pots.
At two to four true leaves, move seedlings into individual pots to continue growing under cover. Handle them by a leaf, supporting the rootball without crushing the stem. Do not confuse this potting step with final planting outside. Increase pot size when roots need more room, and gradually harden plants off before planting.
How do you plant 'Noire de Crimée' tomatoes?
How to care for this plant
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Remove side shoots
If you train an indeterminate tomato on one or two stems, look for small shoots between a leaf and the main stem. Remove only those you do not want to keep, preferably while small, without removing flower trusses. Leave determinate bush tomatoes to branch naturally. If you do not know your variety's growth habit or prefer to let it grow freely, do not prune routinely. Between reminders, check new shoots when harvesting.
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Install plant supports
If your tomato variety needs support, fit a sturdy stake or string when planting. Tie the stem loosely and check ties as it grows. Bush varieties may not need staking.
How do you harvest 'Noire de Crimée' tomatoes?
