{"id":1248,"date":"2026-08-29T13:22:34","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T13:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=1248"},"modified":"2026-08-29T13:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T13:24:46","slug":"qingdao","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/qingdao\/","title":{"rendered":"Tsindao (Qingdao) Black Tomato Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n<div class=\"kk-star-ratings kksr-auto kksr-align-left kksr-valign-top\"\n    data-payload='{&quot;align&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:&quot;1248&quot;,&quot;slug&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;valign&quot;:&quot;top&quot;,&quot;ignore&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;reference&quot;:&quot;auto&quot;,&quot;class&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;count&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;legendonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;readonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;score&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;starsonly&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;best&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;gap&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;greet&quot;:&quot;Rate this&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Tsindao (Qingdao) Black Tomato Reviews&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;_legend&quot;:&quot;{score}\\\/{best} - ({count} {votes})&quot;,&quot;font_factor&quot;:&quot;1.25&quot;}'>\n            \n<div class=\"kksr-stars\">\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-inactive\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"1\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"2\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"3\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"4\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" data-star=\"5\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n<div class=\"kksr-stars-active\" style=\"width: 0px;\">\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"kksr-star\" style=\"padding-right: 5px\">\n            \n\n<div class=\"kksr-icon\" style=\"width: 24px; height: 24px;\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n                \n\n<div class=\"kksr-legend\" style=\"font-size: 19.2px;\">\n            <span class=\"kksr-muted\">Rate this<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<h2>Quick Summary of Tsindao (Qingdao)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf0d <strong>Origin:<\/strong> A well-known dark\/black tomato variety popular among Russian and Eastern European heirloom growers. Originally named after the Chinese city of Qingdao.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf3f <strong>Plant Habit:<\/strong> Indeterminate (tall), but growers frequently note that the plant has a rather fragile, wispy structure (not overly aggressive in growth) and usually stops around 1.2\u20131.5 m (4\u20135 ft) in height.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf45 <strong>Fruit Characteristics:<\/strong> Beautiful dark-mahogany\/chocolate beefsteaks. Fruits average 300\u2013400g (10.5\u201314 oz) but can easily reach 600\u2013700g (21\u201325 oz). Some growers note a tendency for &#8220;green shoulders&#8221; (which can be fixed with potassium\/MKP feeding) and occasional cracking if left too long on the vine.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc45 <strong>Flavor:<\/strong> The taste is the main reason growers keep this on their permanent list. It is consistently described as incredibly sweet, juicy, and fruity.<\/li>\n<li>\u23f3 <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> Do not let it overripen on the vine, or it can become mushy. It\u2019s best to pick it right as it gets soft or even slightly underripe (it finishes ripening beautifully indoors without losing its sweetness).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"add-review-cta\" style=\"margin: 20px 0; padding: 15px; background: #f9f9f9; border-left: 4px solid #4CAF50; border-radius: 4px;\"><strong>\ud83c\udf45 Grown this variety?<\/strong> <a href=\"#wpdcom\">Click here to add your own photos and review below!<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I first saw a photo of this variety in the magazine &#8220;Household Farming&#8221; No. 3-2011, and read about it there. I liked it, but couldn&#8217;t find any seed sellers. I wrote to one place (by mail), but didn&#8217;t get an answer (maybe it got lost, it happens with the mail).<\/p>\n<p>I mentioned this on the forum and received seeds from our Marinessa, for which I am very grateful to her. Marina most likely got them from V. Monakhova.<\/p>\n<p>Tsindao is indeterminate, but the bush is not very robust and wasn&#8217;t striving upwards too much (only one grew). After cutting it, I thought it wasn&#8217;t fully ripe yet, but it was already quite soft, and most importantly \u2013 sweet. The rest of the fruits are smaller and there aren&#8217;t many on the bush, but I am definitely going to grow it again.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3848_54572232615c2101d88e48cd788c89b2ca765e73.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3848_54572232615c2101d88e48cd788c89b2ca765e73.jpg\" alt=\"Tsindao dark tomato fruit\" width=\"563\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3850_a39686520ea77f1202d8d598b5676ce75c9711a7.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3850_a39686520ea77f1202d8d598b5676ce75c9711a7.jpg\" alt=\"Sliced Tsindao tomato\" width=\"600\" height=\"490\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3852_3a2d5fe77b323b1f8ae0a3e0e6c1c01934a7e5aa.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/3852_3a2d5fe77b323b1f8ae0a3e0e6c1c01934a7e5aa.jpg\" alt=\"Meaty cross section of Tsindao\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Marinessa (Marina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,264 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tsindao was my absolute favorite dark-fruited variety this past season. The taste is mind-blowing\u2014juicy, sweet. \ud83d\ude0b The bushes in the greenhouse grew to about 1.2m (4 ft) (that&#8217;s an estimate, I didn&#8217;t measure them specifically). The fruits were 300-400g (10.5-14 oz) each. By the way, Tsindao didn&#8217;t burst at the seams, unlike my other black varieties \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/4013_c6abc9fad27e14c85f2694e5660bc61a6dcedf1c.jpg\" alt=\"Marina's dark Tsindao tomato on scale\" width=\"336\" height=\"341\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Alena Andreeva (Alena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (12,011 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Marinessa, it looks so chubby and cute! (Sorry for the off-topic, just couldn&#8217;t hold back).