Japanese Truffle Tomato: Variety Description, Photos, Reviews

Modern gardeners have a world of options – there are dozens of new varieties of every vegetable, choose any, grow, and try! Each has its own characteristics, its own taste, and, of course, requires special care. For example, if we talk about tomato variety, Japanese Truffle tomato and the characteristics and description of the variety demonstrate its uniqueness.

Characteristics of the variety

It's probably rare to find a garden or a backyard plot that isn't graced by tomatoes. Breeders in many countries are constantly developing new varieties, striving to improve them. They want them to be pest-resistant, visually pleasing, and tasteful enough to please even the most demanding chefs and gourmets. And, of course, they want to ensure their maintenance won't cost gardeners and large producers a pretty penny.

After all, a good variety is a profitable commodity. Interestingly, the Black Truffle tomato is a relatively new variety for Russia, although Western vegetable growers themselves believe it originated in Russia. Why such a strange name? Just look at the unusual shape. These tomatoes are hard to confuse with others. Housewives love them for their good taste and attractive appearance.

The Japanese red truffle is classified as an indeterminate variety. It's not known for its high yield, though, with a yield of approximately 2-4 kg per bush. The variety itself is mid-season, with a ripening period of 110 to 120 days.

The bushes are tall; if planted in good, open soil, they can grow up to 1.5 m, in a greenhouse they can reach 2 m. They require mandatory tying and pinching out the side shoots.

Fruit

Tomatoes of this variety have several internal variations, which are identified externally by color:

• Japanese Truffle and Pink Tomato – delicate pink hue;
• Japanese truffle and black tomato – beautiful dark color, black or dark purple, dark blue fruits;
• truffle and yellow tomato – pear-shaped, warm fruits with yellow hues;
• red truffle – the most common;
• Japanese orange truffle.

These varieties only have different colors and may have slightly different flavors. The tomatoes are typically 100-200 grams and pear-shaped. Upon closer inspection, the yellow (golden) truffle is sweeter and is often eaten as is, without being processed or sliced ​​for a salad.

The fruit's skin and flesh are quite dense, making them suitable for long-term transportation and storage. Like black or yellow truffles, even red truffles can be safely canned and eaten fresh. Many gardeners try not to separate their varieties and grow all the different cultivars at once, making the tomato sector more like a rainbow. Canning several different tomatoes at once will result in a beautiful combination of colors and flavors.

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The shape is truly pear-shaped, elongated, wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. The truffle yield isn't impressive, but experienced gardeners strive to squeeze out as much as possible. The distinctive shape of the fruit immediately identifies the variety in any photo.

Recommendations

Simply reading the variety description isn't enough if you want to grow Japanese Truffles. After all, it only describes the shape, size, and general flavor characteristics. A successful tomato harvest in the coming year depends entirely on the gardener's efforts. Here are some basic growing tips:

"Japanese truffle" should be grown when it has 1-2 stems. Then, side shoots should be removed so that approximately 5-6 intact clusters remain on the stem. Each cluster will eventually produce 5-7 fruits. According to more experienced gardeners who have been growing truffles for several years, the bush produces approximately 2-3 individual clusters, and the remaining fruits should be harvested immediately while they are still technically ripe.

When choosing a location for future seedlings, remember that bushes in open ground will grow up to 1.5 meters tall, while in a greenhouse they will reach 2 meters, each one needing to be staked. There's no significant difference; they grow well in open, regular soil as well, just at a lower height. In a greenhouse, however, a tall vine can produce a larger harvest.

The correct planting pattern for tomatoes is 40x40 cm – the area necessary for the bush to develop and grow. They are usually planted in the ground towards the end of May, when the weather is already warm, even hot. Seedlings grow for two months before planting, beginning in March or April. If greenhouse planting is planned, seeds should be sown in early March, then transferred to the greenhouse precisely on May 1st. This timing will help ensure a harvest by the 15th or 20th of June.

This variety is prone to frequent truss breakage, so carefully tie up the stems and trusses. Side shoots appear quickly, so it's important to monitor them and remove them promptly. They grow extremely quickly; if you miss them, they can become difficult to distinguish from the other stems.

