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'Japanese Black Trifele' Tomatoes
 
Sub-Category: Standard
Early-Season
Heirloom
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Early- to mid-season, standard heirloom. Indeterminate plants bear medium-sized, smooth, purplish-brick, crack-free fruit the shape and size of a Bartlett pear.
Days To Maturity: 69-80
Seed Sources: Seed Savers Exchange - updated in 2014
Totally Tomato - updated in 2011

 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (4.0 Stars)Overall
Taste: (3.1 Stars)Taste
Yield: (3.4 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (3.9 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 10

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

Reviewed on 05/24/2016 by TheFluffyOne - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

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

Meh...Planted this one in 2015 on a lark(it was discounted at the grocery store).Compared to everything else in my garden (16 varieties) it was a poor, poor performer. It was rather bland for a black, losing out to Cherokee Purple, Black giant, Chocolate Cherry, carbon, Paul Robeson) in terms of disease resistance, flavor,and productivity. The tomatoes were \"ok\" but with so many superior blacks available I have trouble understanding why I would ever plant this one again. Meh,sums it up.
 

Reviewed on 02/03/2015 by Carolynp - A novice gardener

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Marion, Oregon, United States
Frost Free Season: 123 - 143 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

These were such a beautiful, prolific tomatoes. I will grow them every year now. They weren't the tastiest variety I've grown, but they were certainly the most beautiful.
 

Reviewed on 01/03/2015 by klossoke - An experienced gardener

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Howard, Maryland, 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

Fair yield, green shoulders, about the size of a mandarin orange. Cracking was more prominent early in the season, long season production.
 

Reviewed on 05/15/2011 by pointydog - An experienced gardener

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Orange, 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

Plants in my garden produce well and flavor is good, but this is not nearly as prolific or tasty as some of the other Russian black tomatoes (like Krim for instance). Good plant for upside-down planters since the fruits are good size but not too big and the plants\\\' size remains manageable.
 

Reviewed on 05/12/2011 by containergardener - An experienced gardener

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Los Angeles, California, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Outstandingly prolific, with excellent flavor. Even removing all the suckers and training the main stem on clothesline, Japanese Trifele is a sprawling plant, each side branch becoming a new plant that has to be trained. But it is worth the effort. Earlier to fruit than even cherry tomatoes. \"Japanese Trifele\" is not Japanese at all. Rather, it is a Russian black tomato, sometimes called Russian Truffle. If you like Russian black tomatoes, you\'ll love Trifele.
 

Reviewed on 06/01/2010 by GardenMom - A novice gardener

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Albany, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

This variety of tomato rates in my top 10. It's very easy to grow and seems to do well no matter which season or where in my garden it is. The flavor is outstanding and it's incredibly prolific. The unusual shape is just icing on the cake for this amazing tomato!
 

Reviewed on 02/21/2010 by OhioMG - An experienced gardener

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Huron, Ohio, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This was a stand-out variety in our 2009 garden. Despite cool temps that made ripening any warmth loving crop a challenge, these plants pumped out wonderfully tasty fruit with a rich robust tomato-ey flavor. Healthy plants, no disease issues, strong performers. A fresh slice is positively decadent with a small smear of mayo and some freshly ground black pepper! We enjoyed it so much we saved seed and will be growing it again.
 

Reviewed on 06/01/2009 by ihearthoney - A novice gardener

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

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Reviewed on 02/01/2008 by Kristi - An experienced gardener

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Bonneville, Idaho, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Vigorous determinate with large yield but flavor was disappointingly bland. Probably won't grow again - too many other tasty varieties to put in its place.
 

Reviewed on 11/30/2006 by DD - An experienced gardener

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Linn, Iowa, 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

Nice. People enjoyed sampling these because they looked so odd. Pleasent taste.
 




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