The leader among early ripe tomatoes, the favorite of farmers: the Katyusha tomato, characteristics and description of the variety

The ripening period for early maturing varieties is on average 60 to 90 days. Many people dream of getting a good harvest in such a short period of time. Tomato Katyusha is a bright representative of early ripening tomatoes. It is popular not only among novice gardeners, but also among experienced gardeners.

In the article, we will consider the characteristics and description of the Katyusha variety.

Description of the variety

Katyusha is a hybrid domestic variety that appeared as a result of crossing other varieties. Year of creation - 2007. The tomato is distinguished by excellent taste and ease of care.

Distinctive features

Katyusha ripens within 85-100 days from the date of sowing. The culture is grown both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. In the greenhouse, the ripening period is reduced to 70-80 days.

The hybrid is resistant to drought and heat, while it perfectly tolerates high humidity and rainy summers.

Bushes at the variety determinant - that is, they are limited in growth. The maximum height of one bush in the open field is about 80 cm, in a greenhouse it is 1.5 m. The leafiness is medium, the leaves are dark green, small, have an oval-pointed shape.

Characteristics of tomatoes, productivity

The shape of the tomato is flat-round, even, with a smooth surface. The skin is thin, the pulp is juicy, there are few seeds. The color of a ripe tomato is deep pink. The weight of one varies from 110 to 130 g. Katyusha has high yields - from 1 sq. M. m of open ground, gardeners collect about 10 kg of vegetables, in a greenhouse - 16 kg.

How to grow seedlings

To get a good return on the crop, you need to prepare the seedlings, observing all the rules. Consider further the main stages of seedling preparation.

Seed preparation

Among the variety of seeds on the market, it is important not to make the wrong choice. Experienced gardeners recommend carefully reading the information on the package before buying. Also, it will not be superfluous to study information about seed producers on the Internet, or ask familiar gardeners about the advantages and disadvantages of a particular seed.

Before planting, the seeds must be disinfected. To do this, you only need gauze and potassium permanganate. Soak the seeds for 10 minutes in a 1% solution. This way you will avoid contamination of your seedlings in the future.

To increase the yield, it is recommended to keep the material in nutrients. For this, the means "Epin" and "Immunocytofit" are excellent. There is a more budget option - potato juice or aloe juice. After the procedure, the seeds should dry out; they do not need to be washed with water.

Important! For an earlier return of the harvest, it is recommended to germinate the seeds. Put them in saucers, and cover with gauze on top. The ideal temperature is around 25 degrees. It is important to ensure that the gauze does not dry out or be too wet. It is necessary to soak the seeds in slightly moistened gauze for 3 weeks. Without prior germination, seeds can rot in the ground.

Capacity and soil

Any containers are suitable for growing - wooden boxes, special plastic containers and even mayonnaise jars. The main thing is that the seeds have enough space for germination. Soil is a little more complicated.

There are two ways:

1. Prepare the soil yourself. To do this, mix clean earth, coal and humus. The proportion of this mixture is 2: 1: 1. Eggshells will be a useful addition. Do not forget to decontaminate the ground. The potassium permanganate mentioned earlier will help in this. To do this, pour a manganese solution over the soil and add antifungal drugs (for example, "Fitosporin").
2. Purchase ready-made soil from your gardening store. Such soil should be loose and porous. In specially made mixtures, the necessary soil acidity and moisture level are also present. Buying finished material will save time.

Sowing

Fill clean and dry containers with earth and poke holes about 1-1.5 cm deep in them.The distance between the holes should be at least 5 cm.

Cover the top with plastic wrap or thin glass. This will help provide the plant with the correct moisture level. Place the container in a warm place - for example, near a battery.

Growing and care

It is necessary to grow seedlings in a well-lit place. The lightest window sill in the house is ideal. If possible, use additional lighting with fluorescent lamps. Seedlings will develop faster if the seedlings are illuminated around the clock for the first few days after germination.

Young seedlings should be constantly moisturized. Do not remove the protective film or glass immediately, start opening it a little every day. You can completely remove the film in about 10-14 days after the first shoots. It is also important to maintain proper moisture levels. Water the sprouts gently, directing a stream of warm water directly under the stem. It is convenient to do this with a syringe or pipette.

Important! Check status seedlings best every morning. If you see that the sprouts are lethargic and unhealthy, water them immediately. Otherwise, even the weak rays of the sun can adversely affect the seedlings.

Feed the seedlings 2-3 weeks after the first shoots. Organic fertilizers are suitable for this. In the future, you need to arrange feeding every week.

How to grow tomatoes Katyusha

To grow tomatoes properly, follow the basic rules.

Landing

Before planting, you must disinfect the soil. This can be done both with the help of specialized chemicals and with the help of folk remedies. Disinfection will protect against future diseases. If you grow the Katyusha variety in a greenhouse, then in addition to soil, also process all hard surfaces - walls and doors.

