Calvados Tomato: Characteristics and Description of the Variety (Photo)

Tomatoes

The Calvados tomato is the result of the work of Ukrainian breeders. Its characteristics and description of the variety are of interest only to true gardening enthusiasts, those who prefer to grow new and unusual varieties, ones that none of their neighbors have. This variety has an indeterminate bush. Yields, according to various reviews, range from average to high. The few photos show dark burgundy fruits of a standard shape, without green shoulders, weighing from 120 to 300 g.

This mid-season variety, which can reach a height of 1.2–1.6 m with standard cultivation techniques, requires constant staking and strict adherence to all agronomic guidelines. In temperate climates, it can be grown primarily in a greenhouse. This variety achieves its best growth when trained into a two-stemmed bush and requires mandatory and consistent pinching, organic fertilizers, and staking, as with any tomato plant reaching similar heights.

The Calvados tomato produces juicy, brown-red fruits suitable for culinary purposes and for juicing. Its thin skin and high water content make it ideal for juicing any recipe. With proper cultivation, the bushes produce several inflorescences, each producing 2-4 tomatoes.

However, the discrepancies in the characteristics and descriptions of this variety disappear as soon as the discussion turns to its suitability for processing. Everyone agrees that it's ideal for preserving homemade juices, including various dressings, sauces, and seasonings for winter cooking.

Photos sent to fans of the varieties with good results show dark-burgundy, firm fruits that fit comfortably in the palm of the owner's hand.

Selection and history of the variety's development

For the third decade in a row, tomatoes in non-traditional colors have been grown in Europe, as it has been observed that multicolored fruits tend to contain a certain excess of nutrients. Green and olive varieties help relieve allergies and prevent allergic reactions to plant products.

Purple and black varieties, which include Calvados, contain natural antioxidants – blue and black anthocyanins.

Calvados tomatoes are considered black-ripening tomatoes, but they are not considered black-ripening tomatoes because they are normally red-brown, only slightly different from the typical color of common red varieties. However, with proper cultivation practices, their skin acquires a more pronounced hue, as does the flesh when cut.

Important! Studies have shown that varieties with similar coloring characteristics have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system and have the ability to prevent the formation and development of cancer cells. They also improve vision, even with age-related changes.

It was precisely these properties of black tomatoes that attracted the attention of European scientists, and subsequently, ordinary consumers, and not at all a love of exoticism and unusual tomato skin colors.

Developed by Ukrainian breeders, Calvados is a variety intermediate between purple, black, and red tomatoes, containing nutrients essential for treating many ailments. The limited availability of this variety, which first appeared in 2014, meant that Calvados was primarily grown outdoors in the Krasnodar Krai. It was only in 2016 that the first attempts were made to cultivate it in greenhouses.

Reviews from gardeners sharing their experiences on forums indicate that, with proper cultivation techniques, the variety produces high yields. Many note the watery texture of the fruit, which nevertheless boasts a good, distinct flavor. However, this is certainly a positive aspect, as many have been growing Calvados for two years now to preserve homemade juices. These have a rich flavor and are rich in vitamins.

Please note! Not many gardeners in the country cultivate black and blue varieties, so precise instructions for them have not yet been developed. Some believe these varieties are easy to grow and don't require special care. However, those who have extensive experience cultivating exotic varieties insist that they, on the contrary, require careful handling and care, as well as a specific selection of fertilizers.

Dark-fruited varieties: pros and cons

In Europe, such varieties are grown specifically for dietary purposes. Therefore, they are often not treated with any mineral fertilizers, replacing them with organic ones. These are used in small and strictly limited quantities.

