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Indeterminate heirloom beefsteak-type tomato
Solanaceae
Organic fruiting vegetable seeds
Organic 'Carbon' tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Product code : BIOVO-0132
Organic Carbon is an open-pollinated heirloom beefsteak-type tomato with large dark reddish-brown to purple fruit. Dense, juicy flesh and a rich, balanced flavour suit sandwiches, salads, and fresh tasting plates. Indeterminate plants can reach approximately 1.8–2.1 m, so install a tall cage or sturdy trellis before the crop becomes heavy. Transplant hardened seedlings after frost into sunny, fertile, well-drained soil. The listed 75–85 days to first harvest is counted from transplanting and remains weather dependent. Maintain steady moisture, tie extending stems loosely, and pick according to the fruit's own colour and gentle give. Carry large tomatoes carefully to avoid bruising underneath the skin.
- Quantity
- Approximately 30 seeds
- Exposure
- Full sun
- Life cycle
- Warm-season annual
Discover the plant
Common nameCarbon tomato
FamilySolanaceae
GenusSolanum
Specieslycopersicum
CultivarCarbon
TypeIndeterminate heirloom beefsteak-type tomato
Botanical nameSolanum lycopersicum
Reproducible seedsYes
Heirloom varietyYes
Organic 'Carbon' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is an organic heirloom open-pollinated indeterminate beefsteak-type variety. It produces large dark reddish-brown to purple fruit with dense, juicy, full-flavoured flesh. Its rich, balanced, complex flavour suits salads, sandwiches, fresh slices, and tasting platters. Plants reach 1.8–2.1 m, spread about 60 cm, and require sturdy support. Harvest generally begins 75–85 days after transplanting, depending on warmth, sunlight, and care. This classic dark tomato is especially appealing when deep fresh flavour and a substantial slicing texture are priorities. It brings memorable colour to summer plates.
Sow indoors from March through April, six to eight weeks before the last frost, approximately 0.5 cm deep. Maintain 21–27°C and even moisture; germination generally takes 7–14 days. Provide intense light immediately after emergence, pot seedlings up once true leaves develop, then harden them gradually. After frost, transplant in full sun with six to eight hours of direct light into deep, fertile, organic-rich, well-drained soil. Space plants about 60 cm apart and install a sturdy cage or stake immediately. Protect newly planted seedlings from sudden cold and strong wind while their roots establish.
Water deeply and consistently at soil level without saturating the ground, then mulch once the soil is warm. Tie stems with soft material and support heavy fruit throughout summer. Monitor cracking, blossom-end rot, insects, and foliar disease. Harvest when fruit develops its characteristic dark colour and yields slightly to gentle pressure. Colour varies with maturity and sunlight. Pick regularly to reduce strain on clusters, bring developed fruit indoors before frost, and discard tomatoes that are mouldy, slimy, deeply split, or abnormal-smelling. Clean cutting tools between plants whenever disease symptoms appear.
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: 'Carbon' tomato. Sow Carbon indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost, 0.5 cm deep in clean moist seed-starting mix. Provide strong light as soon as seedlings emerge and rotate trays only when growth begins leaning. Place 'Carbon' before late-season crowding develops, keeping its mature habit in mind: indeterminate, vigorous, and climbing. Transplant after local frost danger has passed into full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. For the tomato plant, watch for large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit and confirm maturity from colour, firmness, or size as appropriate. Brush or gently move seedlings only as part of normal airflow, not as a substitute for adequate light. At final planting, follow this layout for the crop: approximately 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart. Mark positions before roots are placed. Guide stems with soft ties and remove only damaged foliage that restricts airflow. Give the vine full sun, and keep water from collecting around the crown or container base. Install the cage, stake, or trellis at planting when support is needed. Its mature habit is indeterminate, vigorous, and climbing. Keep loaded clusters supported as frost approaches, and remove split or diseased fruit from the harvest area. Pick this tomato at its intended colour and texture, supporting clusters so stems do not tear. Before frost, harvest sound developed fruit for indoor finishing, discard diseased material, and record transplant and first-pick dates for the next Canadian season.
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
Large fruit on 'Carbon' tomato benefits from an even water supply while it expands, since abrupt drought-to-soaking cycles can split developing tomatoes. 'Carbon' tomato's large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit is carried on indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth, so extend watering beyond the stem as the supported canopy enlarges. The harvest guide for 'Carbon' tomato is 75 to 85 days after transplanting; maintain moisture while younger clusters continue filling. Water 'Carbon' tomato slowly at the base, soak its root zone, then wait until the upper soil begins to dry before irrigating again.
Soil type
'Carbon' tomato needs generous, stable soil volume for its large fruit and sustained root activity. Prepare 'Carbon' tomato's bed for indeterminate vigorous and climbing growth bearing large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit, not only for the small spring transplant. Allow 75 to 85 days after transplanting for 'Carbon' tomato to develop, providing soil volume that stays aerated after repeated watering. Before setting 'Carbon' tomato, mix mature compost through the area while preserving a crumbly structure rather than a dense amended pocket. For 'Carbon' tomato, use the supplied pH range of approximately 6.0 to 6.8 as the soil-testing target.
