Black Plum

Described as sweet, meaty, and complex with the earthy depth typical of dark tomatoes, good enough that some prefer it to Roma for sauce. This is the recurring catalog and grower description, not a measured claim.

A prolific Russian strain that ripens to a deep mahogany-brown, grown both as a sauce tomato and for fresh use.

• Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.
• Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.
• Generally forgiving and beginner-friendly to grow.
• Wants real summer warmth and is slow to set when nights stay cool.
• One of our picks for the cold, short-season gardens of New England.

Sold out, or after a change? The closest alternatives, and how they differ.

San Marzanobut a dark, sweet plum rather than a classic red Italian pasteBlack Cherrybut a larger oval paste fruit rather than a round cherry

• Seed Savers Exchange
• Totally Tomatoes

• Heirloom vs Hybrid Tomatoes

Is Black Plum determinate or indeterminate?

Black Plum is an indeterminate variety. Indeterminate vine. It keeps growing and setting fruit right up to frost, so plan on a tall stake or cage and regular pruning through the season.

How long does Black Plum take to ripen?

Black Plum ripens in about 80 days from transplant. Mid-season timing, ripening around 70 to 80 days from transplant.

Is Black Plum an heirloom or a hybrid?

Black Plum is an heirloom, an open-pollinated variety with a documented history, so seed saved from it comes back true to type.

What can I grow instead of Black Plum?

A close swap is San Marzano, but a dark, sweet plum rather than a classic red Italian paste.