'Sosulka Chernaya' is of Ukrainian origin. It was developed from an accidental cross found by Aleksey Kulik in his tomato field in Ochtyrka, a small city in Sumy Oblast in Ukraine. The only thing, that Aleksey remembers about the original variety is that it had pink plum-shaped fruits. He selected it for black elongated fruits and shared seeds with Denis Terentiev, Aleksey's partner and friend, who helped to stabilize this variety and offered the seeds commercially in Ukraine and Russia. 'Sosulka Chernaya' was first introduced commercially in North America by 'Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds' under its translated name 'Black Icicle'.
Indeterminate, tall (1.9 meters tall and more), regular leaf plants with a prolific yield of medium-sized (3oz./90g) mahogany-brown, elongated fruits with dark green shoulders. Firm, dense texture and nicely balanced sweet tomato taste. Fruits can be stored for a few weeks after harvest and ripen very well off the vine. Excellent yield, starting from the middle of the season until the first frost. It's rather unique as it does well both – in cool and in warm weather conditions. Very good disease resistance. Midseason, about 75 days to maturity.
There are also sister lines of this variety in other colors: white, yellow, orange, red, pink, and green.
Black Icicle tomatoes are thick-walled, burgundy-brown fruits, about four ounces in size, with an oblong shape and tapered end. This paste-type tomato looks like a Roma tomato but has the taste profile of a Beefsteak tomato, with sweet, rich, and earthy flavors.
