(Lycopersicon esculentum) The taste test winner many years in a row, Carbon is one of the most successful beefsteak size tomatoes we’ve grown, uncovered, out in the field yet. We easily harvested a couple of hundred pounds of fruit from about 50-row feet of plants. Flattened 12-16 oz fruits have brownish shoulders and deep dark red flesh. The flavor is a revelation, deep, rich, complex. The best description I can give is immediate silence and then eyes, half-closed and rolling back in bliss, at a happy autumn tomato-tasting. Content nods and “yep, that one” announced a near-unanimous winner. It has a bit of heirloom tomato funk, concentric cracking and blossom end “cat-facing” (though much better than most), but if your bottom line is flavor, this is the one. Indeterminate.
85 days. CV

Packet: 30-35 seeds

[split]

Growing Info

SOWING:

Sow 5-8 weeks before your last frost date.

Transplant out after danger of frost (45+F nighttime temps).

Note: Don't start too early or plants will be leggy and root-bound! Tomatoes do well in clay to loam soils.

PLANTING DEPTH:

1/8-1/4"

SPACING:

18-30" spacing in rows 5' apart.

EMERGENCE:

5-10 days @ soil temp 70-85F

LIGHT:

Full sun

FERTILITY:

Medium-Heavy. Prefers well-drained, well-balanced fertile soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0. Note that excess Nitrogen will encourage foliage, not fruit! Low calcium and irregular watering will result in blossom end rot.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Row cover may be used for extra warmth and possible earlier fruit set.

Irregular watering can result in blossom end rot. Even watering and supplemental calcium can help prevent this.

Plant deeply to encourage healthy root structure.

Indeterminate varieties may benefit from pruning suckers to encourage air flow, plant health, and energy towards plant top and fruit.

Determinate varieties do not need pruning.

Trellis Indeterminate varieties! We really like the Florida weave.

Tomato, 'Carbon'