{"id":1361,"date":"2026-08-31T12:29:49","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T12:29:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/?p=1361"},"modified":"2026-08-31T12:37:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T12:37:10","slug":"brads-black-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/brads-black-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad&#8217;s Black Heart Tomato: Growers Review"},"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;1361&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;Share your rating&quot;,&quot;legend&quot;:&quot;0\\\/5 - (0 votes)&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;24&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Brad\\u0026#039;s Black Heart Tomato: Growers Review&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\">Share your rating<\/span>\n    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<h2>Quick Summary of Brad&#8217;s Black Heart (Chernoe Serdtse Breda)<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>\ud83c\udf0d <strong>Origin:<\/strong> A famous American variety bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California), which found its way into the hands of Russian and Eastern European collectors. It is fascinating to see how this Californian heirloom performs in harsh climates like Siberia and the Urals!<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf3f <strong>Plant Habit:<\/strong> Indeterminate. Like many oxheart varieties, it exhibits the classic &#8220;wispy&#8221; or weeping foliage that often looks wilted or frail (even as seedlings), but don&#8217;t be fooled\u2014it can easily reach 2-2.5 meters (6.5-8 feet) in a greenhouse.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83c\udf45 <strong>Fruit Characteristics:<\/strong> Large, dark reddish-brown\/purple hearts, sometimes taking on a more blunt or barrel shape. Weights typically range from 200-350 g (7-12 oz), with megablooms producing monsters over 500 g (1.1 lbs).<\/li>\n<li>\ud83d\udc45 <strong>Flavor &amp; Texture:<\/strong> Deep, rich, and earthy with a balance of sweetness and acidity. The texture is heavily debated: some find it incredibly juicy, while others describe it as having a dense, &#8220;potato-like&#8221; or meaty flesh. <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong> If it tastes tart right off the vine, let it sit on the counter for a few days to develop its sugars.<\/li>\n<li>\ud83e\udd4a <strong>Comparisons:<\/strong> Constantly compared side-by-side with <em>Black Oxheart (Bychye Serdtse Chernoe)<\/em>. Growers generally agree that Brad&#8217;s has a sturdier bush and better disease resistance in poor weather.<\/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\">A<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Angelina <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (11,078 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Brad&#8217;s Black Heart, indeterminate, height 2.5 meters (8.2 ft), the bush is simply huge! \ud83d\ude32 It doesn&#8217;t form normal trusses, but the taste is good.<\/p>\n<p><em>Edited January 17, 2015 by Drosera<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/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\">Elfiya (Alya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,609 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Perm (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Angelina said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t form normal trusses&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>What do you mean it doesn&#8217;t form trusses\u2014does it just grow leaves? \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23<\/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 54 <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (15,098 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Severouralsk, Sverdlovsk Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Brad&#8217;s is a little different, more distinctly heart-shaped. Maybe it&#8217;s just the angle of the photo.<\/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 (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Yes, Valya, mine too. But looking at the weight in that photo, it probably grew from a fasciated blossom (megabloom). \ud83d\udc4d<\/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\">Angelina <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (11,078 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Elfiya said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What do you mean it doesn&#8217;t form trusses\u2014does it just grow leaves?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Pretty much! \ud83d\ude06 It just sets individual fruits here and there.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"forum-post\">\n<div class=\"author-header\">\n<div class=\"forum-avatar\">F<\/div>\n<div class=\"author-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-name\">Fotinia (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (8,948 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Tambov (USDA Zone 4\/5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Does this variety grow better in a greenhouse or in open ground? Looks gorgeous! \ud83c\udf3a<\/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 class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Mine grew like this outdoors in open ground. I think I photographed it alongside <em>Black Oxheart<\/em>:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60273_4af31c2a06b15c3ff039e02ed997ab09f6fc0158.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60273_4af31c2a06b15c3ff039e02ed997ab09f6fc0158.jpg\" alt=\"Dark heart shaped tomato\" width=\"347\" height=\"600\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60275_aa036d53871dbee9e6640d8a27bd79757514735f.