Why are Black Magic tomatoes the most popular and how to grow them properly?

Black Magic is a variety popular in many regions due to its large, juicy fruits. It also stands out for its unique dark color, which is unusual for tomatoes. This mid-season, indeterminate tomato is successfully grown both in greenhouses and open-air gardens.

Peculiarities of origin

Many sources claim that this tomato variety arose accidentally, through the unintentional pollination of the Captain Lucky variety. Experts have expended considerable effort to confirm and preserve these accidental characteristics. It does not appear on the official list of plants of the Russian Federation, although its creators are considered to be Russian gardeners O. Zhitnekovskaya and V. Dederko.

There's an alternative version of the Black Magic variety's origin. According to this version, it was developed in 2010 by the American company Wild Boar Farms. The chief breeder and author was Tom Wagner, a renowned innovator in the development of unique and exotic tomato varieties.

Description of the bush and fruits

This tomato variety is characterized by continuous bush growth, which can reach heights of 1.70-190 cm. The bushes are compact, with a diameter ranging from 80 to 90 cm.

Other characteristic features:

• The leaves on the shoots are small, shaped and structured like potato leaves, with narrow, elongated, and pointed leaflets and a slight sheen. The leaf blades are a rich emerald hue.
• The buds are arranged in clusters, each of which can contain up to seven ovaries. The first cluster of flowers forms under the seventh or eighth leaf, and each bush produces seven such clusters of flowers bearing fruit.
• Ripe tomatoes are heart-shaped and large. The average tomato weighs around 200 g, but the first fruits ripening on the lower trusses can weigh up to 500-600 g.
• The tomato skin is thin but firm, resistant to tearing and virtually invisible when chewed. It is a dark crimson color with almost black shoulders of anthocyanin.
• The tomato pulp has medium density, increased juiciness, meatiness and a light crimson color.

Main characteristics

The harvested crop is resilient to transportation over various distances and can be stored for a long time at temperatures around 10-12 degrees Celsius. To extend the shelf life of tomatoes, experts recommend picking them at the technical maturity stage. A cool place, such as a basement, is ideal.

Ripening and fruiting, productivity

This variety grown in Russia is characterized by its mid-season ripening. Harvesting begins in mid-summer and continues until mid-autumn.

Black Magic is a tomato characterized by high yields. Up to 14 kg of fruit can be harvested from one square meter, and up to 5 kg from a single bush. However, keep in mind that weather conditions affect the yield.

Taste, purpose and use

The Black Magic variety is a versatile ingredient for a variety of culinary masterpieces:

• Its sweet flavor, subtle sourness, and rich flesh make it ideal for salads, sauces, and pizzas.
• Black magic can be used to make aromatic tomato juice, which will be a wonderful addition to breakfast or lunch.
• For those with a sweet tooth, this variety can be used as the basis for homemade tomato jam.
• It can be used fresh, canned, in sauces, salads and many other dishes.

The video explains in detail the taste of the Black Magic tomato:

Resistance to adverse factors, regions

This variety is characterized by excellent resistance to cold and other weather changes. They dislike drought but tolerate prolonged rainfall well. Drafts and shaded areas can be problematic for tomatoes.

Thanks to its versatility, the variety is suitable for cultivation both outdoors and in greenhouses, making it suitable for farming in most regions of Russia, with the exception of the northernmost ones.

It produces its best fruit in open beds in southern and central regions. For those living in northern regions, it's preferable to grow this variety in greenhouses.

Features of planting and growing

For growing the Black Magic tomato variety, it is recommended to use the seedling method. This mid-season variety requires sowing seeds in early March.

Planting seeds for seedlings

For sowing, nutrient-rich soil is required. This substrate can be purchased at specialized gardening stores or prepared yourself using materials you can stock up on in the fall: turf, humus, high-moor peat, and river sand, taken in equal proportions.

The operating algorithm is as follows:

1. Prepare containers (individual glasses, peat containers, common containers or cassettes).
2. Fill the container with substrate.
3. Create shallow grooves.
4. Place the seeds in them, then carefully cover them with soil and moisten them with a spray bottle.
5. Cover with plastic wrap.
6. Black Magic tomato seeds begin to sprout within a week, with a 100% germination rate. At this point, remove the covering completely.

During the process of growing seedlings, feed them at least twice:

• the first is carried out approximately two weeks after sowing using nitrogen fertilizers;
• The second one is produced with the same composition approximately 12-15 days after the first one.

Two weeks before transplanting to their permanent location, it's recommended to acclimate the plants to harsher conditions. To do this, place them outside for 1-2 hours, gradually increasing the time spent outdoors.

Transplanting seedlings into greenhouses or open ground

In order to prepare the soil for growing tomatoes, it is necessary to take measures in advance:

• In greenhouses It's important to disinfect all structures and renew the topsoil. If completely replacing the soil isn't possible, treat the area with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, followed by the necessary organic and mineral fertilizers.
• In open beds It is important to clear the area of ​​plant debris, spread humus or rotted manure on the surface, and then loosen the soil while simultaneously adding mineral fertilizers to the soil layer.

