Black Beauty
Solanum lycopersicum 'Black Beauty'
Black Beauty is a striking heirloom tomato variety prized for its deep, dark mahogany-brown to purplish-black coloring. Reaching maturity in 90-100 days, these large beefsteak-type fruits feature a distinctive appearance that sets them apart from traditional red tomatoes. The defining characteristic is their complex, rich flavor profile combining sweet and smoky notes with well-balanced acidity, making them exceptional for slicing and fresh applications. Best suited for experienced gardeners seeking unique flavor and visual impact.
Harvest
90-100d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
2-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Black Beauty in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 tomato →Zone Map
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Black Beauty · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
| Zone 1 | May – May | July – August | — | October – August |
| Zone 2 | April – May | June – July | — | October – September |
| Zone 11 | January – January | January – February | — | May – July |
| Zone 12 | January – January | January – February | — | May – July |
| Zone 13 | January – January | January – February | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Black Beauty tomatoes thrive when started indoors six to eight weeks before your last spring frost date. Sow seeds directly into seed-starting mix about a quarter-inch deep, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once seedlings develop true leaves, provide bright light—a south-facing window or grow lights work well. Transplant seedlings into individual pots when they're two inches tall, burying them deeper than they were growing, as tomatoes will root along their buried stem for a stronger plant.
Harden off your seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over seven to ten days before moving them to the garden. Wait until soil temperatures reach 60°F and all frost danger has passed before transplanting outdoors. Space Black Beauty plants 24 to 36 inches apart in rich, well-draining soil amended with compost or aged manure. The variety's strong, slender stems support itself reasonably well, though staking or light trellising becomes helpful as plants reach their full 2 to 3-foot height and fruit develops.
Water deeply and consistently throughout the season, aiming for one to two inches per week depending on rainfall and heat. Black Beauty appreciates regular feeding; apply a balanced fertilizer every two to three weeks once flowers appear, then switch to a lower-nitrogen formula to avoid excess foliage at the expense of fruit. Mulch around plants with two to three inches of organic material to maintain even soil moisture and temperature—this detail matters because Black Beauty's disease susceptibility increases with moisture stress and temperature fluctuations.
Watch carefully for tomato hornworms, which can rapidly defoliate Black Beauty plants despite their healthy vigor. Scout weekly and hand-pick these large green caterpillars when found. Aphids and flea beetles tend to cluster on younger growth, so inspect the top leaves regularly. Cutworms pose their biggest threat at transplanting time; protect seedlings with cardboard collars pushed an inch into the soil around each plant.
Black Beauty's dark foliage and dense growth habit can create an environment favoring early blight and septoria leaf spot, especially in humid regions. Improve air circulation by pruning lower leaves once plants are established, removing any leaves touching the soil. Space plants generously to allow air movement, and water only at soil level in the morning, never overhead. Remove affected leaves immediately at first sign of brown spots or lesions. Fusarium wilt presents a bigger challenge since it's soil-borne—practice crop rotation and avoid replanting tomatoes in the same spot for three years.
Many gardeners underestimate how much Black Beauty needs consistent watering schedules. Irregular watering invites blossom-end rot, cracks, and stress that compounds disease pressure. Establish a routine early and stick with it through harvest, which arrives in 90 to 100 days.
Harvesting
Black Beauty tomatoes are ready to harvest when they reach full color—a deep mahogany-brown to dark purple-black hue—and yield slightly to gentle pressure. The best time to harvest is mid-morning after dew dries but before peak heat. Look for a slight softening at the blossom end; this indicates peak ripeness. Gently twist and lift the tomato, or use pruning shears to avoid damaging the plant. Harvest at the "breaker stage" (when first color appears) if you need to ripen them indoors, as these dark varieties can be difficult to assess for full ripeness. Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight; avoid refrigeration, which damages flavor and texture. Check plants every 2-3 days during peak season for optimal quality and continued fruit production.
Storage & Preservation
Store freshly harvested Black Beauty tomatoes at room temperature away from direct sunlight until fully ripe; avoid refrigeration, which dulls their complex flavor and mealy texture. Keep them in a single layer in a breathable container rather than plastic bags. Ripe tomatoes will hold for five to seven days at room temperature before quality declines. For longer preservation, freezing works well for cooking applications—simply core and freeze whole, or quarter and freeze on a tray before bagging. The dark flesh freezes reliably without significant quality loss. Canning as sauce, salsa, or paste is excellent, as is slow-roasting at low heat to concentrate their smoky notes before drying. These tomatoes' dark pigmentation and dense flesh make them particularly suited to smoking or grilling before preservation, creating unique char-infused condiments or dried preparations that amplify their signature depth.
