Solanum lycopersicum ‘Black Krim’ — Heirloom Crimean Black | Smoky Excellence in Deep Maroon

Description

An heirloom from the Crimean Peninsula with very unique looking, large fruit, Black Krim is the tomato that makes you understand why soldiers crossed continents to carry its seeds home.

Named after the Isle of Krim near the Crimean Peninsula on the Black Sea, Black Krim tomatoes reportedly gained broader exposure during the Crimean War in the 1850s when soldiers from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Turkey collected the seeds, drawn to its unique characteristics and rich, salty flavor. Despite this early spread, the Black Krim tomato remained relatively obscure until the 1990s, when Lars Olov Rosenstrom of Sweden introduced it to the Seed Savers Exchange. This is not a tomato that appeared yesterday in a lab; this is a living heirloom, a taste of history that has been saved by gardeners and seeds savers, waiting for you to grow it.

Black Krim exists for one reason above all: it has a more intense flavor than your classic tomato but is less acidic, with a balanced flavor profile of tangy, rich, and sweet that makes it ideal for nearly any recipe that calls for tomatoes. Upon full ripeness, they release a sweet, slightly salty fragrance; the taste is marked by a distinctive blend of acidity, tanginess, richness, and subtle sweetness. Bite into one fresh from the garden, still warm from the sun, and you’ll taste why it always places high in tomato taste trials and its wonderful flavor is popular at many markets on the West Coast and among many fine chefs. These are the tomatoes that belong on a Caprese salad, sliced thick with fleur de sel and basil. These are the tomatoes for gazpacho, for fresh juice, for that moment when you understand why heirlooms matter. Fresh eating is what heirloom tomatoes are bred for; simple preparation best allows their intense flavor to shine through.

The beauty of Black Krim is inseparable from its taste. Beefsteak fruits are a unique combination of violet-brown and purple-red—they turn almost black with sufficient sunlight and heat. Their gradient-colored exterior transitions from rust-red to maroon with greenish shoulders; the juicier flesh has a reddish-black hue and offers a complex taste combining acidity, tang, richness, and a hint of sweetness. These tomatoes typically weigh 8-12 ounces and have a slightly flattened, beefsteak shape. Every fruit is a jewel—dark, heavy, and impossibly beautiful. When you slice one and see that deep interior color meeting the rich outer skin, you’ll know you’re holding something precious.

Black Krim is not finicky. Tomatoes need a warm sheltered site and a minimum of 6 hours of sun daily; any less and they won’t produce very well. Exposure to bright sunlight for 8 hours is crucial for healthy plant growth and fruit ripening; make sure your Black Krim tomato plants are getting ample sunlight to get tasty and well-ripened fruits. The soil should be loamy, rich in organic matter, and well-drained to promote optimal growth. Black Krim is not a tough tomato variety to grow; you can follow the same planting and care routine as any other tomatoes in your garden. These plants mainly need six to eight hours of light and moderate amounts of water. One caveat worth knowing: they are known for cracking thanks to their high moisture content, but a solid watering schedule and technique will help prevent these issues, giving you the highest yield possible. In other words, consistency rewards you. Keep the soil evenly moist from flowering onward, and these fruits will repay you with flawless be