Tomato 'Dark Queen'

Large, striped and very tasty fruits.

1. Original Name: Dark Queen.

2. History: Bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California, USA). Its ancestor was Beauty King. Released in 2016. A recent variety.

3. Plant Specifications: Middle-late or even rather late. A good choice for growing outdoors but a heavy cropper when growing in a greenhouse. Heat-tolerant. Indeterminate, tall bush, growing up to 6 feet (180 cm) tall. Medium-thick stem, regular leaf. Regular truss (double truss in rare cases). There are 4-5 fruits per truss.

4. Training Instructions: It is recommended to train the bush to one or two main stems. Pruning and staking are a must.

5. Shape and Weight: Beefsteak fruits with rare ribs near the stem end. Weight: 7-14.1 oz. (200-400 g).

6. Color: Striped bi-color fruits. Green stripes later turning olive-green or metallic on the pink and dark red background. A marvelous sight. The fruits look like flowers. Dark red in a cut.

7. Flavor Profile: Rich and complex taste being perfect for those who love exotic varieties. Well-balanced sweet and slightly acidic taste with a bright flavor. The flesh is buttery, juicy and meaty enough. Thick walls.

8. Culinary Use: Perfect for eating fresh and making salads. A good slicer. Ideal for juices and paste. Fruits do not keep well as this is a salad-type variety with juicy fruits. These tomatoes prefer moderate humidity but not too much water as their skin may crack.

Our fruits met the original characteristics. However, some gardeners had small fruits weighing only 3.5-7 oz. (100-200 g). This might be a result of bad weather conditions or insufficient fertilization. On the whole, this variety is worth your attention as these tomatoes are very beautiful and tasty and you can rely on them.