A large-fruited variety with a pleasant taste - Akulina tomato and a step-by-step guide to growing it

The Akulina variety is one of the unpretentious low-growing tomatoes for cultivation in open ground and under film shelters. The small height of the bushes, only 80 cm, allows you to grow the plant on the balcony in garden pots.

In this article, we will talk about the principles of agricultural cultivation, the advantages and disadvantages of the variety, the use of tomatoes in cooking.

Description of the variety

Akulina's tomato is an early ripe variety bred by the biologists of the Scientific Research Institute of Vegetable Breeding and Agrofirm Gavrish. The culture is intended for cultivation in film greenhouses and in the open field.

Determinant bushes with a limited growth point reach 80 cm in height, do not need pinching and shaping. Fruit hands are tied to wooden stakes for support.

In the photo - the fruits of the Akulina variety.

The table shows its main characteristics.

How to grow seedlings

Akulina tomato is grown by seedling method. Sowing is carried out in the last decade of February - the first decade of March, 50-60 days before transfer to a permanent place.

Seed preparation

Varietal seeds need disinfection and soaking in germination stimulants. This rule is especially applicable to seeds harvested by hand from previously grown tomatoes.

To begin with, the inoculum is soaked for 10 minutes in a saline solution (1 tsp per 250 ml of water). Empty grains, unsuitable for germination, rise to the surface. Quality material remains at the bottom of the glass. These seeds are washed with warm running water and poured with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30-60 minutes.

To protect seeds from mold and rot, use the drug "Baikal EM" (5 drops of liquid per 200 ml of settled water). The seeds are wrapped in cheesecloth and immersed in the solution. The exposure time is two hours. The seeds are not washed, dried on a napkin and sown.

To accelerate the germination of seeds, they are treated with Radifarm, Epin Extra, Heteroauxin, Biostim.

Capacity and soil

Seedlings are grown in fertile and loose soil. For this purpose, a ready-made substrate from a store or a mixture prepared at home is suitable. In a large bucket, mix 70% of the earth, 15% of river sand, wood ash or peat, 15% of humus.

Plastic trays, containers, seedling cassettes are suitable as containers. Drainage holes are made in the bottom to drain excess water.

In practice, the second method of growing seedlings is often used - without picking. The seeds are sown in individual 300 ml plastic or peat cups.

The advantages of the method:

• no need for a transplant;
• seedlings do not experience unnecessary stress;
• a strong root system is formed;
• there is no risk of spreading the infection to neighboring seedlings.

Before sowing, the soil and containers are disinfected in an oven, microwave oven, double boiler, or treated with Fitosporin. After that, the soil is watered and left for two weeks.

Sowing

The containers are 2/3 filled with prepared soil and lightly tamped. Seeds are spread to a depth of 1.5 cm at a distance of 2 cm. Pour from a syringe and cover with polyethylene to create a greenhouse effect. The containers are transferred to a warm place without direct sunlight.

Growing and care

When the first sprouts appear, containers are taken out on a sunny windowsill. The duration of daylight hours is at least 16 hours. With a lack of lighting, the seedlings are supplemented with a phytolamp.

Watering - moderate, 2-3 times every 10 days, after the top layer has dried. The sprouts are sprayed with a spray bottle once a week.

Sentsy are brought out to the balcony for 15-30 minutes, when the average daytime temperature reaches + 10 ° C. The hardening procedure increases resistance to temperature extremes in open ground or under a film cover.

Until the transfer of seedlings into the ground, a double top dressing mineral complexes.

For the first feeding, dissolve in 1 liter of water:

• urea - 0.5 g;
• potassium salt - 1.5 g;
• superphosphate - 4 g.

For the second feeding, dissolve in 1 liter of water:

• superphosphate - 4 g;
• ammonium nitrate - 0.6 g;
• potassium sulfate - 2 g.

The break between dressings is 2-3 weeks.

Agrotechnics of tomatoes

The rules for cultivating the Akulina variety are not particularly complex. The bushes do not need pinning and shaping. Plants prefer moderate watering in combination with soil mulching and application of organic and mineral fertilizers.

Landing

Seedlings are planted in prepared soil:

• in the fall, the remains of plants are removed and the earth is dug up;
• fertilize with humus (10 liters per 1 m²);
• in the spring, the earth is dug up again and fed with humus (10 liters per 1 m²);
• the soil is disinfected with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or a 0.5% solution of copper sulfate (50 g / 10 l).

For planting bushes, choose a site on the south side, without drafts. Tomatoes grow best on light, sandy loam soil. The wells are prepared in advance - they are dug out at a depth of 20 cm and filled with boiling water.

Saplings are planted according to the scheme 40x50 cm, 4-5 bushes per 1 m². Garter stakes are dug in nearby.

Council. To obtain a high yield, plant tomatoes in an area where zucchini, cabbage, dill, parsley, onions, and carrots were previously grown.