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Marinessa (Marina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,264 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Yeah, that was my firstborn from a megabloom (fasciated blossom). The rest were perfectly smooth and even, just like Galochka&#8217;s.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Alena Andreeva (Alena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (12,011 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>So which ones will you be planting now? The chubby ones or the round ones?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Marinessa (Marina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,264 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I saved seeds from the round ones. I ate that gnarly chubby one without mercy \ud83d\ude04<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">M<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">murjulia (Julia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (55 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galochka, THANK YOU for this variety too!<\/p>\n<p>Very, very, very good \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">B<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">barbariska (Lada Borisenko) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,913 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Out of the black slicers I had, this was undoubtedly the best. The size didn&#8217;t disappoint, and the flavor was outstanding \ud83d\udc4d Mine is also from Marinessa. I&#8217;ll leave Kumato for canning.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments\/45506_eac5abc9d0754ced079fa7129e8e221330de36d1.jpg\" alt=\"Lada's Tsindao black slicer tomato\" width=\"700\" height=\"525\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Svetikk (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (29,344 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tsindao was quite a martyr for me \ud83d\ude48 At first, it almost died from the cold while still a seedling, then the top stopped growing\u2014so I pinched it off and planted the stump outdoors in open ground, thinking &#8220;let&#8217;s see what happens&#8221; \ud83d\ude07 It formed a decent little bush from the suckers and set several fruits\u2014and then in early July, they were heavily beaten by hail \ud83d\ude1b They survived, but were covered in bruises. Then in mid-July, late blight arrived \ud83d\ude1e I picked them green, they ripened indoors during storage and turned out very pretty, especially when sliced \ud83d\udc4d The taste of the indoors-ripened ones wasn&#8217;t spectacular, of course, but the whole summer was just rain&#8230; rain&#8230; \ud83d\ude07<br \/>\nSeeds were shared by Galochka-Esme \ud83d\ude18<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/166-141213134253.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/thumb_166-141213134253.jpeg\" alt=\"Svetlana's Tsindao ripening indoors\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This year I compared Tsindao with Morado (both are good, but to my taste, Tsindao is sweeter):<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60437_e0500e5f29db99ec11b6b950ab3c343cdac5f456.jpg\" alt=\"Comparing Tsindao and Morado\" width=\"600\" height=\"444\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60439_60004957212e7297030500dbce429bcd1641fa25.jpg\" alt=\"Tsindao cross section comparison\" width=\"600\" height=\"567\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">N<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Nadine (Nadezhda) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (11,454 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Volgograd, Russia (USDA Zone 6)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I didn&#8217;t know what color Tsindao was supposed to be when ripe, so I picked it looking like this, since it was already soft and showed all signs of being ripe. It was tasty, almost fully ripe, but it turned out it hadn&#8217;t yet gained its proper color. A little later it turned into this&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>The two round tomatoes in the middle are Tsindao.<\/p>\n<p>It was about 1.3-1.5m (4.3-5 ft) tall in open ground. Tasty, I liked it, will grow it again.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/14-141213140611.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/thumb_14-141213140611.jpeg\" alt=\"Nadezhda's early picked Tsindao\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/14-141213142129.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/4\/thumb_14-141213142129.jpeg\" alt=\"Fully colored Tsindao\" width=\"160\" height=\"126\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Drosera (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,413 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ekaterinburg, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Despite the cold and rainy summer (or rather, the almost complete lack of summer), Tsindao grew sweet and juicy, with just a tiny hint of acidity.<br \/>\nOne of the tastiest varieties!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/61494_7baf017d122303f05be85cdd073a71d853727a45.jpg\" alt=\"Tsindao grown in cold summer\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/61496_ca8349d2f724d8e26f1d16dce09f553167868c07.jpg\" alt=\"Svetlana's Tsindao fruit on scale\" width=\"500\" height=\"800\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/61498_f19db18e02473bd9603ec7a1dae6f20d541050bc.jpg\" alt=\"Svetlana's beautiful Tsindao on the vine\" width=\"708\" height=\"900\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">Y<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Yanina (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,121 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Udmurtia, Russia (USDA Zone 3\/4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Tsindao was also tasty and sweet, despite the cold summer, and its yield wasn&#8217;t bad either.