The undoubted advantages of the Calvados variety include the following qualities, not widely known to fans of exotic varieties:

This is an indeterminate bush, which can be restricted in growth if necessary.
The fruit has an unusual color and flavor, with thin skin and a high water content. This makes the harvest popular for canning homemade juices and creating a homemade vitamin base for the winter.
The fruits have been shown to be beneficial in dietary nutrition for those with cardiovascular conditions (due to their beneficial properties). They are recommended for those with potential environmental or hereditary cancer risks and for improving vision.
High yield when grown in greenhouses and all beneficial properties are preserved.
Like any dark-fruited tomato rich in nutrients, Calvados acts as a natural aphrodisiac. It can improve potency in men, acting as a natural stimulant of libido.

Fact! Black-fruited tomatoes naturally have a higher content of carotenoids, anthocyanins, and natural antioxidants. This property can be enhanced by observing certain growing conditions, resulting in a more pronounced dark color.

It has been established that this color is obtained in black-fruited tomatoes due to the significant concentration of anthocyanins they acquire through proper agricultural practices.

However, due to the specific characteristics of dark-skinned varieties and the lack of experience in growing them, domestic vegetable growers have not developed sufficiently common and effective agricultural practices. This creates certain difficulties for those without sufficient experience growing problematic crops.

Advice! When growing exotic tomato varieties, it's important to ensure the supplier you purchase seeds from is trustworthy and reputable. Experienced gardeners have noted that instead of the anticipated new arrival—the aronia-fruited Calvados—you might end up purchasing seeds of another, more common aronia-fruited variety.

Features of agricultural technology and precautions

Before planting expensive seeds, consult a long-term weather forecast and the lunar calendar to determine the optimal time for transplanting seedlings into open ground. Seeds should be sown 60–65 days before the expected planting date. Seeds should be planted in warm enough air (at least 20°C), with good lighting, and with a mandatory nighttime temperature reduction of 2–3°C. Humidity in the greenhouse should reach 60–70%.

Seedlings should be fed only with organic fertilizers or a special formula for exotic varieties. In temperate and temperate climates, the Calvados variety is only suitable for greenhouse cultivation.

For reference! Experienced vegetable growers note that side-sonning should be done regularly, and seedlings and bushes should be treated equally regularly for potential diseases and pests. When growing exotic varieties, it is not recommended to use chemical fertilizers or synthetic pesticides. Not only can they damage the plant, but they also reduce the effectiveness of the treatment for various diseases.

Such bushes require weekly treatment with Trichodermin. This is a special biological product designed to treat plants against fungus. However, some gardeners try to avoid even this treatment and resort to their own tried-and-true or inherited folk remedies.

To prevent fungal diseases, the following are often used:

garlic infusion;
naturally soured whey;
sour kvass;
stale diluted kefir.

This treatment is recommended not only for open ground but also for greenhouse plantings, as the intensive growth of such varieties, the constant formation of new clusters, and the failure to harvest thin-skinned fruits on time lead to the rapid development of mold or fungus.

Interesting! The intensity of the dark tones in the fruit can be used to judge the soil's acidity. As soon as the acidity level exceeds the norm, the fruit takes on a pinkish-crimson color, and when the level returns to normal, they immediately darken. This is the reaction of anthocyanins, which were previously found only in the plant's stems but, as a result of selective breeding, have come to be present in the fruit as well.

The Calvados variety requires careful staking and removal of as many suckers as possible to strengthen the main stems. This precaution is necessary because the fruits have thin skin. As soon as the skin touches the ground, damage and rot immediately occur. For the same reason, it's essential to carefully monitor the ripening of the tomatoes and harvest them from the vine when they are technically ripe. This is especially true when the variety is grown commercially.

It is recommended to fertilize the bushes with a small amount of bird droppings (no more than a matchbox) or powdered ash or chalk just before planting the seedlings.

Overall, reviews of the Calvados variety's flavor are positive. In greenhouse conditions, it can be considered a mid-season variety, with a ripening period of 115-120 days. The bushes can grow up to 160 cm in height; however, with this growth rate, yields decline, with some growers describing them as high, while others report them as average or even low.

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However, many intend to continue growing them due to the beneficial components found in the fruit, which are used in dietary nutrition for adults and therapeutic nutrition for children and can have a positive impact on many aspects of health.