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Modern open-pollinated indeterminate dark cherry tomato
Solanaceae
Organic fruiting vegetable seeds
Organic 'Black Opal' cherry tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Product code : BIOVO-0140
'Black Opal' is a modern open-pollinated cherry tomato developed in England from 'Black Cherry'; it should not be described as an heirloom. Its indeterminate vines produce clusters of round, dark mahogany to purple-brown fruit with firm, juicy flesh and a rich, sweet flavour. The first tomatoes are commonly ready about 70 days after transplanting. Start seed indoors six to eight weeks before the expected last frost, transplant into warm soil, and provide full sun, even moisture, and strong support. Harvest when the fruit has reached its characteristic dark colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Enjoy it fresh, in salads, on skewers, or as a colourful garnish.
- Quantity
- Approximately 30 seeds
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- Warm-season annual
Discover the plant
Common nameBlack Opal cherry tomato
FamilySolanaceae
GenusSolanum
Specieslycopersicum
CultivarBlack Opal
TypeModern open-pollinated indeterminate dark cherry tomato
Botanical nameSolanum lycopersicum
Reproducible seedsYes
Heirloom varietyYes
Organic 'Black Opal' cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a modern open-pollinated cultivar developed in England from 'Black Cherry'. Indeterminate vines carry abundant clusters of round, dark mahogany to purple-brown cherry tomatoes, usually about 15–30 g each. The firm, juicy fruit has a rich, sweet flavour for snacking, salads, skewers, and colourful garnishes. This is not an heirloom cultivar, although one of its parents is. The crop generally begins about 70 days after transplanting and continues until cold weather when plants receive full sun, steady moisture, and sturdy support.
Start seed indoors six to eight weeks before the expected last frost, sowing about 5 mm deep in clean, lightly moist seed-starting mix. Keep the medium warm, then move seedlings under strong light as soon as they emerge. Pot them on after true leaves develop and harden them gradually. Transplant outdoors only after frost danger has passed and the soil is warm. Choose fertile, well-drained ground in full sun, space plants for airflow, and install a tall cage or stake at planting. A large, stable container can also work if drainage and support are adequate.
Water deeply at soil level and allow the surface to begin drying before watering again. Mulch after the soil warms, keep foliage off the ground, and check ties as the indeterminate stems lengthen. Harvest when the fruit has developed its characteristic dark mahogany-purple colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure; a dark colour alone does not prove ripeness. Pick regularly to reduce the weight on clusters. Bring sound, developed fruit indoors before frost. Do not eat tomato leaves or stems, and discard fruit that is mouldy, slimy, deeply split, or smells abnormal.
Sowing guide
It all startswith a seed.
Sowing depth
0.5 cm (1/4 in)
Spacing / density
Space plants approximately 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart to accommodate indeterminate growth and air circulation.
Germination temperature
21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F)
Germination time
7 to 14 days
Sowing period
March through April indoors Adjust these dates to your local frost dates and soil conditions; Canadian growing seasons vary by region.
Propagation
Seed
Growing method
Growing tomato from seed: 'Black Opal' tomato. Sow indoors approximately 0.5 cm deep in clean seed-starting mix six to eight weeks before the local average last frost. Maintain 21 to 27 °C and even moisture without leaving the cells saturated; germination generally takes 7 to 14 days. Place emerging seedlings under strong light, add gentle airflow, and pot them up after true leaves appear. Keep the cultivar label with every plant. Harden seedlings gradually to direct sun, wind, and cooler outdoor temperatures. Transplant after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed, choosing full sun and fertile, freely drained ground. Black Opal is vigorous and indeterminate, reaching about 1.8 to 2.1 m, so install a tall cage or sturdy trellis before the roots spread. Space plants for airflow, tying, and ready harvest access. Water deeply at soil level and keep moisture even through flowering and fruit development. Apply only moderate label-rate fertilizer; excess nitrogen can delay flowers and ripe fruit. Begin inspecting clusters around 70 days after transplanting. Harvest small round cherry tomatoes when they develop a deep purple to nearly black colour, remain firm, and yield slightly under gentle pressure. Use soft ties on lengthening stems, keep lower foliage away from wet soil, and pick regularly. Collect sound developed fruit before frost rather than trying to protect the vines through freezing weather.