Truffles don't have a specific point when growth ends, so gardeners should monitor the bushes and pinch them as needed. A 2-meter-tall bush is sufficient, so you don't have to use a ladder to harvest your crop, like a winegrower.

Otherwise, the "Japanese Truffle" doesn't have any special varietal characteristics; it requires standard tomato care: watering, regular loosening, then ventilation (for plants grown indoors), inspection, and fertilizing.

The description should be supplemented by the "Japanese truffle's" resistance to sudden cold spells, as well as to unpleasant fungal diseases, such as late blight, a real scourge of tomatoes.

Regarding the name, it's unlikely that the truffle has any connection whatsoever to Japan. Perhaps the inventor of the variety was inspired by the unusual shape of the tomato. Although, that's where the name "truffle" comes from. Some compare these tomatoes to a pear, a light bulb, or a pumpkin (there are pear-shaped pumpkins).

To grow tomatoes When planting fully in the ground or in a greenhouse, seedlings are first formed separately and only then transplanted. Planting is usually done in May, but experienced gardeners begin preparations as early as late winter.

After all, the plot needs to be cleared, giving the sun more opportunity to warm the soil. Then think about fertilizer and choose a location for the seedlings. Besides tomatoes, gardeners plant potatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and many other vegetables. The garden is divided into sections for each type of vegetable. Anyone who remembers grandma's garden will know that the green potato bushes always took up most of the space; they ripened later, so they delighted the eye in neat rows all summer long. Tomatoes and cucumbers, on the other hand, yield much faster. The "Japanese Truffle" is no exception.

Briefly about the varieties

Red truffles are often picked for canning; they have a pleasant tartness coupled with a beautiful red hue. Any home cook will love them. However, the tomatoes also make a beautiful salad or condiment.

Black truffles – of course, truly deep black truffles are rare. They are more often purple, dark red, or deep blue. Their extremely rich flavor, coupled with their unusual shape and color, makes them especially appealing to gourmets and professional chefs.

Pink truffle – a beautiful, delicate pink color, the taste is more similar to its red counterpart.

Golden truffle – it has a rich, even noble hue; gourmets say it has a sweeter taste.

The orange truffle is a bright, even sunny color, but its taste is more similar to its red counterpart.

According to experts who've tried growing different varieties, the more yellow the truffle, the sweeter it will be. However, if you make yellow adjika, your family might be hesitant to eat it. Not to mention your guests! After all, as we all know, what's on the outside of a vegetable is on the inside. The color of the tomato flesh matches the color of its outer surface.

Conclusion

The "Japanese Truffle" is undoubtedly a beautiful and delicious variety, captivating with its unique shape. It doesn't require much care (as is typical for tomato care in general). It's excellent for canning and daily consumption. Some fans even eat it as is, instead of fruit. It's undoubtedly healthy. Of course, most gardeners complain that they shouldn't expect a good harvest, so when choosing a truffle, expect mediocre results.

Reviews

Olesya

"It's a truly beautiful tomato; I really liked it. I haven't grown it myself, but I bought a few kilos to try out for canning. It was the shape that caught my eye. I tried them before canning them, and they were delicious. They were golden and sweet. The saleswoman herself recommended buying several varieties, saying they'd look prettier in the jar."

Anna

"Do I need to hill up my beds? I'm used to constantly tending them; I like it when they're clean and free of unwanted weeds. I read somewhere that some tomato varieties like to have other plants in their company. What kind exactly? The 'truffle' variety doesn't have any such indication."

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Irina

"Not necessarily. Of course, it's worth hilling up when the sprouts are still small and the seedlings are just getting established. Then, when the bushes are already a meter or taller, there's no need to overdo it. Regular watering, fertilizing, and monitoring the bushes' condition are essential. It may be resistant to most diseases, but pests are still a problem. It's not for nothing that they say a careful grower reaps a good harvest. Especially since 'truffle' doesn't promise abundance. I like the variety itself; the tomatoes are beautiful and delicious, especially loved by children. We've been planting them for three years now. This year we'll have 'truffle' tomatoes too. I wonder why they call it Japanese?"