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/60275_aa036d53871dbee9e6640d8a27bd79757514735f.jpg\" alt=\"Comparing Black Oxheart and Brads Black Heart\" width=\"600\" height=\"395\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">o-la-la (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,962 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd NE Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galo\u010dka, tell me please, approximately how tall did it get for you in open ground?<\/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 class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>We often notice a difference in dark-fruited varieties: some have a pinkish skin tone (in this case, <em>Black Oxheart<\/em>), while others have a reddish tone (<em>Brad&#8217;s Black Heart<\/em>). As I mentioned before, I personally preferred the taste of Black Oxheart slightly more, but that is purely subjective.<\/p>\n<p>Olenka, my Brad&#8217;s Heart was just a bit over a meter (3.3 ft) tall, but they were not in equal conditions. My Black Oxheart was grown from my own acclimated saved seeds, so the plants turned out stronger and more vigorous, whereas Brad&#8217;s was from freshly mailed seeds, and the plants were shorter.<\/p>\n<p><em>Edited November 18, 2013 by Esme<\/em><\/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\">o-la-la (Olga) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (9,962 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd NE Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Galenka, thank you! So that means I can safely plan to plant them out in the garden? Will it have time to ripen in our region?<\/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 class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Yes, Olya. It actually seemed to me that it started to ripen at least a couple of days earlier than Black Oxheart. Everything grew normally in open ground.<\/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 (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>They grow beautifully for me in open ground here in Siberia. \ud83d\udc4d All of them.<\/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\">Eva77 (Tatiana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,809 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>In terms of taste, this was my absolute favorite this season! \ud83d\ude0b<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/29\/8260-050814052213.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/29\/thumb_8260-050814052213.jpeg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark Brad's Black Heart tomato\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">Natsha (Nataliya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (16,147 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Rostov-on-Don (USDA Zone 6)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<blockquote><p><strong>Esme said:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8230;my Brad&#8217;s Heart was just a bit over a meter tall&#8230;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>And mine was exactly 1 meter (3.3 ft). \ud83e\udd2b<\/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\">Garmoniya (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,337 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>The photo isn&#8217;t very good, Brad kept rolling around on the scale, I could barely get it to lay flat&#8230;.. the fruit is more elongated, heart-shaped.<br \/>\nThis is just one of the Brad&#8217;s&#8230; in total, on a 2m (6.5 ft) bush, 9 fruits ripened, and they all looked identical \ud83d\udc4f, and even weighed practically the same&#8230; The bush gets very tall if you don&#8217;t top it. The taste is normal, sweetish, but I&#8217;ve had better&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/31\/11403-140814234302.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/31\/11403-140814234302.jpeg\" alt=\"Weighing a large Brad's Black Heart tomato on a scale\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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 (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>For me, all the black heart varieties have frail, weeping bushes. But in terms of yield, <em>Black Oxheart<\/em> is still better. I haven&#8217;t compared the tastes side-by-side yet. Then again, Black Oxheart is already acclimatized here, while the others are still adapting&#8230;.<\/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\">PanIrina (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,208 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Seven or eight tomatoes set on the bush, mostly on the upper tiers. I really loved the taste, sweet and juicy \ud83d\udc4d<\/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\">Ninulia (Nina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (39,571 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd SE of Nizhny Novgorod Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It seemed to me that Brad&#8217;s Black Heart and Black Oxheart are the exact same variety. By taste, appearance, and plant structure\u2014mine were both vigorous, with 4-5 stems. Except Black Oxheart was a bit more productive.<\/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\">Eva77 (Tatiana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (3,809 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Ninochka, my bush was very frail, even &#8220;weeping&#8221; to be more precise! I had to tie it to a stake in multiple places. Now it has thickened up, but the top still droops and has been purple\/blue the whole time. In height, it hit the roof of the greenhouse (2.5m \/ 8.2 ft).<\/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 (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Heart-shaped varieties almost all have the exact same plant habit. Their stems are never giant or thick. But Ninul, I also think it&#8217;s the same variety, just like <em>Black Oxheart<\/em>. There are practically no differences. I&#8217;ll just pick one of the three to keep planting. \ud83d\ude33<\/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\">trofi (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (10,715 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd South of Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I liked the variety. I had 4 sooo large fruits, 4 small ones, and some tiny ones hanging that should start swelling as soon as we pick the big ones. I loved the taste; it was one of the tastiest for me this year.