An excellent variety for fresh consumption - the "Portuguese Dacosta" tomato and the peculiarities of its agricultural technology

Large-fruited pink tomatoes are considered ideal for salads and fresh consumption. They have a rich sweet taste and a pronounced tomato aroma. It is these fruits that are most in demand in the grocery and horticultural markets.

Tomato Portuguese dacosta stands out favorably against the background of many other rose-fruited varieties. It is distinguished not only by its giant berries with a great taste, but also by its high yield. It is not difficult to grow such tomatoes due to their increased resistance to adverse environmental factors.

Description of the variety

Portuguese dacosta is a varietal tomato bred by Portuguese breeders. It belongs to rare varieties and is not sold in all stores.

In 2017, the Portuguese dacosta tomato entered the top ten tomato varieties. It is not easy to get its seeds, but if you buy them once, the planting material can be constantly taken from the fruit.

Distinctive features of the Portuguese dacosta

Portuguese dacosta is a pink-fruited tomato. Produces large fruits. Some specimens weigh 1000 g.

A characteristic feature of this variety is its meatiness. The berries contain a large amount of juicy but tender pulp. The tomatoes are sweet on the palate, with a subtle sourness. They have a characteristic and rich tomato aroma.

The cultivar is immune to most tomato diseases. He does not suffer from root and top rot, late blight and tobacco mosaic.

Another feature of the Portuguese Dacosta is its resistance to temperature extremes. These tomatoes are suitable for growing even outdoors.

A negative feature of the variety is the tendency of the fruit to crack. The larger the berries, the higher the likelihood of damage to them.

General characteristics

Portuguese dacosta is sold primarily in online stores. This is a rare collectible variety. Often, his planting material, harvested from his own harvest, is sold by gardeners.

The fruits of tomatoes contain a minimum amount of small seeds. To prepare seeds for the next planting, the largest and most beautiful berries are left on the bush until fully ripe.

Description and characteristics of the variety:

How to grow seedlings

Portuguese dacosta is grown only in seedlings. When sowing seeds directly into the ground, the crop will not have time to ripen before the onset of frost.

Sowing time depends on the region:

• cities with hot climates - end of April;
• the middle zone of Russia - the second half of April;
• northern regions - early April.

If you plan to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, then seedlings begin to grow two weeks earlier.

Preparation of planting material

To obtain healthy plants with increased resistance to adverse environmental factors, they must be pretreated:

1. The seeds are soaked in salt water (1 teaspoon of salt in 1 tbsp. Of water) for half an hour. The specimens that have surfaced will not ascend.
2. The planting material is disinfected. It is soaked in a solution of soda (1 tsp for 1 tbsp. Of water) for 12 hours, in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes, in hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes or in aloe juice for 12 hours.
3. To stimulate growth, seeds are soaked in commercial preparations ("Epin", "Sodium humate"), in a solution of soda, aloe juice or wrapped in damp gauze, put in a warm place and germinated.

Capacity and soil

Tomatoes need a light and nutritious soil. Suitable mixtures are available in stores. Both a universal soil mixture and a special one for tomatoes and peppers are suitable.

Prepare the soil and independently. To do this, mix the base, nutrient substrate and baking powder. For example, garden land (it is better to take from the beds where tomatoes are planned to be grown), peat and sand.

The soil is disinfected. It is watered copper sulfate, light pink solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water. Another option is to ignite the soil in the oven.

The Portuguese dacosta is usually sown directly into individual containers. This is a collectible variety that needs to be handled carefully. Better to take peat tablets. Plastic and peat pots or disposable cups are also suitable.

Important... Peat containers are not pre-disinfected. Plastic pots are soaked for half an hour in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate.

Sowing seeds

1-2 seeds are sown in pots. They are buried 1-1.5 cm. The soil is watered before the tomatoes are planted.

Containers with planting material are covered with foil and removed to a warm place. The warmer it is in the room, the faster the seeds will germinate. Tomatoes do not need light at this stage.

Every day, the film or glass is slightly opened for 1 hour so that mold does not form on the soil.

