Growers’ Notes and Photos (USDA Zones 3-4 Experience)
Indeterminate, mid-season slicer. Regular leaf foliage. Fruits are an intense dusky pinkish-black, showing chocolate-brown tones when slightly underripe, weighing up to 10.5 oz (300 g). Meaty flesh with a solid hit of sweetness backed by gentle acid, very pleasant and slightly unique flavor profile.
Ran it in the greenhouse. Yield was about average, but I got it started way too late, seeds didn’t sprout until the very end of April, so it never really had a chance to show its full potential. Definitely giving it another run this year.
Growing this variety this season. Margaret Curtain is making a very strong impression. Sturdy vine, trained it to 2 stems, and it carries a heavy fruit load with zero trouble, very solid yield potential. Fruits are a gorgeous deep chocolate-brown, running 7-10.5 oz (200-300 g).
Definitely not late in my garden, colored up right along with my regular mid-season varieties. What makes the flavor interesting is that it caters to folks who love straight sweetness as well as those who want that tangy bite, very well-balanced overall :). A truly great representative of the black tomato family.
On 3/28/2017 at 3:13 PM, ElenaN said:
Definitely giving it another run this year.
Elena, did you end up growing this variety again? How did it do for you? You also mentioned earlier that you wanted to trial seeds from another source that listed it with higher sugar levels. Ever get around to trying that strain?
On 8/2/2018 at 3:31 PM, Valeriy1968 said:
…making a very strong impression.
On 8/2/2018 at 3:31 PM, Valeriy1968 said:
What makes the flavor interesting is that it caters to folks who love straight sweetness…
Valeriy, did you keep this one in your rotation? I’m specifically looking for varieties that are either distinctly sweet or have that rich, bold, complex flavor profile :))
Full Summary: Plant Habit, Fruit Load, and Flavor Dynamics
- 🌿 Plant & Vigor: Indeterminate vine with regular leaf foliage. Strong structural integrity that supports heavy cluster loads on 2 main stems without dropping trusses. Sets medium-to-large, smooth, chocolate-tinted beefsteaks weighing 7-10.5 oz (200-300 g).
- 📈 Yield & Timing: Reliable mid-season producer. Ripens alongside standard mid-season heirlooms in cold Zone 3/4 unheated greenhouses, though late sowing (late April) significantly shortens its harvest window.
- 👅 Flavor Profile: Balanced and complex. Combines the deep, smoky undertones typical of black varieties with pronounced sugar and a crisp hint of acidity, making it versatile for both sweet and classic tomato lovers.
- 🌎 Who Reviewed It: Grown in cold northern Russian climates (Kostroma and Vologda, USDA Zone 3/4) and Tatarstan (Zone 4).
Margaret Curtain is an heirloom variety originating from New Zealand/Australia, named after the gardener who stewarded it before it was distributed through international seed preservation networks and Tomatoville. In heirloom taste trials, it frequently rivals legends like Cherokee Purple and Paul Robeson. The key distinguishing feature noted by growers like Valeriy is plant architecture: unlike some black heirlooms that can have fragile stems prone to kinking under the weight of ripening fruit, Margaret Curtain develops stout trusses that hold up well under heavy crops.
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