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/34\/5262-180914085956.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/34\/thumb_5262-180914085956.jpeg\" alt=\"Olga's sweet Tsindao harvest\" width=\"160\" height=\"142\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Dzhina (Evgeniya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,798 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I liked Tsindao too\u2014sweet, tasty, and productive.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/28\/12423-310714024358.jpeg\" alt=\"Evgeniya's productive Tsindao plant\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lidiya <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (16,152 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tsindao is very tasty, I will definitely keep growing it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/31\/27-160814125406.jpeg\" alt=\"Lidiya's dark Tsindao tomato\" width=\"1000\" height=\"904\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">SvetaR (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (27,468 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Drosera wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nDespite the cold and rainy summer (or rather, the almost complete lack of summer), Tsindao grew sweet and juicy, with just a tiny hint of acidity.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I agree. I liked my Tsindaos too. However, mine had these same green shoulders. Bad agrotechnique on my part?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">K<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Katas (Tatyana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (397 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Tsindao was also top-notch. The tastiest of all the blacks. I didn&#8217;t have any green shoulders.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Drosera (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,413 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ekaterinburg, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>SvetaR wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nHowever, mine had these same green shoulders. Bad agrotechnique?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The shoulders on Tsindao are sweet too, just a bit firmer. You could try feeding them with MKP (Monopotassium phosphate), mine definitely went underfed \ud83d\ude48.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">E<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Esme (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,701 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>As of the day before yesterday, the ones that ripened indoors from green are still sweet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Veta (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (427 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>There was no room for Tsindao in my greenhouse. It grew outdoors in open ground, under a plastic film at first, and then I removed the film. Very tasty, productive, keeping it in my collection.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">I<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">IrinaA (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,492 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Sverdlovsk Region, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Tsindao also had green shoulders, even though I fed it properly. But on the inside cross-section, those shoulders don&#8217;t look unripe. Maybe it&#8217;s just its natural coloring.<br \/>\nA worthy variety in every respect.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/32\/12-240814130051.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/32\/thumb_12-240814130051.jpeg\" alt=\"Irina's Tsindao with green shoulders\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/32\/12-240814130145.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/32\/thumb_12-240814130145.jpeg\" alt=\"Irina's Tsindao cut open\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">B<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">borchanochka (Polina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,895 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Bor, Nizhny Novgorod (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Esme wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nAs of the day before yesterday, the ones that ripened indoors from green are still sweet.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I completely agree! Galenka, thank you for it! \ud83c\udf38\ud83c\udf38\ud83c\udf38<br \/>\nA super-productive and super-unpretentious variety. It&#8217;s still growing and setting fruit, no cold weather scares it \ud83d\udc4d. As for the green shoulders, mine has them, but they are not tough at all. You could wait for them to disappear completely, of course, but in my case the fruit started to turn to mush. And since the shoulders are soft and taste exactly the same as the rest of the &#8220;meat&#8221; (meaning you don&#8217;t need to cut them off)\u2014I consider it a characteristic of the variety \ud83d\ude0a<\/p>\n<p>P.S. Whether the fruit turned mushy, was ripened indoors, or picked ripe from the bush\u2014they all have the exact same taste, and that is not common at all \ud83d\ude09<br \/>\nHere are my little Tsindaos:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/28\/2191-010814025052.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/28\/thumb_2191-010814025052.jpeg\" alt=\"Polina's super productive Tsindao\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/28\/2191-010814025140.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/28\/thumb_2191-010814025140.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao large harvest\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/2191-080814175618.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/30\/thumb_2191-080814175618.jpeg\" alt=\"More Tsindao tomatoes from Polina\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Alena Andreeva (Alena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (12,011 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Polyushka, please write in more detail: how many stems, when did you start seeds, and when did you transplant? What does &#8220;super productive&#8221; mean in pieces\/weight? Does it like shade or should I plant it in full sun? Is the bush sturdy or wispy? (Since I asked you for seeds of it, I am interested in all the details).