Transplanting greenhouse seedlings occurs in early to mid-May, and in open beds in late May, after the risk of spring frost has passed. When planting Black Magic tomato seedlings, it's important to maintain a minimum distance of 45-55 cm between plants and 70-80 cm between rows.

Planting process:

1. Dig the holes. If necessary, place any drainage material at the bottom.
2. Make a mound inside.
3. Place the seedling on it and carefully distribute the tomato root system.
4. Fill with potting soil. Position the plant so that it is exactly in the center of the hole.
5. Lightly compact the soil around it.
6. Water with room temperature water, using approximately 1.2-1.6 liters of settled liquid.

Care tips

To get a bountiful tomato harvest, it's important to follow basic cultivation guidelines. Standard methods include the following:

• Tomato plants require regular and timely watering, two to three times a week. Use room-temperature water, as chilled water can harm the plant. It's best to water in the morning and evening.
• Apply fertilizer 2-4 times during the growing season. Black Magic prefers mineral mixtures and organic matter, which has a positive effect on the taste of the fruit:
  • the first time - one to two weeks after transplantation;
  • the second - at the vegetation stage;
  • the third - a week before the start of harvesting.

  Development phase	Fertilizer	Norm for 10 liters of water
  2 weeks after planting	Mullein (1:10) + 20 g superphosphate	1 liter per bush
  Beginning of flowering	Nitroammophoska	30 g
  Fruit formation	Potassium nitrate	25 g
  Mass fruiting	Ash infusion (200 g/10 l)	1.5 liters per bush

• Try to loosen the spaces between the rows frequently to stimulate nutrient flow and improve gas exchange. A small rake is suitable for this.
• Growing the Black Magic variety requires systematically shaping the bush into a two- or three-stemmed plant. When grown in a greenhouse, leaving a single shoot is acceptable. Prune all side shoots.
• Provide support by attaching the shoots to special supports.

Pest and disease control

Black Magic is characterized by good resistance to various diseases, which usually means little effort is required to control them, saving gardeners time and effort. However, in wet weather, when it rains continuously, it is advisable to take preventative measures using fungicides to prevent rot.

Pests that can infest Black Magic tomato plants include Colorado potato beetles and spider mites. In cases of minor infestations, hand-catching can be used. If the beetle population reaches a critical level, acaricides must be used to eradicate them.

Similar varieties

If you can't buy Black Magic, use seeds of other varieties that are somewhat similar to the original:

• Black Moor. This is a mid-season variety with a ripening period of approximately 3.5 months. The bushes are indeterminate and reach 160-170 cm in size. Each cluster produces numerous ovaries—15 to 18.
  Fully ripe fruits are egg-shaped and can weigh from 40 to 50 g. The skin of the tomatoes is dense, smooth, shiny, brown in color with a raspberry tint and has a characteristic dark spot at the base.
  
• Black Prince. This new tomato variety is mid-season, with flowering and harvest taking approximately four months. Plants reach 170 cm in the garden and can reach 200 cm in the greenhouse.
  It is distinguished by its large fruits – the average weight of a tomato is 100-150 g, but sometimes there are specimens weighing up to 300-400 g. The fruits have a brown color with a purple tint and glossy skin.
  
• De Barao is black. This variety is considered mid-season: from planting to harvesting of ripe fruit, it takes 3.5-4 months. De Barao Black is distinguished by its tall bushes, reaching up to 200 cm in height, with a moderately developed system of lateral shoots and foliage.
  The fruits are cocktail tomatoes, ovoid in shape, with smooth, shiny brown skin with a slight purple tint.
  
• Chocolate. This variety ripens early, within three months. The bushes have an indeterminate growth habit, with central stems that can reach a height of 180 cm. It produces large, round, brown fruits. The skin is smooth, even, and quite dense. The tomato flesh is juicy and sweet, with a brownish-orange hue.
  
• Black pear. These are determinate tomatoes, with the main stem reaching a height of 210 cm. The fruits have a characteristic pear shape and are borne in clusters, each containing up to 8 tomatoes. The average weight ranges from 60 to 80 g. The skin has a distinctive brownish-burgundy hue. The flesh of Black Pear tomatoes is rich in moisture, sweet, and firm.
  
• Amethyst jewel. This mid-season tomato ripens 3.5 months after sowing. The bushes are medium-sized, reaching 180 cm in height, and are characterized by strong branching and moderate foliage.
  The average weight of one tomato ranges from 400 to 800 g. The skin is dense, with a pink tint at the ends and a darker, lilac-tinged tint at the stems.
  
• Pink Siberian tiger. Characterized by a medium ripening period, this indeterminate hybrid reaches a height of 160 cm. The first fruits in clusters weigh up to 300 g, while the remaining ones weigh only 100-150 g, and are flattened and round. The skin is dark pink, with purple markings on the shoulders. The flesh is red.
  

Pros and cons

No serious defects were found in this tomato variety.

Reviews

The Black Magic tomato is an ideal choice for those who appreciate a unique tomato color. It requires little care, is suitable for both open and closed ground, and boasts large fruits and a unique two-tone color.

Frequently Asked Questions