It is more convenient to grow seedlings in peat tablets. They are filled with ready-made nutrient substrate. The seeds germinate quickly in them. When picking to a permanent place, it is not necessary to extract seedlings from such blanks.

Before use, the tablets are soaked in boiling water, adding liquid as they swell. Then a seed is sown into each workpiece, deepening by 1 cm.

Peat tablets with planting material are placed in a deep container. They are covered with foil and placed in a warm place until the seeds germinate.

Seedling care

Good seedlings should be stocky, bright green, strong and have short internodes. To obtain such plants, they are provided with proper care:

1. Water the seedlings with settled water at room temperature... The liquid is poured under the root of the plant so that it does not fall on the ground part of the bush. The soil is moistened as the top layer dries. If irrigated incorrectly, tomatoes become withered. This happens when the soil is excessively moistened and when it dries out.
2. After seed germination, the film is removed. Plants should be kept at room temperature. If they stand in a draft, this will lead to death. Tomatoes need 16 hours of daylight. Lack of lighting is compensated by fluorescent lamps.
3. Top dressing is applied three times for the entire period of growing seedlings. They use complex fertilizers containing phosphorus, which contributes to the development of a strong root system. The first top dressing is applied after the formation of the second true leaf, the next - every two weeks.
4. Seedlings of the Portuguese dacosta are recommended to grow without picking.
5. 10 days before planting in a permanent place, the plants begin to harden... They are taken out into the air in the warm season for 1-2 hours, gradually the exposure to air is increased.

Agricultural regulations of the Portuguese dacosta

The Portuguese Dacosta is planted in open ground when the soil warms up at a depth of 15 cm. It is important that by this time the threat of recurrent frosts has passed.

By the time of planting, the seedlings should be 45–55 days old. If the plants are overexposed, they will not take root well in a new place.

Landing at a permanent place

Choose a well-lit place for tomatoes.... The beds are not placed in areas where groundwater is located close to the surface and no other nightshade plants have grown there for the previous two years. Tomatoes feel best after melons.

Before planting tomatoes in a new place, the beds need to be prepared. In the fall, they are dug up and cleaned of all plant residues. Fertilizers are applied to the soil. For example: humus, rotted cow dung or chicken dung. If the acidity is high, the soil is mixed with ash.

In the spring, the beds are leveled with a rake and cleared of weeds. They are watered with chicken droppings diluted with water 1:10 and hot copper sulfate.

Advice! Weeds collected from the beds are recommended not to be thrown away, but processed into organic fertilizers. For this, the grass is put into a barrel, poured with boiling water and insisted. To speed up fermentation, add sugar or jam to the mixture.

Holes are dug in the beds. Number of holes per 1 sq. m depends on how many trunks are planned to be left to the plants. When grown in one stem, up to 4 plants are planted on this area, when formed in two stems - no more than 3.

1 liter of a light pink solution of potassium permanganate is poured into each well and 1 tbsp. l. ash. When the liquid is absorbed, the plants removed from the containers (if these are not peat tablets and pots) are planted in the depressions, along with a lump of earth. The holes are covered with soil and compacted.

For two weeks, the plants are not watered or fed. During this time, they will take root and take root in a new place.

Basic rules of care

The Portuguese dacosta needs a garter. The bushes are attached to the support as they grow. Use synthetic thread - it is not subject to decay. Since this variety has large and heavy fruits, it is additionally tied to supports and brushes.

Form the tomatoes into one or two stems. The weight of the berries directly depends on the number of stems left to the plant. The fewer the stems, the larger the fruits will be and the sooner they will ripen.

When pinching remove all leaves up to the first flower cluster. Remove withered and yellowed greens. The procedure is carried out once a week, removing no more than three sheets.

Water the tomatoes as the soil dries. 2-3 liters of water are consumed per plant.

Portuguese dacosta responds well to feeding... With regular fertilization, tomatoes are tastier and larger. It is recommended to feed this variety every two weeks.

Foliar boron feeding make twice a season. The first time before the tomato blooms. Take 10 g of boron and dilute in 10 liters of water. Bushes are sprayed with this composition.The second feeding is carried out during the period of fruit formation, then the tomato will ripen faster.