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">B<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">borchanochka (Polina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,895 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Bor, Nizhny Novgorod (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I sowed seeds on Feb 18th, planted in the greenhouse on April 16th. The seedling was short and stocky, and the bush didn&#8217;t strive upwards later (just like Galochka wrote). It wasn&#8217;t too aggressive with suckers, I pruned it to 2 stems, but based on my observations\u2014it could handle more. I picked the first ripe one on July 29th (the one in the photo that was 608g \/ 21 oz) from a megabloom. But if I had removed that megabloom in time, it would have ripened earlier for sure. The trusses average 7-9 fruits, weight varies from 300 to 500g (10.5-17.5 oz), although there were a few specimens (about 3) around 700g (25 oz), and not even from megablooms. It grew on the sunny side, but it will easily handle the semi-shaded side of the greenhouse, in my opinion.<\/p>\n<p>For me, super-productivity is this: I picked about 10 kg (22 lbs) from this single bush! I kept counting until early September, then gave up, but it&#8217;s still bearing fruit, so do the math \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Alena Andreeva (Alena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (12,011 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I&#8217;m thrilled, thank you Polyushka for such a detailed explanation \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Deniza (Galina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (700 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My seeds are from Galochka Esme. I am absolutely delighted with this little tomato. Very tasty and it also pleased me with a good yield, even though it ended up in a not-so-great spot in the garden. Out of all my dark varieties, this one turned out to be the tastiest. \ud83d\ude0b Galochka, thank you so much, the whole family appreciated it!!! \ud83c\udf38\ud83c\udf38\ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/10381-181014133439.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/thumb_10381-181014133439.jpeg\" alt=\"Galina's tasty Tsindao tomato\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/10381-181014133558.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/thumb_10381-181014133558.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao cross section\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/10381-181014133640.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/37\/thumb_10381-181014133640.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao cut open\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><!--nextpage--><\/p>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Andrey_K (Andrey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (994 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>The tomato is sweet, but it has zero shelf life and overripens extremely fast on the bush.<br \/>\nPlus, it cracks.<br \/>\nIt&#8217;s very much &#8220;an acquired taste&#8221;.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">C<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">cat2008 (Oksana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,827 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Orsha, Belarus (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Mine also got slightly overripe \u2013 and the green shoulders also lightened up when it overripened..<\/p>\n<p>Zhenechka-Dzhina &#8211; thank you for the seeds! \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/99\/12397-241115165407.jpeg\" alt=\"Oksana's slightly overripe Tsindao\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">VALENTINA\/Abakan (Valentina) <span class=\"author-stats\">Guest<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Abakan, Siberia (USDA Zone 2\/3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Andrey_K wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nThe tomato is sweet, but it has zero shelf life and overripens extremely fast on the bush. Plus, it cracks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>I agree with you&#8230; yes it cracks&#8230; yes it&#8217;s tasty&#8230;. but because of the taste, it gets eaten before it even has a chance to spoil&#8230;. I planted 2 bushes and that&#8217;s just the right amount for salads&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/63283_815dc4d8c22864bde4346b390fafad3ab91351e2.jpg\" alt=\"Valentina's cracked but tasty Tsindao\" width=\"350\" height=\"233\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">N<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Nadine (Nadezhda) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (11,454 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Volgograd, Russia (USDA Zone 6)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Same here. I picked the fruits as soon as they got ripe, I didn&#8217;t let them overripen. I think this is the only variety where I literally stood guard waiting for a ripe tomato. True, the yield was average\u2014if there had been more, maybe I wouldn&#8217;t have had to guard them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/79\/14-300715110046.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/79\/thumb_14-300715110046.jpeg\" alt=\"Nadezhda guarding her Tsindao\" width=\"133\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Tatyana Kemerovo (Tatyana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,694 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kemerovo, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Grew this variety for the first time from Galina. REALLY liked it! Shelf life is normal. Pretty heavy trusses &#8211; about 6 fruits around 300g (10.5 oz) each. For a first time, great yield. Taste &#8211; the best of all the black tomatoes this year.<br \/>\nI recommend it to anyone who hasn&#8217;t grown it \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/13391-130915092803.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/thumb_13391-130915092803.jpeg\" alt=\"Tatyana's best black tomato Tsindao\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/13391-130915092645.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/thumb_13391-130915092645.