Post by Yoris on Jul 9, 2019 14:38:19 GMT -7
People sometimes suspect that Black Dragon and Black Plum are the same breed of tomato. I have some insights.
I grew Black Plum in 2015 (in the ground, without mulch or black plastic); Black Plum also seemed to volunteer in 2016. I'm growing Black Dragon, this year, which is 2019 (with black plastic, but someone I know is also growing Black Dragon, but without black plastic; I also gave a cutting of my Black Dragon plant to another person).
Anyway, Black Dragon seems significantly more vigorous, and prolific. Black Dragon has been bushier, too (Black Plum vined more). The fruit also seems bigger and fatter (and it's not even ripe, yet). I haven't examined the gardens of others who are growing Black Dragon, yet. Black Plum is practically a cherry tomato (size-wise).
Black Plum took a while to be mature enough to flower, but once it was mature enough to flower, it could be fairly early after that. I didn't notice any maturity anomalies with Black Dragon. It seemed like other early tomatoes there.
Anyway, from my observations, I'd say that Black Dragon and Black Plum are very different breeds. I may reply later with more information.
Although I was glad that Black Plum was heat-tolerant, and reasonably early, the fruits were small, and it wasn't extremely prolific. Taste was decent—just a hint of that Paul Robeson taste (but very mild by comparison). The most similar tomato I've grown to Black Plum has been Chocolate Pear. Chocolate Pear was earlier, more productive, a richer brown, softer, and sweeter, with a pear shape instead of a plum shape, however; Chocolate Pear probably had slightly smaller fruits than Black Plum.
I grew Black Plum in 2015 (in the ground, without mulch or black plastic); Black Plum also seemed to volunteer in 2016. I'm growing Black Dragon, this year, which is 2019 (with black plastic, but someone I know is also growing Black Dragon, but without black plastic; I also gave a cutting of my Black Dragon plant to another person).
Anyway, Black Dragon seems significantly more vigorous, and prolific. Black Dragon has been bushier, too (Black Plum vined more). The fruit also seems bigger and fatter (and it's not even ripe, yet). I haven't examined the gardens of others who are growing Black Dragon, yet. Black Plum is practically a cherry tomato (size-wise).
Black Plum took a while to be mature enough to flower, but once it was mature enough to flower, it could be fairly early after that. I didn't notice any maturity anomalies with Black Dragon. It seemed like other early tomatoes there.
Anyway, from my observations, I'd say that Black Dragon and Black Plum are very different breeds. I may reply later with more information.
Although I was glad that Black Plum was heat-tolerant, and reasonably early, the fruits were small, and it wasn't extremely prolific. Taste was decent—just a hint of that Paul Robeson taste (but very mild by comparison). The most similar tomato I've grown to Black Plum has been Chocolate Pear. Chocolate Pear was earlier, more productive, a richer brown, softer, and sweeter, with a pear shape instead of a plum shape, however; Chocolate Pear probably had slightly smaller fruits than Black Plum.