It seems that this cultivar produces both shapes of fruit as can be seen from the plant that I have.

The Black Prince I grew was early, productive and easier to grow than the other blacks I grew. Mine were roundish, but taller than wide and medium sized. It could be called plum shaped but shaped like a big plum. I thought it was an ugly color but a tough tomato. I skipped it last year but may grow it again. I give tomatoes away and nobody picked it because of the color. It did well here. Flattened globes does not describe the one I had.

I'm going to say last years version of Baker Creeks Black Prince was much larger in fruit size than most describe. Most fruit was in the 10-16oz and I'm here to say Top Five Four Taste baby! In 2010 any way.Is this a cross??? Or growing conditions???

You would need to grow multiple plants from the saved
seeds to see if it was a chance cross. If the fruits and plants
vary, the plant that you grew was a cross. If they are all
the same, it was a seed mixup.

I've grown Black Prince, and loved it. Can't remember which year, but it almost tied with Cherokee Purple for the taste category at my tomato party. I think there was a strong Cherokee Purple lobby active that night, or it might have won!

I've got a single fruit growing on the plant I've got. It was set out back in April. This is the first fruit. Am glad to hear it tastes good!

I have black prince that shows different shapes. Both are approximately the same size, and the same color, but some are round, and others are more flattened? Are both true to type or is only one correct?

[QUOTE=lurley;236337]I have black prince that shows different shapes. Both are approximately the same size, and the same color, but some are round, and others are more flattened? Are both true to type or is only one correct?[/QUOTE]

My black prince grows the same way. The size is pretty consistent but the shape varies quite a bit.

Maybe we both have the wrong plant.;)

This tomato is a total mystery to me. I have grow 3 different seed sources of black prince, 2 seed sourses of purple prince 1 seed source of chyornyi prince 1 seed source of purple price and 1 seed source of black price. Most all of them produced a productive early roundish tomato red brown mahogany in color "the imposter" with an exception of a few. I love this tomato. love love love this tomato. It is mass productive and around 70ish days. I process allot of sauces and tomato products and this tomato is solid and very good for darkening sauces. I recommend you find imposter seeds and grow them. I have grown then for about 10 years and they are still my favorite. I got my chyornyi prince seeds from sampleseed.com for 1.25 a pack :)

Did I mention I love this tomato!!!

Tom's photo looks like the Black Prince I grew before. I ordered Black Prince from Double Helix this time because theirs looks like a different tomato. At least the shape is more flattened. Will I detect a difference in flavor?

I grew Black Prince from a transplant I got from a nursery last year. It was early, round, and red brown mahogany, but smaller than what's been reported: mostly 1-2 oz., a few up to 3 oz. The flavor was ok but not good enough to grow again.

I grew it 3 years ago, it was ok, nothing special IMHO. Production ok, taste ok. There are many better again IMHO. Carbon is earlier, better production, and tastes better to me, for one.;)
Tom