<\/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\">pumpkin_garden (Alina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (338 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Very tasty, productive, there are some very large fruits, with 1-3 fruits per cluster.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ic.pics.livejournal.com\/pumpkin_garden\/62099636\/176702\/176702_original.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ic.pics.livejournal.com\/pumpkin_garden\/62099636\/176702\/176702_original.jpg\" alt=\"Two large dark oxheart tomatoes on a cutting board\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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 (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Brad&#8217;s Black Heart was not very productive, there were only about six on the bush, but they were all huge. The bush is indeterminate. I don&#8217;t know what to write about the taste; if you make allowances for our snow-less, poor summer, it was tasty. This is the largest one.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/31\/12-190814104308.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/31\/thumb_12-190814104308.jpeg\" alt=\"Massive Brad's Black Heart tomato on a scale\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Pani Tomat (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (8,773 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My heart-shaped Brad.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/62233_b5e1e7f5c92094644db13ee6c72c891fceed4dc7.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/62233_b5e1e7f5c92094644db13ee6c72c891fceed4dc7.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark red heart tomato\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/62231_7aee95032020b54d6730b186d95fe461da34a97c.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/62231_7aee95032020b54d6730b186d95fe461da34a97c.jpg\" alt=\"Cut Brad's Black Heart showing meaty flesh\" width=\"600\" height=\"450\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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 Latvia (Alena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,366 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Latvia (USDA Zone 5\/6)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Earlier, people were discussing Brad&#8217;s Black Heart vs. Black Oxheart. I planted them side by side, in pairs (I ended up with three pairs across the bed).<\/p>\n<p>For me, they behave differently.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Black Oxheart<\/strong> is slightly behind in growth, but the first fruit truss set earlier. Judging by its habits, it&#8217;s a frail\/weeping variety. And less productive\u20141-2 fruits per cluster. In cold weather, a couple of almost ripe fruits caught gray mold. The fruits are heart-shaped, some are irregular.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Brad&#8217;s Black Heart<\/strong> \u2014 the bushes are sturdier, almost without signs of frailty, the first truss forms higher up (by 2-3 leaves), the truss holds 4-5 fruits. The fruits are rounded, regular shape (my <em>Red Oxheart<\/em> has this shape), uniform in size. They didn&#8217;t catch any diseases.<\/p>\n<p>So, they might be very similar in good conditions, but in bad conditions (my year was very difficult weather-wise), they behave differently and their disease resistance differs.<\/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\">kae-2 (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (4,537 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>For me, Brad&#8217;s Black Heart is not a bush, but a monster. I&#8217;m running it in 4 stems, already bent it along the roof. It sets fruits strictly in pairs; at the moment there are 24 large fruits and about 10-12 small ones. We already ate 2\u2014delicious! Very similar to Black Oxheart, but that one has 4-5 fruits per cluster and they are smaller, 200-300g (7-10.5 oz).<\/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\">trofi (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (10,715 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd South of Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This year it fell off my top winners list.<\/p>\n<p>We haven&#8217;t eaten a single fruit yet, they are all getting Blossom End Rot (BER), despite the fact that I watered properly and sprayed with calcium. All the neighboring plants recovered, but this one continues to suffer.<\/p>\n<p>I won&#8217;t plant it anymore. \ud83d\ude22<\/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\">Tatiana Kemerovo (Tatiana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (2,694 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Kemerovo (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I planted BBH for the first time. I really liked the variety! The hearts are beautiful, practically anatomical with a septum. While they were growing, I kept walking by just admiring them! Dense, large, very tasty. The flesh inside is burgundy, meaty, moderately juicy. Grew in the greenhouse in 2 stems. Yield is average. Will repeat.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/87\/13391-300815113218.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/87\/thumb_13391-300815113218.jpeg\" alt=\"Beautiful anatomical heart shaped dark tomato\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/87\/13391-300815115051.