- Heirloom
- Beefsteak
- 80 (estimated) days to maturity (from transplant)
- Indeterminate
- Black
Black Krim
Heirloom beefsteak from Ukraine, 1990. Dark Crimean heirloom, sweet and rich with a smoky edge; one strain in circulation runs salty and tart. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 9, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Fruit type
- Beefsteak 8–12 oz (230–340 g) · Flattened globe (estimated)
- Leaf type
- Regular leaf
- Days to harvest
- 80 days (estimated) from transplant · Mid-late
- Plant height
- 5–6½ ft (150–200 cm) (estimated) Tall
- Spacing
- 24 × 35 in (60 × 90 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Polytunnel · Open ground
- Container growing
- Not suited to pots
- Difficulty
- Moderate (estimated) 3/5
- Skin
-
- Black
- Interior
-
- Red
- Green
Plant size and habit
Tall · Indeterminate
5–6½ ft (150–200 cm) (estimated) · Regular leaf
Black Krim is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–6½ ft (150–200 cm).
Flavor
“Dark Crimean heirloom, sweet and rich with a smoky edge; one strain in circulation runs salty and tart.”
Growing calendar
80 (estimated) days from transplant Mid-late
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 6–8 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Slicing
- Fresh & salads
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
- Hot climate
Origin
Black Krim takes its name from the Crimean peninsula and reached Western seed catalogues through the Seed Savers Exchange 1990 Yearbook, listed by Lars Olov Rosenström of Bromma, Sweden; the same year it became the first black tomato sold commercially in the United States. It carries the dark shoulder pigmentation common to the Black Sea group. Growers on Tatiana's TOMATOBase describe the authentic strain as sweet and rich with a smoky edge; a second strain in circulation is saltier and more tart. Growers who have chased the authentic strain describe it as sweet with a smoky edge, and report that much commercial seed is a salty, tarter strain or an outright red-fruited cross, so expect variation between packets. It colours up best under heat and can look muddy in a cool season.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked daily- Botanical InterestsSeeds
Packet size not listed
Check availability
$2.69Checked Nov 1, 2026 - Tomato Growers Supply CompanySeeds
Pack (30 seeds)
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$2.95Checked Nov 1, 2026 - True Leaf MarketSeeds
125 Mg Packet
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$2.99Checked Nov 1, 2026 - Baker Creek Heirloom SeedsSeeds
Packet size not listed
In stock
$3.00Checked Nov 1, 2026 - Eden BrothersSeeds
Packet
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$3.14Checked Nov 1, 2026 - BurpeeSeeds
30 Seeds
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$3.95Checked Nov 1, 2026
Links may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Nov 1, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a Black Krim plant?
A Black Krim plant grows 5–6½ ft (150–200 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 24 in (60 cm) apart in rows 35 in (90 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 6–8 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 7–14 days (estimated). It needs full sun.
How long does Black Krim take to mature?
Black Krim is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Does Black Krim need staking?
Black Krim is an indeterminate plant that keeps growing and setting fruit until frost; it needs a stake, cage, or trellis for the whole season. Expect a plant of 5–6½ ft (150–200 cm).
Can Black Krim be grown in a container?
Black Krim is better suited to open ground or a greenhouse bed than a container.
Is Black Krim resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Black Krim.