History & Origin
Scabiosa atropurpurea, commonly called mourning bride or pincushion flower, has been cultivated in ornamental gardens since the 16th century, with origins in the Mediterranean and North Africa. The specific cultivar 'Black Beauty' represents modern breeding efforts to intensify the dramatic deep maroon coloration that distinguishes this species. While exact breeding lineage and introduction date for this particular selection remain undocumented, it reflects decades of horticultural refinement focused on deepening flower color and improving stem strength for cut-flower appeal. The cultivar's USDA Organic certification indicates it was developed and propagated according to organic standards, making it accessible to sustainable gardeners. The nearly black blooms exemplify contemporary preference for darkly pigmented ornamentals that create striking garden contrasts.
Advantages
- +Rich, complex flavor with sweet and smoky notes makes exceptional eating fresh
- +Almost black color provides dramatic visual appeal and unique appearance in gardens
- +Strong, slender stems support heavy fruit without extra staking or support needed
- +90-100 day maturity fits many growing seasons without requiring extreme heat
Considerations
- -Susceptible to early blight and septoria leaf spot requiring vigilant disease management
- -Multiple pest pressures including hornworms and flea beetles demand consistent monitoring
- -Fusarium wilt vulnerability can devastate plants in contaminated or poorly-draining soils
Companion Plants
Basil is the standard pairing, and the aphid-confusion claim from volatile oils gets repeated a lot — but the more reliable reason to plant it 12–18 inches away is that you'll actually use the basil. Marigolds earn their spot through chemistry: Tagetes patula (French marigold) exudes alpha-terthienyl from its roots, which suppresses root-knot nematode populations in the surrounding soil zone. Plant them 12 inches out from the drip line and leave the roots in the ground at season's end. Chives work because their sulfur compounds deter some soft-bodied insects and their shallow 4–6 inch root zone doesn't compete with tomato's deeper water draw. Fennel is the one to keep completely out of the bed — it's broadly allelopathic and will stunt nearby plants — and Brassicas concentrate flea beetle pressure in ways that hurt both crops.
Plant Together
Basil
Repels aphids, whiteflies, and hornworms while potentially improving tomato flavor
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Carrots
Help break up soil for tomato roots and don't compete for nutrients
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on tomato pests
Chives
Repel aphids and may help prevent fungal diseases
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crops for aphids and cucumber beetles while repelling whiteflies
Oregano
Repels many insect pests and may enhance tomato growth
Lettuce
Provides ground cover to retain moisture and doesn't compete heavily for nutrients
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to tomatoes and causes wilting
Fennel
Inhibits growth of tomatoes through allelopathic compounds
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt tomato growth
Corn
Both attract corn earworms and tomato hornworms, increasing pest pressure
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #321360)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good general disease resistance, less susceptible to cracking than most dark varieties
Common Pests
Tomato hornworm, aphids, flea beetles, cutworms
Diseases
Early blight, septoria leaf spot, fusarium wilt
Troubleshooting Black Beauty
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Lower leaves developing dark brown concentric-ring spots, working upward from the ground, starting around day 40–50 after transplant
Likely Causes
- Early blight (Alternaria solani) — soil-borne fungus that splashes up onto foliage during rain or overhead watering
- Crowded spacing under 24 inches that traps humidity around the lower canopy
What to Do
- 1.Strip affected leaves immediately and bin them — don't compost them
- 2.Lay 3–4 inches of straw mulch around the base to stop soil splash
- 3.NC State Extension's IPM guidance recommends rotating tomatoes out of the same bed for at least three to four years — five to seven if soilborne pressure has been heavy
Whole plant wilting suddenly in midsummer even after watering, with no obvious stem damage or leaf spots
Likely Causes
- Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) — soilborne fungus that colonizes vascular tissue and blocks water uptake
- Southern bacterial wilt (Ralstonia solanacearum) — especially likely if the collapse is rapid and a cut stem oozes milky strands when held in a glass of water
What to Do
- 1.Pull and destroy the plant including as much root mass as you can reach — don't compost it
- 2.NC State Extension notes that heirloom tomato varieties lack built-in resistance to soilborne fungal wilts; grafting Black Beauty onto a resistant rootstock is a documented option if you want to keep growing it in the same ground (see NC State AG-675 by Rivard and Louws)
- 3.If containers are available, switch to them with fresh potting mix that never contacts native soil
Large irregular holes in leaves or entire leaflets stripped overnight, with dark pellet-shaped frass visible on foliage and soil
Likely Causes
- Tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) — caterpillars reach 3–4 inches and can defoliate a branch in 24 hours
- Cutworms (Agrotis ipsilon and related species) — more likely if seedlings are being severed at soil level rather than upper leaves being eaten
What to Do
- 1.Hand-pick hornworms at dusk; follow the frass trail upward along the stem to find them — they are extremely well camouflaged against green foliage
- 2.Any hornworm carrying white rice-grain cocoons on its back is already hosting parasitic braconid wasp larvae — leave it alone and let the wasps finish
- 3.For cutworms, press a cardboard or plastic collar 2 inches into the soil around each transplant stem at planting time
Frequently Asked Questions
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Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
- BreederJohnny's Selected Seeds
- USDAUSDA FoodData Central
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.