Soil and care
The right care,at the right time.
Soil pH
Approximately 6.0 to 6.8
Minimum temperature
10 °C (50 °F)
Care level
Moderate
Watering
'Black Opal' cherry tomato carries many small fruit, so a dry root zone can interrupt several clusters at once. 'Black Opal' cherry tomato's small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black is carried on indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth, so extend watering beyond the stem as the supported canopy enlarges. The harvest guide for 'Black Opal' cherry tomato is approximately 70 days after transplanting; maintain moisture while younger clusters continue filling. Water 'Black Opal' cherry tomato slowly at the base, soak its root zone, then wait until the upper soil begins to dry before irrigating again.
Soil type
Although 'Black Opal' cherry tomato bears small fruit, its productive growth still calls for a substantial, well-drained root zone. Prepare 'Black Opal' cherry tomato's bed for indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth bearing small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black, not only for the small spring transplant. Allow approximately 70 days after transplanting for 'Black Opal' cherry tomato to develop, providing soil volume that stays aerated after repeated watering. Before setting 'Black Opal' cherry tomato, mix mature compost through the area while preserving a crumbly structure rather than a dense amended pocket.
Fertilization
For 'Black Opal', fruit development competes with foliage under excessive nitrogen. Base extra feeding on tested need, not a calendar. 'Black Opal' cherry tomato benefits from balanced fertility before its first trusses. Measure label-rate feed rather than estimating a dose. For Black Opal cherry tomato, its root zone needs consistent moisture while fruit enlarges. Treat stalled growth as a diagnosis, not a deficiency. Once 'Black Opal' flowers, favour steady growth over leafy surges. Build soil fertility gradually with finished compost. Fertilizer cannot correct water-related disorders on 'Black Opal' cherry tomato.
Moisture
Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.
Seasonal care
Seasonal care for 'Black Opal' tomato. For the first sowing of 'Black Opal' cherry tomato, use this crop-specific timing as a guide and adjust it to the garden: indoor sowing six to eight weeks before last frost; transplant after frost. Sow 0.5 cm deep. Expect germination in 7 to 14 days at 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F); keep the medium evenly moist but aerated throughout that interval. Keep young seedlings close to strong light, rotate trays for balanced growth, and pot them on before roots become crowded. After several days of hardening, set 'Black Opal' plants outdoors only when frost danger has passed and nights have become reliably mild. Install a sturdy support at planting and guide new growth before stems become heavy or tangled. Prepare a sunny, well-drained bed; mix mature compost through the root zone and keep the lower leaves clear of soil splash. Water slowly and deeply, allowing the surface to start drying before the next irrigation so small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black develops under steady conditions. If potted, follow this provision for 'Black Opal' cherry tomato: 35 to 45 L and 35 to 45 cm wide. Recheck root-zone moisture whenever heat or wind increases evaporation. As yellow flowers open, preserve airflow around 'Black Opal', check ties and supports, and watch the undersides of leaves for early pest or disease signs. Use the supplied harvest guidance—approximately 70 days after transplanting—as a starting point; judge each fruit by developed colour, full size, and a slight yield under gentle pressure. Harvest 'Black Opal' regularly without pulling the vine, and bring sound, well-developed fruit indoors before the first hard frost.
Container growing
A garden,within reach.
