Black from Tula Tomato
Item Details
Russian variety imported by Seed Savers Exchange from seedswoman Marina Danilenko. First listed in the 1996 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. Described by one SSE member as “the ugliest, most delicious tomato I’ve ever grown.” Good yields of brownish-red slightly flattened globes weighing up to 14 ounces. Rich full flavor, great for slicing and canning.
- 75-85 days from transplant
- Conventional
- Indeterminate - Fruit ripens throughout the season
- Brownish-red, flattened globe shape
- Fruits grow to 14 ounces
- Deep, rich flavor
This variety works for:
- Fresh eating
- Sauce
- Roasting
- Canning
Store your tomatoes at room temperature. The flavor and texture of tomatoes suffer when the fruit is chilled.
Heirloom tomatoes are bred for their flavor and simple preparation best allows that intense flavor to shine through. Tomatoes can be sliced and drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper or layer slices with basil and mozzarella for a Caprese salad.
Roasted tomatoes have a richer, concentrated flavor.
There are hundreds of salsa recipes to try and most are dramatically improved with the use of heirloom tomatoes. Tomatoes are also the main ingredient in Gazpacho, a cold soup that is perfect for summer.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼" deep. Tomatoes are sensitive to freezing temperatures, so wait to transplant outdoors until the soil is warm. Plant in full sun.
- Start Indoors: 6 weeks before last frost
- Germination: 7-14 Days
- Plant Outdoors: 24-36” Apart
- Support: Cage, stake, or trellis
Ratings & Reviews
5 reviews
In my top 5 favorites.
by LINDA
Excellent taste! Great balance of sweet, acidic, with slight saltiness. Good slicer for sandwiches and really nice for wedges along side of tuna or chicken salad. Super reliable producer throughout midsummer to first frost. Make sure it's well-supported because it grows and grows!
Worth growing again!
by Jeanne
I have grown many heirloom tomato varieties in the past and, while I have loved their flavor, I was usually pretty disappointed by their skimpy yields. This year I grew Black from Tula for the first time and it produced impressive numbers of delicious deep purple/red tomatoes (around 15 large and medium-sized tomatoes from one plant). Had the season lasted longer, it would have produced more, as it still had blossoms and small tomatoes when frost came. It does tend to crack a bit around the stem end, but I didn't find this to be a major problem. I gave it some organic starter fertilizer when I planted it outside and some organic tomato fertilizer once again later in the season. It remained healthy for the entire season here in St. Paul, MN. I will grow Black from Tula again in 2021!
So delicious and easy, late for the north but worth it
by VermontSeeds
One of the most delicious tomatoes I've ever had, and the best tasting ones seem to be the most ugly :) Even dry farming during cold years in Vermont this line always produces some good sized and super delicious fruits before killing frost. Not an insanely rugged or vigorous plant but 9/10 easy to grow for us here. Still over 10 years later SSE has the Best selection of this gem (in my opinion). I've tried a number of other's versions and there's apparently a reason this one seems to sell out quick! Thanks SSE for turning me onto brown tomatoes all those years ago and for keeping my favorite one in rotation - I lost all my backup stock and am thrilled to have this one back
Most flavorful !!
by Brigitte
Pittsburgh PA I planted the tomatoes on Mother’s Day they were already 5” high , August 8th and I am starting to harvest a few every day … they are the most delicious tomatoes I have ever grown , very deep flavor no acidity just the best ! The size is amazing so big . Thanks for a great tomato .
Cracks a lot
by LA gardener
I grew it in Southern California. This variety crack like crazy, even with careful watering. Every fruit without exception cracked to or almost to the core. The yields were rather low and I was not impressed with the taste.