Crops in: 78 Days

Description: Popular and reliable garden favorite. Large, glossy purplish -black skinned oval fruits about 13cm (5 inches) long. Fruits hold quality and color well after picking.

Sowing Instructions: Sow January to April for growing under glass, March to April for planting outdoors, in pots of moist seed compost and cover with a 6mm (¼ inch) layer of compost or vermiculite. Place in a propagator or warm place, and keep at a constant temperature of between 20-25C (68-77F). After sowing, do not exclude light as this helps germination. Keep the surface of the compost moist but not waterlogged; germination will usually take 10-14 days.

Growing Instructions: Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3 inch) pots, later pot on into 20cm (8 inch) containers. Feed every 14 days with tomato fertiliser once the first fruits have set. Provide plenty of water, especially in dry weather. Tap flowers daily to assist pollination. For outdoor crops, acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out 45cm (18 inches) apart in a warm, sheltered spot. Give plants support, and feed every 14 days with tomato fertiliser.

Aftercare Instructions: Cease feeding when fruits are fully formed, and harvest at their desired size.