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao harvested\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/13391-130915092451.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/thumb_13391-130915092451.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao slices\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/13391-130915092345.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/89\/thumb_13391-130915092345.jpeg\" alt=\"Tsindao beautiful dark color\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">K<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Kirina (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,378 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Stupino, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Tanya, did your Tsindao not overripen on the bush? I&#8217;ve been eyeing this variety for a long time, but I just can&#8217;t bring myself to try it because people say you have to constantly stand guard over it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Andrey_K (Andrey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (994 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>If you want a productive and tasty black tomato, it&#8217;s better to plant Black Oxheart (Bychye Serdtse Chernoe).<br \/>\nNow THAT one&#8230; is good by all accounts.. but Tsindao&#8230; well, it&#8217;s an extremely polarizing variety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Veronika <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,436 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Andrey, in what exact way is it polarizing? Because of the overripening and cracking? Or something else?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Andrey_K (Andrey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (994 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Yes, if you don&#8217;t keep a close eye on it, it turns to mush right on the bush.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">VALENTINA\/Abakan (Valentina) <span class=\"author-stats\">Guest<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Abakan, Siberia (USDA Zone 2\/3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>BUT ITS ALMOST TWIN BROTHER &#8220;PURPLE LAKE&#8221; (SIRENEVOE OZERO)&#8230;. IS BETTER, DOESN&#8217;T CRACK, AND TASTES JUST AS SWEET&#8230;. IF YOU PUT THEM SIDE BY SIDE, YOU WOULDN&#8217;T EVEN KNOW WHICH IS WHICH&#8230;.)))<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Vera_nt (Vera) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (811 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Tsindao was not productive at all, although the summer was absolutely terrible. I won&#8217;t be repeating it for now.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Drosera (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,413 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ekaterinburg, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>VALENTINA\/Abakan wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nBUT ITS ALMOST TWIN BROTHER &#8220;PURPLE LAKE&#8221;&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>In terms of taste, Purple Lake is significantly inferior to Tsindao.<\/p>\n<p>P.S. Valentina, please don&#8217;t forget to turn off Caps Lock \ud83d\ude48, this isn&#8217;t the first message you&#8217;ve written in all capital letters.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">V<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">VALENTINA\/Abakan (Valentina) <span class=\"author-stats\">Guest<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Abakan, Siberia (USDA Zone 2\/3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Maybe so&#8230; they just seemed similar to me&#8230;. I&#8217;ll plant two plants of both and taste them again&#8230;)) Oh, I ask for your forgiveness&#8230;. I wasn&#8217;t paying attention&#8230;.))) Thank you for the correction &#8230;..)))<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Anela (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,216 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kazan, Tatarstan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Seeds from V. Monakhova. Looks like an off-type (crossed seeds) ((((<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/101\/13349-131215142042.jpeg\" alt=\"Elena's red off-type Tsindao\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lidiya <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (16,152 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Purple Lake and Tsindao are not twins, they are completely different tomatoes \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">D<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Drosera (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,413 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ekaterinburg, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Anela wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nLooks like an off-type ((((<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That&#8217;s for sure. Tsindao is not red.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Tatyana Kemerovo (Tatyana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,694 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kemerovo, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Kirina wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nTanya, did your Tsindao not overripen on the bush?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Irochka, it didn&#8217;t overripen and didn&#8217;t crack one bit. \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">O<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Ovechka (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (13,966 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I am growing it in this difficult year \ud83d\ude42 Tsindao from Galya Esme (seeds shared by LenaA). Growing outdoors in open ground. Fruits are 200-230g (7-8 oz), no cracking.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/139\/66-120816051615.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/139\/thumb_66-120816051615.jpeg\" alt=\"Lyudmila's Tsindao grown in open ground\" width=\"160\" height=\"105\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">O<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Olvika70 (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,798 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Voronezh Region, Russia (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Lyuda, is your Tsindao reddish or pinkish? And how does it taste?