Tomato
Seed # 210
Basic Information
- Seed Number
- 210
- Seed Name
- Tomato
- Variety
- Black Bear
- Category
- Vegetable
- Plant Family
- Solanaceae
- Plant Type
- Indeterminate dark beefsteak tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Planting Method
- Transplant
- Seed Status
- In Seed Bank
- Created
- 2026-08-14 00:50:34
- Updated
- 2026-08-19 15:35:29
Planting Information
- Start Planting Date
- Mar 24
- Last Recommended Planting Date
- Jun 1
- Plantable Months
- March, April, May, June
- Indoor Start
- Mar 24 – Apr 7
- Direct Sow
- Not Recommended
- Transplant
- May 12 – Jun 1
- Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost
- 6 weeks
- Transplant Weeks After Frost
- 1 weeks
- Germination Days
- 5–7 days
- Harvest/Maturity
- 75–80 days from transplant
- Succession Planting
- Not recorded
Growing Conditions
- Ideal Soil Temperature
- 75-85°F
- Planting Depth
- 1/4 in
- Plant Spacing
- 18-24 in
- Row Spacing
- 36-48 in
- Thin-To Spacing
- Not recorded
- Sun Requirements
- Full sun
- Water Needs
- Maintain regular, even moisture during flowering and fruit development
- Soil Preference
- Medium-rich, well-drained soil; approximately pH 6.0-6.8
- Minimum Container Size
- 10+ gal with strong support
- Plant Height
- Indeterminate vine
- Perennial/Biennial Status
- Annual
- Container Friendly
- Yes
- Trellis/Support Needed
- Yes
- Frost Tolerant
- No
- Heat Tolerant
- Yes
- Drought Tolerant
- No
- Pollinator Friendly
- Yes
- Medicinal
- No
Garden Uses
Container Culinary Pollinator Seed SavingCompanion Planting
| Plant | Relationship | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Carrots | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Marigold | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Nasturtiums | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Onion | Good Companion | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Pepper | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
| Tomato | Avoid | Not recorded |
Storage
- Seed Source/Brand
- Grateful Harvest Seeds; Bounty Hunter Seeds; MSU Extension
- Packet Year
- Not recorded
- Quantity Notes
- Not recorded
- Purchase Date
- Not recorded
- Expiration Year
- Not recorded
- Storage Box
- Not recorded
- Container
- Not recorded
- Envelope
- Not recorded
- Row
- Not recorded
- Slot
- Not recorded
- Storage Notes
- Not recorded
Notes
Original Planting Method: Start indoors; transplant after frost
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: May 15 – Jun 20
Germination Time: About 6–14 days
Days to Harvest / Bloom: About 75–80 days from transplant
Container Friendly: Yes, 10+ gal with strong support
Pollinator Friendly: Self-pollinating; bees may improve fruit set
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Culinary tomato
Perennial?: Tender perennial; grown as an annual in Zone 6B
Succession / Reusable Notes: One indoor sowing is usually enough; indeterminate plants continue producing until frost.
Zone 6B Notes: Start indoors and transplant after frost/warm nights; support the indeterminate vines.
Companion Plants: Basil, carrots, onions, parsley, marigolds, nasturtiums and borage
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Indeterminate growth needs a cage/stake. Rotate away from tomatoes/peppers/eggplant/potatoes and watch for common tomato diseases.
Sources: Grateful Harvest Seeds: https://gratefulharvestseeds.com/products/black-bear | Bounty Hunter Seeds: https://bountyhunterseeds.com/product/black-bear/ | MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Start indoors about 6 weeks before May 5 and transplant after frost. Its 75-80 day maturity is suitable for Southeast Michigan.
Germination: Maintain seed-starting mix around 75-85°F; tomatoes commonly germinate in 5-7 days.
Harvest: Harvest when the dark brown-red to purple-black beefsteak fruit reaches full color and begins to soften slightly.
Seed Saving: Black Bear is documented as open-pollinated. Ferment seed from fully ripe fruit, rinse and dry thoroughly.
Special Care: Black Bear is an indeterminate dark beefsteak tomato of Eastern European/Russian origin. Sources describe fruits roughly 5-12 ounces, dark brown-red with green shoulders and rich sweet flavor.
Research Source: Grateful Harvest Seeds — https://gratefulharvestseeds.com/products/black-bear — Black Bear identity, purple beefsteak type, open-pollinated status and 75-80 day maturity
Research Source: Meraki Seeds — https://merakiseeds.com/black-bear-tomato — 75-80 day maturity, indeterminate habit, dark brown-red beefsteak fruit and Russian origin
Research Source: Bounty Hunter Seeds — https://bountyhunterseeds.com/product/black-bear/ — indeterminate habit, mid-season production, 5-8 ounce fruit and variety history
Research Source: Johnny's Selected Seeds — https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/tomatoes/tomatoes-key-growing-information.html — tomato germination temperature and duration, soil pH and trellising of indeterminate varieties
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]