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/87\/thumb_13391-300815115051.jpeg\" alt=\"Burgundy meaty flesh of Brad's Black Heart\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Moroshinka (Lyubov) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (104 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I also really liked the variety. About 2 years ago I tried growing black tomatoes (I don&#8217;t even remember the names), and I didn&#8217;t like them. But this year, I was thrilled with the number of fruits on the bush, the size, and most importantly, the taste. Now I realize that &#8220;black&#8221; tomatoes are my love.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/img-fotki.yandex.ru\/get\/3113\/114138321.9\/0_13f85c_1b6a6ec3_-1-M.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-fotki.yandex.ru\/get\/3113\/114138321.9\/0_13f85c_1b6a6ec3_-1-M.jpg\" alt=\"Large ripe dark tomatoes on scale\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Polosatik (Evgeniya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,392 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This year I grew <em>Black Heart with a Beak<\/em> (from Borisovna) next to <em>Brad&#8217;s Black Heart<\/em>. The latter is shaped more like a barrel. The bush of Brad&#8217;s BBH is sturdier than the one with a beak. The color of Brad&#8217;s is more brownish-red, and it seemed to me it had more green shoulders. Brad&#8217;s ripened earlier, but I liked the taste of the second one better.<br \/>\nLeft is Brad&#8217;s BBH, right is Black Heart with a Beak.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/142\/15247-230816151819.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/142\/thumb_15247-230816151819.jpeg\" alt=\"Comparing two different black heart tomato varieties\" width=\"160\" height=\"120\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">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 4\/5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Grew in the greenhouse, productive, tasty, very similar to Black Oxheart..<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/141\/12397-200816161540.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/141\/12397-200816161540.jpeg\" alt=\"Bowl of gorgeous dark oxheart tomatoes\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Moroshinka (Lyubov) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (104 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I love this variety.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/img-fotki.yandex.ru\/get\/196771\/114138321.a\/0_174152_93875c80_M.jpg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/img-fotki.yandex.ru\/get\/196771\/114138321.a\/0_174152_93875c80_M.jpg\" alt=\"Large ripe Brad's Black Heart\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">ilja (Ilya) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (758 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Klin district, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Two years ago I planted Brad&#8217;s Black Heart from seeds sourced from the &#8220;South.&#8221; The bush was finicky and set only 3-4 fruits. Last season, growing it from my own saved (acclimated) seeds, this variety showed good yield and was one of the tastiest varieties in my garden.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/65102_aee84930c3e1235b50eb0d0695f2d658d37ff0da.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/attachments01\/65102_aee84930c3e1235b50eb0d0695f2d658d37ff0da.jpg\" alt=\"Harvested dark reddish brown tomatoes\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Sanka (Alexandra) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Beginner (36 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Mine are exactly the same!!! The taste\u2014the absolute best for salads!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/197\/23547-011117004855.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/197\/23547-011117004855.jpeg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark heart tomato in hand\" width=\"750\" height=\"1000\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">Inn@ (Inna) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,399 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Arti, Sverdlovsk Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I came to this thread to sing the praises of Brad&#8217;s Black Heart \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n<p>Our family really loves dark tomatoes. I grew two bushes in the greenhouse on the sunny side. Height was about 1.5 m (5 ft). Trained to three stems.<\/p>\n<p>They were very, very productive. And the taste! Mmmmmm! The fruits looked perfectly calibrated, all roughly the same size\u2014about 300 grams (10.5 oz), round-heart shaped. Dense, juicy-meaty, sweet, not bland in the slightest. Just awesome! However, all my fruits had characteristic longitudinal greenish stripes. I don&#8217;t seem to see such stripes in the photos from other forum members.<\/p>\n<p>Nearby in the greenhouse, for comparison, grew two bushes of <em>Black Oxheart (BShCh)<\/em>. They fell short of Brad&#8217;s in both yield and taste. The bushes of both were about the same height, but Black Oxheart&#8217;s were more frail. And its fruit shape is more oblate.<\/p>\n<p>Next season I plan to compare Brad&#8217;s Black Heart with <em>Black Heart with a Beak<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/204\/19631-241217150818.jpeg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/newforum\/galleries\/204\/19631-241217150818.jpeg\" alt=\"Group of Brad's Black Heart tomatoes showing faint green stripes\" width=\"750\" height=\"1000\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">Lana_s_Kavkaza (Svetlana) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (19,262 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Pyatigorsk (USDA Zone 7)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Taste gets an A+! Meaty, sweet. The bush turned out medium-height in the greenhouse.