Black Prince

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Black Prince to a garden.

Sink your spoon into the velvety, smoky-sweet allure of Black Prince—an heirloom-style beefsteak tomato with rich, wine-dark shoulders and a deep, rosy interior that tastes as lush as it looks.

The flesh is meaty and juicy with a balanced, slightly tangy finish, ideal for showcasing in bold slices and thick wedges that hold their shape beautifully. Grow this 90-day standout for a dramatic harvest from late summer into early fall, where each fruit becomes a centerpiece-worthy centerpiece in the garden and the bowl.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Indeterminate

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Black Prince Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Oct 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Oct 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Oct 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 27th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 24th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 18th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 13th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Sep 3rd – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 25th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 16th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jul 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Indeterminate
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Deep
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

This beefsteak heirloom is built for eating like a main event: the meaty interior stays composed in thick wedges and doesn’t turn into watery tomato mush. Its smoky-sweet, wine-dark flavor loves fat and acid—slick it with olive oil and let a little balsamic or char do the loud work.

Best Uses

thick slice platters with flaky salt and a slick of olive oil
hot-off-the-pan tomato toast where the wedges keep their shape
roasted tomato halves for jammy, wine-dark caramelization
spoonable stovetop marinara that stays chunky, not watery

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet, beefsteak-style richness meaty flesh with a juicy, gel-like center balanced, slightly tangy finish velvety mouthfeel with minimal watery slip

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil aged balsamic vinegar garlic fresh mozzarella charred bread (sourdough) grilled or roasted pork

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes leaf spots on Black Prince (eggplant) and how do I stop it?

Leaf spots are often caused by early blight/cercospora or other fungal leaf diseases that spread quickly in warm, humid conditions. Remove and discard any heavily spotted leaves, then spray the underside of foliage with a labeled fungicide for eggplant/leaf spot and improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line. Keep leaves as dry as possible—wet foliage and nighttime humidity are what drive new spots.

How often should I water Black Prince eggplant during the main growing phase?

During active growth (after plants start producing), water deeply about 1–2 times per week, aiming for consistently moist but not soggy soil. The best check is the top 1–2 inches: water when it’s drying out but the soil below still feels cool and slightly moist—eggplant quickly drops flowers if it dries out too much. Mulch helps stabilize moisture, reducing stress that leads to poor fruit set.

When is Black Prince eggplant ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits are fully colored (deep purple-black with a glossy sheen) and reach about 6–8 inches long, typically around 80–90 days from transplanting. Pick fruit as soon as it’s the right size because eggplant becomes seedy and tougher when left on the plant too long. Use pruning shears to cut with a short stem, leaving the plant ready to set the next fruits.