Technology for growing Tomato "Indigo Rose" for beginners and experienced farmers

Thanks to its bright appearance and interesting taste, the Indigo Rose tomato has won the love of many fans. However, some are scared that the fruits of this variety are almost black, mistakenly considering them unnatural and harmful.

Experts are in a hurry to reassure: this type of tomato is bred exclusively in a natural way. Moreover, the Indigo rose tomato, the characteristics and description of which variety will be presented below, has unique beneficial properties.

Description of the variety

The main distinguishing feature of Indigo rose is the dark color of the fruit, which can range from dark purple to blue. There are also several similar varieties of tomatoes, with blue, purple and dark purple colors predominating.

Indigo apple

The Indigo Apple tomato is one of the varieties with a predominant dark color. The plant has fairly large fruits, weighing up to 150 grams. In terms of the method of cultivation and care, it is practically no different from Indigo rose.

The only difference is that the fruit is not completely black, but only at the base. Depending on the exposure to sunlight during the ripening period, the black color may predominate or be less pronounced.

Distinctive features

Among the features of the Indigo Rose tomato are:

• early ripening;
• bush resistance to diseases;
• the ability to grow both in a greenhouse and in open ground.

Fruit characteristics, yield

The Indigo Rose tomato bush forms a cluster of 6–8 tomatoes.

The dense skin of the Indigo Rose tomato fruit allows them to be harvested for the winter. The tomatoes are red inside and have a distinct spicy aroma.

It is noted that the tomato has an unusual rich taste.

The black color of the fruit is due to the high content of anthocyanins. This substance is found in plants, vegetables and fruits and gives them blue, purple and red colors. In humans, anthocyanins have a bactericidal, immunostimulating and decongestant effect.

Note. Fruits and vegetables containing anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants. This means that they help bind free radicals, preventing the development of many diseases.

How to grow seedlings

Let's take a closer look at how to properly grow seedlings of this tomato varieties.

Seed preparation

First of all, the seeds need to be treated with a one percent solution of potassium permanganate or “Fitosporin”. To do this, you can use moistened cotton pads or gauze, in which you place seeds.

In conditions of high humidity and constant high temperature, the seeds will quickly sprout.

Important.To increase the chances of successful germination, we recommend using a growth stimulator. It can be purchased at any gardening store.

Container and soil

For convenience, you can plant the seeds directly in separate pots. This way you can save the future plant from unnecessary stress and an additional period of adaptation of the seedlings when picking. Used priming for tomatoes or regular soil for seedlings.

Sowing

The hatched seeds are planted in the ground. Some people sprinkle it with regular soil, others use soil calcined in a frying pan.There is not much difference, especially if you use store-bought soil for tomatoes. It does not require additional processing.

Growing and care

After the first shoots, it is important to prevent the seedlings from being pulled out. To do this, it is better to move it to the brightest place or provide artificial daylight.

The most optimal temperature for the full growth of the Indigo Rose tomato is 22 degrees during the day and 18 degrees at night.

You can water it the first time with a spray bottle, then with a watering can. There is no need to water frequently - the main thing is that the soil does not dry out completely.

When the first 2-3 leaves appear, you can feed them with a weak solution of mineral fertilizer - for example, dissolving 50 g of nitrophoska in 10 liters of water. After two weeks, fertilizing should be repeated.

How to grow tomatoes

At the age of 50 days, Indigo Rose tomato seedlings are ready for planting in a greenhouse or open ground.

Landing

The seedlings are planted in separate holes, according to the pattern 40-50x60 cm.

Attention. You should start planting tomatoes if there is no threat of night frosts on the soil.

To retain moisture and maintain oxygen exchange, the soil around the bush is mulched with natural materials. You can use pine needles, bark or wood chips.

Care

The soil around the tomatoes is weeded as needed. If the soil has not been mulched, it needs to be loosened, preventing a hard crust from forming around the bush. Indigo rose does not require frequent watering; 1–2 times a week is sufficient.

