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'Carbon' Tomatoes
 
Sub-Category: Standard
Early-Season
Heirloom
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Standard, early- to main-season heirloom. Indeterminate plants bear flat-oblate, purplish-red, up to 1-pound or more fruit.
Days To Maturity: 69-80
Seed Sources:
 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (4.1 Stars)Overall
Taste: (4.4 Stars)Taste
Yield: (3.9 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (4.2 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 8

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KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 08/15/2013 by A. W. Davidson - An experienced gardener

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Taste Taste
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Marion, Indiana, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Always reliable for me, more so than most good sized black tomatoes. It has that great black tomato taste and good productivity. Some disease issues this year but this has been a bad year for that with my plants.
 

Reviewed on 06/27/2013 by TheFluffyOne - An experienced gardener

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Kane, Illinois, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

A just ok black tomato. I grew this in 2011, 2012 and giving it another chance in 2013. I am still trying to figure out what all the hype/fuss is about this one. It is good tomato and I would not kick off my BLT if it should so appear, but compared to Chocolate Cherry, Black Giant, Cherokee Purple, Paul Robeson it is miles behind in terms of flavor, complexity and nuance. It was modestly productive, has exhibited disease tolerance, still and all when I see one ripen I harvest it and then look for something better. Will try again in 2013 and let you now. It may be my favorite this year as the rabbits have taken out my Brandywine, Cherokee Purple, Black Giant, Mortgage Lifter, German Johnson etc � LOL.\r\n+++++++++++++++++++++2020 update....after 7 years of growing this meh variety, I finally ran out of seed. I cannot say I am sad, motivated to reorder it, or will miss it. Simply put just an also ran black tomato.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 02/05/2008 by lakeeriegarden - An intermediate gardener

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Lorain, Ohio, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Great flavor. I did not have much luck with the productivity or size even as my other black tomatoes. Flavor was definitely comparable which is to say it is fantastic.
 

Reviewed on 03/04/2007 by deserthues - An intermediate gardener

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Los Angeles, California, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

This is my favorite tomato so far, bar none. It produces well for an heirloom, and it's meaty and juicy. I like my tomatoes on the sweet side, and this is sweet and full-flavored. Just right for a tomato sandwich in the summer!
 

Reviewed on 11/24/2006 by Jess_L - An intermediate gardener

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Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Good yield. Tasty.
 

Reviewed on 11/16/2006 by remyo - An experienced gardener

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Taste Taste
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Erie, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 163 - 183 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This tomato has performed well for me in a cold wet year and an incredibly dry hot year being disease resistant and producing a good quantity of tomatoes. Both times it also matured early for a beefsteak size tomato. Though a touch on the mild side, it has a good balanced flavor.
 

Reviewed on 11/15/2006 by gardengalrn - An intermediate gardener

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Kentucky, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

Very productive in my garden, lots of nice sized and shaped fruits. Very dark and the taste was wonderful. For taste I do prefer Cherokee Purple or Chocolate but this plant is a lot more reliable for me. Still, very tasty in its own right. This is one I will grow every year.
 

Reviewed on 05/23/2006 by Rudi - An experienced gardener

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Ease/Reliability Ease

Washington, Rhode Island, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

Superb taste; nearly black; harvest early; poor keeper
 




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