Tomatoes are planted in rows at a distance of 30-40 cm from each other. It is better to do this on a calm and cloudy day. The planting depth of the sprout is about 2-3 cm. After planting, do not forget to water the beds with warm water.

Care

Katyusha is unpretentious in leaving. Due to their low growth, the bushes do not need a garter, which greatly simplifies the cultivation of a crop. Water warm water, closer to the root. However, do not get carried away with excessive watering - an excess of moisture can lead to the development of fungus.

In addition to watering, it is required to periodically remove weeds and loosen the ground. This is necessary so that the required amount of air enters the soil. Katyusha does not need to be pinned, which is undoubtedly a big plus.

During the ripening period, you will need at least three dressings - it can be both mineral and organic mixtures. Tomatoes are favorable to ash and sawdust - on their basis excellent means for nutrition and strengthening of the immune system are obtained.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

One of the difficulties is the likelihood of fungal and bacterial diseases. Microorganisms can appear due to excess moisture and heat. To prevent this from happening, you will need preventive measures in the form of dressings andspraying special means.

In order for the culture to tolerate changes in climatic conditions normally, they must be hardened even at the stage of seed preparation. To do this, wrap the seeds in cheesecloth and place them in the freezer overnight. Then take it out and leave it at room temperature for a day.

Repeat the steps several times to get the seeds used to the changes in the weather. This is especially true for gardeners from central Russia.

Although the Katyusha variety is highly resistant to weather changes, in central Russia it is better to plant it in a greenhouse - this will have a larger harvest. If you live in the south of the country, you can also plant the variety in the open field.

The tomato needs periodic nitrogen-containing fertilizing. However, excess nitrogen can lead to disease.

Diseases and pests

No seed producer guarantees 100% immunity to viruses and pests. Katyusha, like other varieties of tomatoes, can get sick at any time. The worst enemy of tomatoes is late blight. It is a fungal spore, which, after penetrating the plant, begins to slowly "kill" it.

It is easy to understand that the bush is sick with late blight - brown spots or white bloom appear on the leaves. This ailment spreads to other bushes very quickly, so it is important to detect the threat in time and remove the infected bushes.

Katyusha is also sick with tobacco mosaic or powdery mildew. These diseases arise from a lack of nutrients or from an excess of nitrogen and moisture. To prevent these ailments, take preventive measures in advance - then you won't have to fight diseases.

From the pests, we single out the whitefly and the spider mite. Parasites disrupt the metabolism of plants, take away all the most valuable, as a result of which the culture dies. Although Katyusha is highly immune to pests, prevention will not be superfluous.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

If you grow tomatoes outdoors, pay attention to the following nuances:

• take into account the climatic conditions of your region;
• the best predecessors for tomatoes are potatoes, cucumbers, cabbage;
• do not plant bushes too close to each other.

When planting Katyusha in a greenhouse, remember:

• disinfection of soil and all hard surfaces;
• bushes in the greenhouse develop faster, occasionally removal of stepsons is required;
• the formation of high humidity is possible in the greenhouse - periodically ventilate it.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The variety ripens gradually, which allows you to enjoy the harvest for several weeks or even months. The vegetable has a sweet taste, the pulp is juicy.

Tomatoes are actively used in cooking dishes: soups, salads, side dishes, tomato juices, pasta and ketchup.

Also, due to their small size, tomatoes are suitable for conservation and pickling. Katyusha does not lose its taste even after heat treatment. The variety is able to be stored for a long time, perfectly tolerates transportation.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Advantages of the Katyusha variety:

• high taste;
• excellent productivity;
• minimum care;
• immunity to diseases and pests;
• versatility in application;
• the ability to grow both in a greenhouse and in the open air;
• good transportability and keeping quality;
• resistance to weather changes.

The Katyusha variety has no significant disadvantages. Occasionally growing is complicated by the large number of tomatoes on one bush, which can cause branches to break.

Reviews

The tomato has won the love of many gardeners. For example, the gardener Svetlana from Rostov-on-Don has been growing Katyusha for 5 years in a row. Svetlana says that this variety is the most beloved one, it does not require much time and effort, while at the same time it gives excellent tasty tomatoes. The grower recommends the hybrid to all of his garden neighbors.

The same opinion about tomatoes Katyusha summer resident Elena - she likes the taste of vegetables, she uses Katyusha in the preparation of many dishes. In addition, Elena uses tomatoes in cooking blanks for winter. The variety goes well with other vegetables.

There are almost no negative reviews about tomato - most gardeners characterize it only from the positive side. Some note only that it is necessary to make timely feeding - there is not always time for this. Also, sometimes there are reviews that the variety fell ill with late blight, and it was not possible to cure it.

Conclusion

If you want to grow a tasty and high-quality tomato on your site, then the Katyusha hybrid fully corresponds to these characteristics.

Even an inexperienced gardener can get a rich harvest, since Katyusha does not need special care. The tomato is versatile in use, it complements dishes with a sweet taste and pleasant aroma.