The bush is formed into 2 stems, or at least three. The tomato needs regular pinching. It is extremely important to remove the shoots in time, otherwise the stem will grow and will no longer have the strength to form fruits.

How to correctly identify the stepson and remove it, you can look at the photo.

When the bush reaches a large size, it needs to be tied up. You can use greenhouse pegs or rungs for this. When tying, try not to damage the stem.

You can feed tomato bushes several times, alternating mineral and organic fertilizer, for example, an infusion of cow manure dissolved in water in a ratio of 1:5.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Tomato Indigo rose does not like sudden temperature changes. Temperature conditions should be carefully monitored. It is important to avoid hypothermia or exposure to excessively high temperatures.

The rich dark color of the tomato is due to sufficient sunlight. To achieve brightly colored fruits, plant them in a sunny location.

Diseases and pests

A special feature of this variety is its high degree of resistance to late blight and other “tomato” diseases. But we still advise you to carry out basic preventive actions.

To do this, you should spray the tomatoes a couple of times a season with a special solution against insect pests (you can buy it at a gardening store).

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

The Indigo Rose variety grows equally well both in open ground and in a greenhouse. In the northern regions, it is preferable to grow this tomato in a greenhouse so that the plant does not become overcooled.

In general, reviews from gardeners and farmers indicate that with proper care, Indigo Rose produces good yields both in the greenhouse and in the garden bed.

Harvesting and application

A tomato is considered ripe if it has acquired its characteristic rich color and has become a little soft. You can pick the fruit a little earlier, and it will ripen indoors. However, in this case, uneven pigmentation may appear.

The variety is ideal for whole harvesting, drying, fresh use and preparation of various dishes.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the advantages, gardeners note that Indigo rose is a powerful and compact bush. The fruits are medium-sized, juicy, and can be stored for a long time due to their thick skin.

The variety does not require additional knowledge of agricultural technology and is grown like most other tomatoes.

The only disadvantage we can highlight is that the fruits of this variety do not reach large sizes. Indigo rose, although considered early ripening, takes a long time to ripen in the northern regions.

Farmer reviews

Farmers from central and northern regions of Russia face difficulties growing Indigo roses. Problems arise with long ripening and the appearance of diseases caused by a humid and cool climate.

Natalya, 43 years old, Saratov: “My hobby is growing tomatoes, and every new season I want to plant something interesting. One day I came across Indigo Rose tomato seeds. In appearance, Indigo seedlings differ from other varieties in their characteristic dark purple hue. The plant itself grows up to 1.5 m. The fruits are small and sweet. I really like the color of these fruits: unripe they are purple-green, and ripe they are black-red, although the flesh in the middle is bright red.”

Lyudmila, 37 years old, Bogorodsk: “The germination rate is excellent! All the seeds I sowed have sprouted! They grew like in the picture, one bush to another. I sowed it on March 10, planted it once, and planted it in the ground in May. Formed into 2 stems. It's a little confusing when to collect them. I waited for the black tomatoes to become soft. They didn’t, because they have a thick skin. I brought it home and the smell filled the entire kitchen.She made fun of her for the winter and surprised her guests during the holidays.”

Sergey, 54 years old, Vologda: “We were the first to get sick with late blight. But! Some bushes still produced a harvest. The taste is not for everyone; my wife did not like the cloying smell. Nevertheless, I think it’s worth planting them at least once.”

Conclusion

Indigo Rose is a beautiful black tomato. It is beneficial for the human body as it contains anthocyanins, which reduce the risk of many pathologies and lower blood sugar levels. It differs from other varieties in taste and smell.

Easy to grow. Depending on the area of ​​cultivation, the yield and size of the bush vary slightly. In the northern regions, this variety takes longer to ripen than in the southern regions.

It’s definitely worth trying to grow such a tomato - it has already earned credibility among experienced farmers and beginners in gardening.