Fertilization
'Carbon' benefits from balanced fertility before its first trusses. Base extra feeding on tested need, not a calendar. For 'Carbon' tomato, its root zone needs consistent moisture while fruit enlarges. Water granular amendments into the active root zone. For Carbon tomato, fruit development competes with foliage under excessive nitrogen. Treat stalled growth as a diagnosis, not a deficiency. Once 'Carbon' flowers, favour steady growth over leafy surges. Choose amendments from soil results and crop response. Fertilizer cannot correct water-related disorders on 'Carbon' tomato.
Moisture
Consistent soil moisture without saturation; good air circulation around the foliage.
Seasonal care
Seasonal care for 'Carbon' tomato. Use 'Carbon' tomato’s stated sowing window as a frost-relative cue, not a universal date: indoor sowing six to eight weeks before last frost; transplant after frost. Sow 0.5 cm deep and allow 7 to 14 days for emergence at 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F), then move seedlings promptly into strong light as soon as they appear. 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 'Carbon' 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. Maintain even root-zone moisture, because abrupt swings between dry soil and heavy watering can split expanding fruit. If potted, follow this provision for 'Carbon' tomato: 50 to 75 L and 45 to 60 cm wide. Recheck root-zone moisture whenever heat or wind increases evaporation. As yellow flowers open, preserve airflow around 'Carbon', check ties and supports, and watch the undersides of leaves for early pest or disease signs. Use the supplied harvest guidance—75 to 85 days after transplanting—as a starting point; judge each fruit by developed colour, full size, and a slight yield under gentle pressure. Harvest 'Carbon' 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
50 to 75 L; container 45 to 60 cm wide
Growing 'Carbon' tomato in containers. For 'Carbon', choose a container matching this guide: 50 to 75 L; container 45 to 60 cm wide. Keep several drainage holes unobstructed. Water slowly when the upper mix begins drying, continue until surplus drains, and empty the saucer. Match 'Carbon' to full sun and observe the actual hours of unobstructed light at the site. Install a stake or cage at planting when support is needed, without later piercing the root ball. Keep approximately 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart around the crop, especially where neighbouring foliage could shade or trap moisture. Feed at a modest labelled rate after watering. Excess nitrogen can delay flowering and ripening while encouraging leafy growth. The tomato plant produces the expected harvest form: large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit. Protect the developing crop from soil splash and rough handling. Rotate the container when one side receives less light, but do not twist loaded stems against their support. This tomato has a habit described as indeterminate, vigorous, and climbing; use this to guide positioning or selective thinning without forcing a cramped plant. Prevent soil splash on lower leaves, fasten stems without constriction, and keep flower clusters and developing fruit easy to inspect. As nights cool, check ties and actual root-zone moisture before deciding whether temporary shelter is worthwhile. Complete the harvest as cold nights approach, retaining only sound fruit. A container brought under cover needs useful light, warmth, and a short isolation period for pest inspection.
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
'Carbon' carries small yellow self-fertile flowers in clusters along its flowering stems. Breezes or bumblebee vibration normally release their pollen. Water at soil level so open blossoms remain dry. For 'Carbon', after successful set, each retained blossom begins developing the large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit. Keep moisture even, avoid a nitrogen surge, and support the canopy before fruit adds weight. In the 'Carbon' tomato planting, heat, cold, or drought may cause temporary blossom drop; correct the environment before pruning or feeding heavily. Avoid treating every fallen flower as disease. Observe 'Carbon' tomato through several flower clusters before judging set.
Fruiting
Carbon develops large beefsteak fruit from pollinated yellow flowers, usually beginning 75–85 days after transplanting. The skin deepens to reddish brown or purple, while ripe flesh yields slightly to gentle pressure. Because colour shifts with light and temperature, use feel as well as appearance. Support heavy clusters, keep moisture even during enlargement, and pick progressively before fruit becomes soft or splits.
Days to maturity
75 to 85 days after transplanting
Harvest
Harvest Carbon about 75–85 days after transplanting, when the beefsteak fruit has deepened to reddish brown or purple and gives slightly under gentle pressure. Sun exposure can change the final shade, so do not rely on colour alone. Support the tomato with one hand and clip its stem with the other. Pick progressively and bring sound mature fruit indoors before frost.
Garden associations
In goodcompany.
Companion plants
Basil, parsley, chives, lettuce, or onions can share a diversified bed with 'Carbon' when each crop keeps its own root room. Tie or cage the tomato before nearby herbs make its base harder to reach. Rotate 'Carbon' tomato away from tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and potatoes rather than treating companionship as disease control. Remove any neighbour that begins competing for light, moisture, airflow, or harvest access. In the 'Carbon' planting, preserve a clear route to the large beefsteak-type dark reddish-brown to purple fruit, 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 'Carbon' as both crops approach mature size.
