Carbon

Family: Solanaceae Nightshade

Sink your senses into Carbon’s rich, smoky-sweet tomato aroma and the velvety, meaty bite that follows—an impressive beefsteak bred for deep, satisfying flavor.

At maturity, fruits develop a dramatic, warm-toned blush with a lush, dense interior texture that holds its shape beautifully. Grow Carbon for standout garden harvests and bold, slice-worthy centerpiece tomatoes for fresh use and robust sauces.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 DaysHabit: Determinate

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 7th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Sep 18th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Determinate
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

Carbon is a true beefsteak: dense flesh and restrained juice make it hold its shape under heat and on bread, giving you that meaty slice-to-sauce transition. Use it when you want caramelized, smoky edges instead of watery tomato behavior.

Best Uses

thick slicing for sandwiches where you don’t want slip-and-weep
pan-sautéed tomato medallions to caramelize the meaty flesh
slow-simmered, less-watery sauce that clings and reduces cleanly
hot blistering on a cast-iron for smoky edges and spoonable cores

Flavor Profile

smoky-sweet tomato aroma velvety, meaty bite warm, rich fruit character low to moderate juice—stays sliceable

Kitchen Pairings

garlic extra-virgin olive oil black pepper aged balsamic vinegar fresh mozzarella charred bread

Frequently Asked Questions

What common disease or pest should I watch for on Solanum lycopersicum (tomato), and how do I treat it?

Watch for early blight (brown, concentric leaf spots) and Septoria leaf spot (tiny dark spots with yellow halos), which often build during warm, humid weather. Remove and discard affected lower leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and water at the soil line to keep foliage dry; for home gardens, use a labeled fungicide spray targeting early blight/leaf spot and repeat according to the label after 7–10 days. For pests, inspect weekly for hornworms and hand-pick them off early-morning if found, since they can quickly defoliate a plant.

How often should I water tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) during the main growing phase?

During active flowering and fruit set, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5–4 cm) of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Water deeply 1–3 times per week rather than frequent light sprinkling, aiming to wet the root zone; irregular moisture is a major trigger for blossom-end rot and fruit cracking.

How can I tell when Solanum lycopersicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits reach full size and the color changes fully to the mature red (or your specific mature color for the variety) with a slight give when gently squeezed. For best flavor, pick in dry weather and harvest regularly once plants start producing—leaving ripe fruit too long can slow new fruit development and increase disease risk.