Recommended pot size
35 to 45 L; container 35 to 45 cm wide
Growing 'Black Opal' tomato in containers. For 'Black Opal', choose a container matching this guide: 35 to 45 L; container 35 to 45 cm wide. Keep several drainage holes unobstructed. Set one established 'Black Opal' plant at an appropriate depth and keep the stem clear of the rim and mulch. Place the tomato plant before late-season crowding develops, keeping its mature habit in mind: indeterminate, vigorous, and climbing. Feed at a modest labelled rate after watering. Excess nitrogen can delay flowering and ripening while encouraging leafy growth. Give the crop full sun. Choose the site before committing the final planting position. Fill the container with fresh, airy vegetable potting mix amended modestly with mature compost, never dense garden soil. At final planting, follow this layout for the vine: approximately 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart. Mark positions before roots are placed. Check moisture daily during hot or windy periods, using pot weight and the root zone rather than a rigid schedule. As this tomato matures, use the expected harvest form—small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black—to guide support, inspection, and careful picking. Keep lower foliage away from wet mix, secure branches with soft ties, and leave an open route to inspect flowers and pick ripe fruit. As nights cool, check ties and actual root-zone moisture before deciding whether temporary shelter is worthwhile. Remove ripe fruit promptly and keep damaged produce out of storage. Before protecting the container from frost, examine stems and foliage for insects.
Bloom and dimensions
Its place,in your garden.
Mature height
1.8 to 2.1 m (6 to 7 ft)
Width / spread
Approximately 60 cm (24 in)
Flower color
Yellow
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Compound, divided foliage with an aroma when bruised; grown as an annual in your region
Growth rate
Fast
Growth habit
Indeterminate vigorous and climbing
Bloom period
'Black Opal' carries small yellow self-fertile flowers in clusters along its flowering stems. Breezes or bumblebee vibration normally release their pollen. In the 'Black Opal' planting, record the first bloom and first set dates for local planning. After successful set, each retained blossom begins developing the small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black. When tending 'Black Opal' cherry tomato, keep moisture even, avoid a nitrogen surge, and support the canopy before fruit adds weight. Heat, cold, or drought may cause temporary blossom drop; correct the environment before pruning or feeding heavily. For Black Opal cherry tomato, let beneficial insects visit without spraying open blooms.
Fruiting
Pollinated flowers progressively form long clusters of small deep-purple fruit that may appear nearly black at full maturity, with thin skin and juicy flesh. First harvest begins near 70 days after transplanting. Colour varies with ripeness and sunlight, so also assess gentle yielding. Maintain even moisture to limit cracking. Exact fruit weight and yield are not guaranteed. The useful maturity guide is approximately 70 days after transplanting, but colour and texture remain the final harvest checks.
Days to maturity
Approximately 70 days after transplanting
Harvest
Generally harvest around 70 days after transplanting when small fruit becomes deep purple, nearly black, and slightly yielding to gentle pressure. Colour may vary with maturity and sunlight. Pick ripe clusters regularly to encourage continued production from the indeterminate plant. Support the cluster with one hand and detach fruit without tearing stems. Before frost bring developed fruit indoors. Do not eat leaves or stems and discard mouldy slimy or abnormal-smelling fruit.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Leave an open working side around the mature canopy for tying, inspection, and picking. Rotate 'Black Opal' cherry tomato away from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes rather than treating companionship as disease control. Use basil or parsley near 'Black Opal', and reserve the sunnier open side for low lettuce or onions. Around 'Black Opal', preserve a clear route to the small round cherry-type fruit, deep purple to nearly black, and remove neighbours that begin shading fruit or trapping damp air. Use companion planting to organize succession and diversity, not as a substitute for sound crop care. Reassess the arrangement around 'Black Opal' as both crops approach mature size. A companion does not guarantee control of insects or disease, so inspect every crop separately.
Plants to avoid
Avoid waterlogged soil, overhead watering, crowding, and repeated rotations with tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, or potatoes.
Recipe idea
From the gardento your plate.
Edible parts
Ripe fruit
Warm 'Black Opal' tomato toast with ricotta and basil. Heat the oven to 220°C. Halve 300 g of ripe Black Opal cherry tomatoes and place them cut side up on a small rimmed tray. Toss with 15 ml olive oil, one finely sliced garlic clove, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Roast for 12–15 minutes, just until the skins wrinkle and the juices begin to collect; the fruit should still hold some shape. Meanwhile, toast four thick slices of country bread. Spread each slice with about 30 ml ricotta or soft goat cheese. Spoon the warm tomatoes and their juices over the bread, then finish with torn basil and 5 ml balsamic vinegar. Serve immediately as a light lunch or appetizer. The dark fruit may become brick-red after heating, which is normal. Use only fully ripe, sound tomatoes; discard mouldy, slimy, or abnormal-smelling fruit. Refrigerate unused roasted tomatoes in a clean covered container within two hours and use them within three days. This is a fresh recipe, not a shelf-stable preserving method.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should Black Opal be sown and transplanted in your region?