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">O<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Ovechka (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (13,966 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My husband said that I&#8217;m colorblind and don&#8217;t know my colors. It seems blackish to me, sort of like the Black Elephant (Chernyi Slon) variety.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Agnija (Agniya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Moderator (2,530 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Pskov Region, Russia (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This is its true color. From Nadezhda (Pskov). I searched for it after reading in the dark tomatoes thread that it is tastier than Paul Robeson (PSH). I didn&#8217;t compare them side-by-side, but my kids are thrilled with the taste. And this is despite it raining for a month straight. What the taste will be like in a dry spell, I can only guess&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/138\/14033-080816225430.jpeg\" alt=\"Agniya's true color Tsindao\" width=\"1000\" height=\"738\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">G<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Grabelka (Vera) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (143 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I also grew Tsindao for the first time this year. I got a couple of bushes as a gift from my sister. What can I say, the bush didn&#8217;t get sick, and it&#8217;s quite productive. Height is about 150 cm (5 ft). The plant is a bit wispy\/fragile. One problem &#8211; it cracks heavily. The conclusion is, pick it and eat it immediately. It&#8217;s a variety for those who like it sweeter, as it seemed to me that the flavor is more fruity than tomatoey. But such a yummy treat will now live in my garden for a long time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">N<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">NataNata (Natalya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,166 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>The variety is super! Handsome and very tasty!<br \/>\nNatasha (elsa30), thank you for the seeds of such a wonderful variety! \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mycdn.me\/image?t=3&amp;bid=837706932174&amp;id=837706932174&amp;plc=WEB&amp;tkn=*jubygtM8aQOL6gKJsMqqd4-ywuw\" alt=\"Natalya's wonderful Tsindao\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.mycdn.me\/image?t=3&amp;bid=837706937806&amp;id=837706937806&amp;plc=WEB&amp;tkn=*1WxXvOqTp5DDtIraV-t7oyWqOSQ\" alt=\"Tsindao full harvest\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Shevyachok (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Moderator (12,038 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Omsk Region, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Planted two bushes of Tsindao. One is obviously dark-fruited, and the second one is red. Like, really red, but very sweet!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">L<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Lyolikovna (Olya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (14,481 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Samara Region, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>A very tasty variety \ud83d\ude0b Large, productive, and sweet. One of the absolute best this year \ud83d\udc4d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">P<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Petrofka (Natalya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (8,057 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Has anyone planted Tsindao in open ground in the Non-Black Earth Region? I&#8217;m making plans for the next season. I only plant outdoors in open ground and under temporary row covers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">B<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Belka (Anastasia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (4,457 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd St. Petersburg \/ Pskov, Russia (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I planted it in this unfavorable season. Everything I have grows only in open ground. I removed the spunbond row cover over the hoops two weeks after planting them out. After that, I didn&#8217;t cover them with anything, didn&#8217;t feed them, didn&#8217;t spray them, just gave them a mulch of last year&#8217;s hay, and dusted them with wood ash once. I also inserted copper wire into the stem (as blight prevention).<br \/>\nPruned to three stems.<br \/>\nHarvested them together with the bushes two weeks ago.<br \/>\nThe yield is average compared to others. It didn&#8217;t get sick with anything. I loved it for its taste and beauty. It ripened perfectly indoors.<br \/>\nHere it is:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/190\/20250-280817070204.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/190\/thumb_20250-280817070204.jpeg\" alt=\"Anastasia's hardy Tsindao\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">P<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Petrofka (Natalya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (8,057 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Thank you for such an instant and detailed response. It is very important for me to find comrades who grow tomatoes in similar conditions: open ground and Central Russia. So that I have someone to learn from.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">B<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Belka (Anastasia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (4,457 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd St. Petersburg \/ Pskov, Russia (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I don&#8217;t know about &#8220;learning from&#8221;, but my conditions are pretty harsh, that&#8217;s for sure! Not only is it open ground without any shelter, but also absolutely zero watering on principle, and I only visit the garden once every two weeks. But I do have a southern slope, and the soil is sand. For this season, the conditions played in my favor.