<\/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\">Inn@ (Inna) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,399 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Arti, Sverdlovsk Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This is my third year planting this variety, and the third year I couldn&#8217;t be happier with it. This year, when practically all varieties dropped their blossoms from the middle of the bush upwards due to the heat, Brad&#8217;s Black Heart held strong. A delicious favorite.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_08\/20190804_132509.jpg.cc533bf02c0f9b88898cb2b55f9d2db4.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_08\/20190804_132509.thumb.jpg.01874e9f28158ce76cd2b47bad5b162b.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful trusses of Brad's Black Heart setting perfectly\" width=\"145\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">Liaro (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (402 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Oh, the high hopes I had for this variety! It was in my very first batch of unusual tomato seeds I ever bought. You could say it triggered my tomato-mania. I was waiting and waiting for it&#8230; but alas!<\/p>\n<p>It didn&#8217;t fire. It was frail, weak, and unhappy with life in open ground during this cool, rainy summer. Not that it got sick\u2014but you could just look at it and hear it saying, &#8220;Ewww, muuuud, ewww, suuuun, oh no, wiiind!&#8221; and pulling its feet up in disgust.<\/p>\n<p>Nevertheless, it managed to push out a few trusses with medium-sized fruits (around 150-200g \/ 5-7 oz). Beautiful in color and shape. Eaten plain, the taste was just a standard black tomato, balanced, without standout acidity or sweetness. BUT it revealed its magic in a salad eaten with meat. If you eat tomatoes exclusively with BBQ\/shashlik\u2014this is your variety! I don&#8217;t know what kind of magic they perform with grilled meat, but it&#8217;s a fact. The perfect side dish.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_10\/IMG_20190825_143504.jpg.eb155b17659a3a7fe671134f3fd4b6f4.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_10\/IMG_20190825_143504.thumb.jpg.3b89fa32c70e6c959370df29a38008c4.jpg\" alt=\"Harvested dark reddish oxheart tomatoes\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Oksana Evgenievna <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,146 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Aktobe, Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>In my opinion, it loses to <em>Black Heart with a Beak<\/em> in all parameters. I planted both varieties in open ground this year. The one with a beak is much more productive, earlier, sweeter, and fundamentally tastier. And the bush itself is stronger. My family considered it the tastiest among all the black tomatoes this year, and some relatives said it was the tastiest of all varieties period.<\/p>\n<p>Brad&#8217;s BBH is tasty, but just a standard black tomato, without that special &#8220;zing&#8221;.<\/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\">Inn@ (Inna) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,399 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Arti, Sverdlovsk Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Personally, Brad&#8217;s Black Heart has shown excellent yield for me for the third year in a row. It especially stood out this year, even though the summer was disgusting. And I love its taste. The good, classic taste of a dark tomato.<\/p>\n<p>I agree that Black Heart with a Beak has beautiful, very tasty fruits. But the yield for the second year in a row has been, to put it mildly, modest, even though my seeds this year came from a highly productive source.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_10\/20190831_175932.jpg.286f60a1d848bf299843e446571e635d.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2019_10\/20190831_175932.thumb.jpg.67d9421e6c4a7ba4b1270b55441b4a0a.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark heart tomatoes sliced on a plate\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Oksana Evgenievna <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,146 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Aktobe, Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>In a greenhouse it might be productive, but mine grew outdoors in open ground. In our heat and dryness, Brad&#8217;s is no match for Black Heart with a Beak in terms of yield.<\/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\">YANGUN (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (300 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Ruza, Moscow Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>For me this year, <em>Midnight in Moscow<\/em> was tastier than both of them. I also grew <em>Chocolate Stripes<\/em>, <em>Black Krim<\/em>, and black plums, but Midnight in Moscow was the sweetest.<\/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\">mirna (Irina) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (267 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Irkutsk (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>My Brad&#8217;s BBH seedlings are falling over. It&#8217;s my first year growing it\u2014the leaves look like limp rags. Sowed on March 25th, maybe this is a variety trait?<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_04\/IMG_20200417_173329.jpg.924e2b709fcd6e98b84a0562c4a90dff.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_04\/IMG_20200417_173329.thumb.jpg.b5c76f3a09da52e3a6f8dff3a047f016.jpg\" alt=\"Drooping wispy seedlings of Brad's Black Heart\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Oksana Evgenievna <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (5,146 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Aktobe, Kazakhstan (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This should probably go in the troubleshooting section. But generally, if the leaves are like rags and the stem can&#8217;t hold itself up, it&#8217;s a loss of turgor pressure. There could be many reasons: the room is too hot, underwatering, overwatering (roots are suffocating), edema\u2014there might be a constriction on the stem, or maybe the light is only coming from one side, causing it to lean. For the life of me, I can&#8217;t remember what my Brad&#8217;s looked like as a seedling. But if it had been finicky, I would have remembered.