Start 'Black Opal' indoors six to eight weeks before the expected last frost. Sow about 5 mm deep in clean, lightly moist seed-starting mix and keep the medium warm, ideally around 21–27°C, until emergence. Give seedlings strong light immediately, then pot them on after true leaves form so the stems remain stocky. Harden plants gradually for about one week. Transplant only after frost danger has passed, the soil has warmed, and nights are reliably mild. Choose full sun, fertile well-drained soil, and enough spacing for airflow. Install a tall cage or stake at planting because this indeterminate cherry tomato continues extending and carrying clusters until cold weather. Water at soil level after transplanting and protect young stems from strong wind while roots establish.
Is Black Opal tomato determinate or indeterminate?
'Black Opal' is an indeterminate cherry tomato. Its stems continue growing, flowering, and setting clusters over an extended season instead of ripening one concentrated crop. A tall cage, trellis, or sturdy stake should be installed when the plant is transplanted, before roots and stems make later placement difficult. Add soft ties as the vine lengthens and support heavily loaded trusses without pinching the stem. Keep the structure open enough for air movement, soil-level watering, and frequent picking. Regular harvest reduces weight on the clusters. This modern English open-pollinated cultivar was bred from 'Black Cherry'; that ancestry does not make 'Black Opal' itself an heirloom. Before frost, gather only sound, developed fruit that can finish colouring indoors.
When should Black Opal tomatoes be harvested?
Begin checking clusters about 70 days after transplanting, while treating the number as an estimate rather than a deadline. A ripe 'Black Opal' has developed its characteristic dark mahogany to purple-brown colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure without becoming soft. Shoulder colour may vary with light, so compare several fruit on the same truss and use texture as well as colour. Hold the cluster while twisting or clipping ripe tomatoes so the stem is not torn. Pick every few days as later fruit colours. Before frost, bring indoors only firm, developed tomatoes. Keep leaves and green stems out of food preparation, and discard fruit with leaking splits, visible mould, slimy tissue, or an unusual odour.
Can Black Opal be grown in a container?
Yes, provided the container is large, deep, stable, and freely drained. Use a quality vegetable potting mix rather than garden soil, and install a tall cage or stake before the indeterminate vine begins to sprawl. Place the pot in full sun where severe wind will not overturn the plant. Water deeply whenever the upper layer begins to dry, but never leave the container standing in water. During hot weather, check moisture daily because a fruiting cherry tomato can empty a pot quickly. Feed moderately according to the fertilizer label, keep lower leaves away from the mix, and harvest ripe clusters often. Check ties and container stability after storms. A small decorative pot is unsuitable because it dries rapidly and cannot safely anchor a vigorous supported vine.
Can Black Opal seed be saved?
Yes. 'Black Opal' is open-pollinated, so properly isolated plants can produce seed that remains reasonably true to type. It is a modern English cultivar developed from 'Black Cherry', not an heirloom. Choose a fully ripe, typical fruit from a healthy plant and keep it separate from fruit intended for eating. Follow a recognized tomato-seed fermentation, rinsing, and drying method, then label the completely dry seed with the cultivar and year. Tomatoes can cross occasionally, so isolate blossoms or plants if varietal purity matters. Do not save seed from diseased, rotten, or atypical fruit, and clean tools carefully between seed lots.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Black Opal's cherry tomato trusses may be visited by bumblebees, which can shake pollen loose from the flowers. The cultivar is nevertheless self-fertile. Keep the trellis manageable and nearby flowering plants lower than the fruiting canopy, allowing both insect access and straightforward inspection of the many developing small tomatoes.
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