Growing features

When growing Portuguese dacosta, gardeners should consider several nuances.

1. To get large fruits, the ovaries must be thinned out. No more than three berries are left on one brush.
2. The fruits of the Portuguese dacosta are prone to cracking. They are damaged by too much watering and when the soil dries out. Therefore, tomatoes are watered no more than 2 times a week in the open field and 1 time in 7 days in a greenhouse. Use 2-3 liters of liquid per plant.
3. On hot days, to prevent the fruit from cracking in the open field, a canopy is placed over them.
4. To set more berries, the bushes are shaken regularly.

Diseases and pests

Portuguese dacosta has an increased immunity to tomato disease. Despite this, experienced gardeners advise not to neglect the rules of prevention:

1. Disinfection... A dark pink solution of potassium permanganate or hot copper sulfate is used to treat the soil, greenhouse walls and garden tools.
2. Follow the rules of crop rotation... After nightshades, infections remain in the soil that infect new tomato plantings.
3. Potatoes are not planted near tomato beds. This plant attracts pests.
4. It is recommended to plant fragrant herbs between tomato beds. (rosemary, thyme or basil). They scare away harmful insects and attract useful ones.
5. To wash off aphids from the bushes, they are sprayed with a decoction of wormwood. Infusions of other herbs with a bitter taste are also suitable. Another option is to prepare a soapy pepper solution. To do this, add a piece of grated laundry soap and 5 hot peppers twisted in a meat grinder to a bucket of water.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

When grown in a greenhouse, crop rotation must also be observed. In this case, in the beds where nightshade crops previously grew, they simply change the soil.

The walls of the greenhouse are treated with copper sulfate. To reduce the likelihood of the spread of infections in the room, it is regularly ventilated.

It is interesting! For several years now, experimental gardeners have argued that in pyramidal greenhouses, plants are healthier and more productive.

In the open field, there is a great threat of death of tomatoes due to night frosts. To prevent this from happening, the first two weeks after disembarkation, every evening the beds are covered with foil.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The first Portuguese dacosta berries are harvested in the second half of July. They are plucked by the piece, since this variety does not differ in maturity.

The fruits of the Portuguese dacosta are mainly consumed fresh. Delicious juices and sauces are obtained from such tomatoes. They are not suitable for fresh preservation due to large plants and loose skin.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Benefits of the Portuguese Dacosta:

• immunity to tomato diseases;
• large-fruited;
• high productivity;
• great taste of the fruit;
• the ability to use seeds from your own harvest for planting.

The disadvantages include the need to tie and pinch bushes. Another disadvantage is that seeds are hard to find.

Farmers reviews

Gardeners' reviews of the Portuguese Dacoste are unambiguously positive. Everyone who has tried this tomato plants it again.

Alisa, Zelenograd: “I have been growing Portuguese dacosta for the third year. The seeds were donated by a neighbor on the site. Very tasty tomatoes and a large harvest. I form it into one stem, so the tomatoes are larger. I collect seeds from berries ripened on the bush, although there are very few of them there. It's a pity to use juices for juices, everything is eaten fresh. "

Ivan, Shumerlya: “I planted a Portuguese dacosta last year. Shaped into two stems. There were a lot of tomatoes, but the first ones cracked. I think this is due to the frequent rains. The berries taste sweet, with a pleasant sourness and a pronounced tomato aroma.They turn out to be large and beautiful, as in the photo. "

Conclusion

Portuguese dacosta is one of the finest rose-bearing varieties. He fell in love with gardeners due to the gigantic size of berries, excellent taste and high yield. Ideal for preparing salads, sauces and juices.

The variety belongs to rare collectible. Not available in all gardening stores, making them difficult to obtain. But seeds from the fruits of their own harvest are suitable for planting.

It is not difficult to grow such tomatoes. They are distinguished by increased immunity to diseases and infections, they are not afraid of temperature extremes. It is only important to monitor the humidity and temperature to prevent cracking of the fruit.