Black Prince

Black Prince produces fruits typically weighing three to five ounces, with color that shifts from deep garnet to glossy chocolate-brown skin, tinged with brown near the stem and a warm orange-red hue toward the base; inside, the flesh glistens dark red to brown with chestnut shadings. Fruits form in clusters from mid-August, with shape ranging from smooth and round to flat and slightly ribbed, some tapering to a slightly heart-shaped point at the blossom end, and sizes varying enough that a few specimens reach nearly 400 grams. The flesh itself is juicy and soft, and the flavor is fruity and aromatic, with a rich, complex, almost salty depth typical of black tomatoes.

Black Prince is eaten fresh, sliced into salads, and canned, making it useful well beyond the table as a fresh-cut tomato. It also dries well and is said to make an excellent tomato paste, giving it a place in preserving as well as fresh eating.

Black Prince is a vigorous, indeterminate tomato whose vines stay relatively restrained rather than sprawling, while still remaining productive. Its fruit is described as crack-resistant, and as a Siberian-bred variety it can tolerate cooler growing temperatures than many tomatoes.

Black Prince originated as a local treasure from Irkutsk in Siberia, part of a lineage of hardy Russian heirloom tomatoes. Its hardiness and flavor helped it spread throughout Russia before it crossed into North America, Europe, and nearby parts of Central Asia. It was first introduced to American gardeners through a seed company's catalog offering.