<\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;d be glad to exchange experiences \ud83c\udf38<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Shevyachok (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Moderator (12,038 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Omsk Region, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Petrofka wrote:<\/strong><br \/>\nHas anyone planted Tsindao in open ground in the Non-Black Earth Region?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Everything I have is in open ground, but my timing was terrible this year (had a serious reason) &#8211; I only sowed the seeds on April 13th. I transplanted them outdoors as usual in the first days of June &#8211; the bushes were moderately pruned, didn&#8217;t get sick with anything, yield was average. BUT&#8230;. one was black, as it should be, and the second one was bright red.<\/p>\n<p>Yesterday I decided to eat the red one right off the bush &#8211; oh, how TASTY and sweet it was! Sweeter than the original!<\/p>\n<p>I already have a hundred varieties in my collection at home&#8230;. who needs more? \ud83d\ude32 But I couldn&#8217;t resist and saved seeds from the red one. For myself. I named it &#8220;Little Red Tsindao&#8221; (Krasnyi Tsindavchik).<\/p>\n<p>So that&#8217;s the off-type I ended up with. The bushes sat right next to each other, looking identical from the outside.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">P<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Petrofka (Natalya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (8,057 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod, Russia (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I&#8217;m currently back in the information-gathering stage. Reading the forum ravenously like a good detective novel. I&#8217;ve already realized that I practically knew nothing about tomatoes. And since we basically didn&#8217;t have a summer, my next virtual garden season has started much earlier.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">I<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Irina_N (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,954 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I grew 2 bushes in the greenhouse. Average height, good yield, 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) pruned to 2 stems. The tomatoes are beautiful, but the taste was just ordinary tomato flavor.<\/p>\n<p>Also, for some reason, the leaves seemed wrinkled\/rugose around the veins, one bush had it stronger, the other weaker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">U<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Uralochka66 (Tatyana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,063 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ekaterinburg, Urals (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>The handsome Tsindao.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_11\/994650876_.jpg.99c7c494d93b932943dfc157f61019c5.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_11\/603688322_.thumb.jpg.1bd86fe112dfab693251fc28b0f99b1c.jpg\" alt=\"Handsome Tsindao tomato close up\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">S<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Shevyachok (Lyudmila) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Moderator (12,038 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Omsk Region, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This variety was at the very origins of my collection, among the varieties sent by @SvetaR. In 2017 I liked it, repeated it in 2020, no diseases, good yield in open ground, and excellent taste!!!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200809_121324.jpg.408833226331295887dbc5842c89d34e.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200809_121324.thumb.jpg.aec8c18924fc977fe7e11161b3fc84bb.jpg\" alt=\"Lyudmila's Tsindao harvest in open ground\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200812_164745.jpg.4be7b0e2e84cceba5c5d42feab21bb4d.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200812_164745.thumb.jpg.a98e1b9fabcf72e5463bab297922557b.jpg\" alt=\"Tsindao large fruit on scale\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200812_165102.jpg.642fd581263d6734eda7d5a700c3e4fd.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_04\/20200812_165102.thumb.jpg.f190a3d242fdd283ed067a8fa4f4ad1e.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark color of Tsindao\" width=\"300\" height=\"168\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">T<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">tomatinka (Vera) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (14,911 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tyumen Region, Siberia (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I grow it in memory of Galochka. It has brought me joy for many years.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2025_09\/20250927_125434.jpg.2296c16483869e15a887732b02cb5ced.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2025_09\/20250927_125434.thumb.jpg.716f9aff01be878b3001e31dd3f06834.jpg\" alt=\"Vera's Tsindao grown in memory of Galina\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quick Summary of Tsindao (Qingdao) \ud83c\udf0d Origin: A well-known dark\/black tomato variety popular among Russian and Eastern European heirloom growers. Originally named after the Chinese city of Qingdao. \ud83c\udf3f Plant Habit: Indeterminate (tall), but growers frequently note that the plant has a rather fragile, wispy structure (not overly aggressive in growth) and usually stops around &#8230; <a title=\"Tsindao (Qingdao) Black Tomato Reviews\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/qingdao\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Tsindao (Qingdao) Black Tomato Reviews\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1248,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,66,94],"tags":[33,23,49,15,71,14],"class_list":["post-1248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-purple-tomatoes","category-bicolor","category-heirloom-other","tag-indeterminate","tag-mid-season","tag-open-ground","tag-sweet-flavor","tag-sweet-tomato","tag-wispy-foliage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1248"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1251,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248\/revisions\/1251"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1248"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}