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
'Carbon' tomato in the kitchen. Carbon tomato and basil platter — Rinse two or three ripe, sound tomatoes and cut them into thick slices with a sharp serrated knife. Arrange the slices in a single layer on a platter, overlapping colours and shapes rather than stacking them deeply. Whisk 20 mL olive oil with 10 mL red-wine vinegar, black pepper, and a small pinch of salt. Spoon the dressing over the tomatoes and let them stand for five minutes. Add torn basil, thinly sliced shallot, and either fresh mozzarella, white beans, or toasted walnuts. Serve with grilled bread to catch the juices. The fruit is the focus, so avoid refrigerating the assembled platter for a long period before serving. Wash tomatoes before cutting and use a clean board, particularly when they come directly from the garden. Discard fruit that is mouldy, leaking, or fermented-smelling rather than trimming around deep decay. Refrigerate leftover cut tomato promptly in a covered container and store cheese or beans separately when possible.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions,answered.
When should Carbon be sown and transplanted in your region?
Sow Carbon indoors approximately six to eight weeks before your planned transplant date. Place seed 0.5 cm (¼ in) deep and keep it at 21 to 27 °C (70 to 81 °F); germination is expected in 7 to 14 days. Provide bright light after emergence, pot seedlings on as needed, and harden them gradually. Move plants outside after the final frost, once soil and nights are warm. Install a tall, strong cage at planting because Carbon is an indeterminate beefsteak-type tomato expected to reach 1.8 to 2.1 m. Allow space around its roughly 60 cm spread. The large dark reddish-brown to purple fruit matures in a listed 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Local temperature and transplant stress can change when the first fruit is ready.
Is Carbon tomato determinate or indeterminate?
Carbon is indeterminate. Its vigorous vine continues extending and producing flowers while conditions remain favourable, so it needs ongoing support rather than the short cage used for a compact bush tomato. Plan for 1.8 to 2.1 m of height and approximately 60 cm of spread. Install a strong cage or stake at transplanting and secure new stems with soft ties before heavy beefsteak fruit loads them. If the plant is container-grown, give it 50 to 75 L of mix in a vessel approximately 45 to 60 cm wide. Keep the pot stable and every drainage opening clear. Because fruit set is progressive, inspect ties regularly, pick mature dark fruit as it ripens, and continue supporting the younger growth above it. Do not expect the entire crop to finish at once.
When should Carbon tomatoes be harvested?
Carbon tomatoes are ready when the large beefsteak fruit reaches its dark reddish-brown to purple mature colour and yields slightly under gentle pressure. Begin checking in the listed 75- to 85-day window after transplanting. Colour can look dark before texture is ready, so use both cues and compare individual fruit. Support each heavy tomato while detaching it from the indeterminate vine to avoid snapping a cluster. Pick cracked fruit promptly for near-term use if sound, but discard leaking, mouldy, or rotten specimens. The plant continues setting and ripening fruit rather than finishing all at once. Keep upper stems tied after the first harvest and inspect later clusters regularly. Record the appearance of one properly ripe Carbon to make future dark-fruit judgments more consistent in your garden.
Can Carbon be grown in a container?
Carbon is container-compatible only with substantial root room and support. Use one plant in a stable 50–75 L pot approximately 45 to 60 cm wide, with free drainage. Set a strong cage or stake in place at planting because the indeterminate vine can reach 1.8 to 2.1 m and bears large beefsteak-type fruit. Move it outdoors after frost danger has passed and give it full sun. Water the entire root ball, let surplus escape, and monitor moisture frequently in heat; do not leave the pot standing in water. Tie stems loosely as they grow and verify that wind has not shifted the support. The dark reddish-brown to purple fruit is listed at 75 to 85 days after transplanting. Frequent ripe harvest reduces the load on branches and the container's framework.
Can Carbon seed be saved?
Yes. Carbon is an heirloom open-pollinated variety. To reduce crossing with other tomatoes, isolate blossoms intended for seed or separate cultivars adequately. Choose a healthy typical fruit and allow it to ripen fully. Collect seed with its gel, then follow a recognized method for fermentation, rinsing, and complete drying. Spread seed in a thin layer in a ventilated place without excessive heat. Label it with cultivar and year before storing it in a cool dry location. Do not use diseased, atypical, or rotten fruit as a seed source, and clean utensils between lots. Keep the saved seed protected from moisture during storage.
Wildlife and pets
Life,around your plants.
Supporting wildlife
Carbon tomato flowers provide pollen rather than a dependable nectar supply. Bees capable of vibrating the blossoms may visit them, while wind also contributes to movement. For a broader pollinator planting, pair the vegetable bed with varied flowering species rather than relying on the tomato row to meet every insect's needs.
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