<\/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\">Liaro (Elena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (402 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Samara Region (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>@mirna, Most likely, your plant is starving because it cannot photosynthesize due to a lack of light. Last year I lost half of my &#8220;heart&#8221; tomato seedlings for exactly this reason\u2014they wilted and then just fell over. The cure is 5 days of continuous, 24\/7 supplementary white light (4000 Kelvin), adjusting the power so that the plants get at least 10,000 lux at the canopy level.<\/p>\n<p>Large-fruited, oxheart, and white-fruited varieties are more demanding of light during the seedling stage and are the first to react to its deficiency.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_04\/IMG_20190503_094945.jpg.ed2391080063db0f55a1c1076f5f084c.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_04\/IMG_20190503_094945.thumb.jpg.66efd49c2e9283387d8ebcfd5ad7ca25.jpg\" alt=\"Struggling tomato seedlings under grow lights\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/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\">Sergey-EKB (Sergey) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,585 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Unknown<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It doesn&#8217;t look like the plants are suffering from a lack of light. You can see in all the pictures that the seedlings are not leggy\/stretched.<\/p>\n<p>Most likely, the cause lies in the soil itself\u2014the roots are rotting and the plants are wilting. It was correctly noted here that this happens from overwatering or underwatering. Or maybe there&#8217;s too much mineral fertilizer in the soil, and the plants are burning.<\/p>\n<p>You need to urgently change the soil and transplant them, completely freeing the roots from the old soil. Otherwise, they will die soon.<\/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\">Tiffany (Yulia) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (20,171 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Las Palmas, Spain<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Unlike other oxheart varieties, Brad&#8217;s Black Heart actually has a fairly sturdy bush with large leaves. I grow without artificial lighting. Sown on March 14th, so the seedlings are 37 days old. Bush height is 20 cm (8 inches), pushing its 8th leaf. They will move to the greenhouse soon.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/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\">galka68 <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (24,651 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Republic of Belarus (USDA Zone 4\/5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Sorry for chiming in here. I sowed all my varieties in one tray, seedlings looked identical. But I pricked out half of them into a commercial &#8220;tomato soil mix&#8221; I impulsively bought, and the rest went into pure peat. The ones in the commercial mix wouldn&#8217;t budge, while the same varieties in the other soil are already pushing flower trusses. I repotted them, and they finally started growing. A lot depends on the soil! The problem is definitely in the soil or watering.<\/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\">Safora (Maria) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (503 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<p>Brad&#8217;s Black Heart turned out to be very early for me. I planted the seeds for it last (in early April), while my main sowing was March 10th. Yet we ate the very first ripe tomato from this exact variety! The bush is vigorous, but not unruly. Yield was pleasing even in this difficult 2020 year. It survived a very cold spring and flooding in early summer with dignity. Set fruit without skipping. The fruits are sooo beautiful hearts. Disease resistant\u2014many varieties had spotted leaves, but this one looked brand new.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, it is a very good variety by all metrics, <strong>but I won&#8217;t plant it again<\/strong>. I was absolutely not satisfied with the texture of the fruit. It has absolutely &#8220;potato&#8221; flesh (dry and crumbly\/mealy). And we like meaty-juicy, almost oily fruits. For lovers of meaty (sugary) fruits with almost no seeds, this variety will be a godsend. But I&#8217;ll keep searching for my perfect oxheart tomato).<\/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\">Valeriy1968 (Valery) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,504 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Vologda (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I try not to miss oxheart varieties of different colors and shades. There are many interesting and beautiful ones. Brad&#8217;s Black Heart is in this category. A beautiful black heart, very pleasant to the taste.<\/p>\n<p>Productive variety, disease-resistant, sturdy mid-height bush, dark foliage. Mid-early.<\/p>\n<p>This season it was even more productive than <em>Black Heart with a Beak<\/em>. I liked the variety.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_11\/IMG_20200819_163332.jpg.a9ac016b2b0b57cdcdc7bfff1a1a9632.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_11\/IMG_20200819_163332.thumb.jpg.31f7f235d5067c400a88b243630ff535.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark Brad's oxheart tomato\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">Inn@ (Inna) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (6,399 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Arti, Sverdlovsk Region (USDA Zone 3)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>This variety is one of my favorites too. I&#8217;ve been planting it for the fourth year. It has never let me down during this time, always yields well. The tomatoes look calibrated, practically the exact same size up the entire height of the bush.