Care

Rules for caring for Akulina tomatoes:

1. Moderate watering with warm, settled or rainwater under the root - 1-2 times a week, or installing drip irrigation.
2. Regular loosening and weeding of beds from weeds.
3. Mulching with straw, peat, pine needles, sawdust.
4. Removal of dry and yellowed leaves.

Tomatoes are fertilized at least twice during the entire growing season:

1. A week after planting in the ground to stimulate growth, the plants are watered with a urea solution (5 g / 10 l per 1 m²).
2. During flowering and formation of ovaries - with a solution of Azophoska (10 g / 10 l per 1 m²).

Ready-made organic ("Piksa", "Virmix") and mineral fertilizers ("Kemira", "Solution") are especially popular among gardeners. The products have a balanced composition, eliminating the need to mix the components yourself. The packaging indicates the proportions and frequency of their use.

Diseases and pests

The Akulina variety is immune to fusarium wilting and verticillosis at the genetic level. Farmers note the resistance of tomatoes to cladosporium and late blight.

However, preventive measures will not harm:

• compliance with the rules of crop rotation;
• regular ventilation of greenhouses;
• soil cultivation with copper sulfate;
• disinfection of seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate;
• normalization of humidity in the greenhouse;
• compliance with watering norms;
• mulching the soil with straw, sawdust, needles, agrofibre;
• removal of the lower leaves;
• treatment (twice a month) with "Integral", "Fitosporin M" preparations.

Tomato bushes are most often attacked by the Colorado potato beetle, spider mite, whitefly. Insecticides are most effective: "Decis Profi", "Arrow", "Confidor", "Flumayt", "Borneo", "Fitoverm", "Iskra".

To combat the gnawing scoop, use:

• biological agent "Lepidocide";
• universal contact drug "Decis Expert";
• insecticide "Proclame".

Folk remedies against insect pests:

• infusion of garlic arrows (400 g of raw materials are poured into 3 liters of water, infused for five days, filtered and 50 g of soap shavings are added);
• a decoction of wormwood (600 g of grass is poured into 5 liters of boiling water, insisted for 3-4 days and the concentrate is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10);
• universal infusion (50 g of celandine, 70 g of tobacco shag, 50 g of wormwood, 150 g of chopped garlic, pour 10 liters of boiling water, leave for 25 hours, then mix in 25 g of shavings of laundry soap).

Reference. Folk remedies are used to spray plants every two weeks.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

On the territory of Russia, Akulina's tomato is cultivated almost everywhere:

• in the southern regions of the country, the culture is grown in the open field;
• in the middle lane - under film shelters or in greenhouses without heating;
• in the northern ones, in heated glass greenhouses.

Due to its short stature and early maturity, the variety is grown on balconies in large pots.

There are no special differences in the care of plants, depending on the place of growth. The garter is made with all cultivation methods so that the stems do not break and the fruits do not come into contact with the ground.

When cultivated in a greenhouse or balcony, the room is regularly ventilated and the humidity level is controlled.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The fruits begin to be harvested at the stage of full ripeness at the end of July. Due to their high sugar content, tomatoes have excellent taste and are suitable for preparing salads, snacks, sauces, pasta, juice, soups, and vegetable caviar. The dense skin does not crack when processed with hot marinades, which allows tomatoes to be preserved.

Tomatoes differ in keeping quality and retain their presentation when stored in a cellar for up to 20 days. You can extend the shelf life by picking the fruit together with the stalk.

Advantages and disadvantages

Variety advantages:

• high productivity;
• wonderful taste;
• resistance to the main diseases of tomatoes;
• unpretentious care;
• the possibility of transportation over long distances;
• keeping quality;
• universal use in cooking;
• the possibility of growing in the garden and greenhouse.

disadvantages:

• the need for a garter;
• when grown in regions with cold climates, it needs shelter.

Reviews

Reviews of gardeners about the Akulina variety are mostly positive.

Alla, Krasnodar:“Disease resistant, low maintenance. Stunted bushes do not need pinching. I tie only fruit brushes. The tomato ripens early and is very productive. "

Alevtina, Roslavl: “Growing tomatoes is easy, and the yield is always pleasing. The fruits are large, bright red, slightly ribbed. The taste is sweet. The pulp is fleshy and juicy, ideal for fresh salads. "

Alexander, Liski: “I got acquainted with the variety last year. We have never had such juicy and fleshy tomatoes. We use the fruits for winter preparations, cook tomato sauce and lecho. It is easy to take care of the plants; it is enough to water and feed in moderation. "

Conclusion

Akulina tomatoes are distinguished by their unpretentious care: young shoots do not need to be removed, only brushes dotted with fruits are tied to stakes, the plants are watered 1-2 times a week and fed with nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

The plant is immune to viral diseases, and frequent loosening of the soil, removal of weeds, mulching and periodic treatments with "Fitosporin" and "Integral" helps to prevent infection with bacteria and fungi. The universal use in cooking makes it possible to enjoy the excellent taste of fresh tomatoes and harvest them for the winter.