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_08\/large.983666226_.jpg.52a3a41840b109eec86eda28ad5d42b1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_08\/large.983666226_.jpg.52a3a41840b109eec86eda28ad5d42b1.jpg\" alt=\"Heavily loaded tomato vine\" width=\"373\" height=\"600\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_10\/large.147034493_.jpg.9f34251e15bac3044fbf4877355c32f1.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2020_10\/large.147034493_.jpg.9f34251e15bac3044fbf4877355c32f1.jpg\" alt=\"Perfectly shaped dark heart tomatoes\" width=\"434\" height=\"600\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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\">nierika (Gala) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (238 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd South of Tula (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Juicy, meaty, tasty tomato. It literally looks like a real anatomical heart, you could scare a pathologist with it!<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_08\/20210828_003823.jpg.117664ce39a906ac685a424df59b6d4e.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2021_08\/20210828_003823.thumb.jpg.78981dcc7ff046c46875d8fcff6d7943.jpg\" alt=\"Anatomical looking Brad's Black Heart tomato\" width=\"176\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/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-11 <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Beginner (49 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Poltava, Ukraine (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Mine are large, beautiful, very juicy, but not very tasty. Maybe they will change taste towards autumn.<\/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\">nierika (Gala) <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Member (238 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd South of Tula (USDA Zone 4)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>It is delicious in salads and in juice, but eating it straight off the bush\u2014yeah, there are better ones. Plus, I can&#8217;t eat such a huge tomato all by myself anyway! \ud83d\ude03<\/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-11 <span class=\"author-stats\">\ud83c\udf31 Beginner (49 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Poltava, Ukraine (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>I&#8217;ll update my review of this tomato. Only 2 weeks have passed since I wrote that the tomato wasn&#8217;t very good. Now Brad&#8217;s Black Heart has become very tasty and interesting. I tried a tomato yesterday and was pleasantly surprised.<\/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\">Elena Elena (Lena) <span class=\"author-stats\">\u2b50 Pro Grower (1,861 posts)<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"author-geo\">\ud83d\udccd Belgorod Region (USDA Zone 5)<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<p>Grew in open ground. Bush of medium vigor, weeping foliage, height about 1.6m (5.2 ft). The first tomato weighed 550g (1.2 lbs), the rest were around 350g (12 oz). The taste of a ripe, freshly picked fruit had a slight tartness, but when allowed to rest on the counter, it became very tasty, sweet, without acidity. The flesh is juicy. Shape-wise, there were both &#8220;hearts&#8221; and oblate ones. The photo doesn&#8217;t quite capture the color\u2014when sliced, they are very beautiful, dark burgundy.<\/p>\n<p><em>Edited February 22, 2022 by Elena Elena<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2022_02\/2119204987_20210810_1422451.jpg.2a90eea47454447b3ae0d4df4fbfdc5e.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2022_02\/2096487314_20210810_1422451.thumb.jpg.278dd2e9886505708114a7df8b1e678f.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful dark burgundy Brad's Black Heart tomato cross section\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2022_02\/2132775953_20210824_1221511.jpg.5425f7819af43f69ec9ca8b9c16ad3c4.jpg\"><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/uploads\/monthly_2022_02\/1500636847_20210824_1221511.thumb.jpg.fdbcd829e014c83c0905d18337bdbb26.jpg\" alt=\"Harvest of dark red heart tomatoes\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" \/><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Quick Summary of Brad&#8217;s Black Heart (Chernoe Serdtse Breda) \ud83c\udf0d Origin: A famous American variety bred by Brad Gates (Wild Boar Farms, California), which found its way into the hands of Russian and Eastern European collectors. It is fascinating to see how this Californian heirloom performs in harsh climates like Siberia and the Urals! \ud83c\udf3f &#8230; <a title=\"Brad&#8217;s Black Heart Tomato: Growers Review\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/brads-black-heart\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Brad&#8217;s Black Heart Tomato: Growers Review\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1361,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[89,94],"tags":[421,19,33,82,49,129,422,14],"class_list":["post-1361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-black-purple-tomatoes","category-heirloom-other","tag-brad-gates","tag-dark-tomato","tag-indeterminate","tag-meaty-tomato","tag-open-ground","tag-oxheart-tomato","tag-wild-boar-farms","tag-wispy-foliage"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361","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=1361"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1366,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361\/revisions\/1366"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1361"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tomat-pomidor.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}