Rich harvest, amazing taste and vibrant color - the Königsberg golden tomato and its growing guide

We present to your attention another variety from the Siberian collection, the golden Konigsberg tomato. It will interest all lovers of yellow tomatoes with unpretentious care and excellent vegetables with a high content of vitamins, lycopene and carotene. Such tomatoes are a real find not only for northern residents, but also for southerners.

The culture is divided into three subspecies, differing from each other in color, capable of elegantly decorating not only garden beds, but also jars with winter conservation.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The culture was brought out in 2005 by the Siberian amateur gardener V.N.Dederko. It is intended for breeding in open and protected ground. The variety is frost-resistant, which is excellent for cultivation in Siberia.

Distinctive features

The type is indeterminate, the height is 1.5-2 m, the leaves are large, light green in color. The inflorescences are simple, the first cluster is tied after 10-12 leaves, each cluster forms 4-6 fruits.

reference... Indeterminate type - no growth restriction.

Mid-season species, from the moment of sowing the seeds to full maturation, 115-120 days pass.

The yield is high, from 1 sq. m, 15-20 kg of fruits are harvested, provided that 3 seedlings are planted per 1 sq. m. The main distinguishing feature is the ability to set fruit in any weather conditions.

The variety is highly resistant to the main diseases of the nightshade family, withstands well the attacks of many pests.

The culture needs compulsory pinching, tying and pinching - a necessary procedure for tall bushes to prevent further growth.

Fruit characteristics

The average fruit weight is 220-230 g. Larger vegetables are tied on the lower fruiting branches, their weight reaches 800 g. Smaller tomatoes are tied on the upper branches, their weight is no more than 180 g. The shape is oval, pepper-shaped, the color is yellow-gold, bright. The taste is pronounced, sweet, the pulp is juicy, aromatic. There are 4 seed chambers, few seeds, the peel is dense, not prone to cracking.

Tomatoes are stored for a long time and can withstand transportation over long distances, which is not typical for large fruits. For these reasons, entrepreneurs are considering the variety commercially.

The photo shows the Königsberg golden tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

Sowing seeds for seedlings begins 2 months before planting in the ground. Since the crop is not a hybrid crop, the seed can be harvested independently.

Seed preparation

The seed is laid out on the table and carefully inspected for visible damage. Only light-colored seeds are left without distortion. They are then tested for germination by immersion in saline for 10 minutes. Those that surfaced are empty inside and are not suitable for landing. Next, the seed is disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in 2% hydrogen peroxide. The disinfected grains are washed with running water and dried.

To improve germination, seeds are germinated on damp gauze for 2-3 days at a temperature of + 25-28 ° C in a dark place. As it dries, the gauze is moistened with warm, settled water.After the appearance of the first sprouts, the grains are sown into the ground.

Capacity and soil

The container is fertile and nutritious. To do this, mix garden soil with peat and humus in equal amounts. For ease, washed river sand is added. The resulting mixture is disinfected with a solution of dark potassium permanganate. Decontaminated soil is the key to healthy growth and development of seedlings.

After disinfection, the prepared mixture is laid out in planting containers, at the bottom of which drainage holes are preliminarily made so that moisture does not stagnate.

They are planted in a common wooden box or in separate containers, for example, plastic cups, paper honeycombs, peat pots. The latter option is the most convenient for breeding seedlings, since such cultivation frees you from picking and transplanting into the ground. Plants are lowered into the holes along with the pots, where they dissolve in the ground without harming the root system.

Sowing

Seeds are sown to a depth of 2 cm with a distance of 3 cm from each other. From above, the grooves are covered with peat, slightly moistened with warm, settled water using a spray bottle and covered with film or glass to create greenhouse conditions.

The containers are left in a bright and warm room at a temperature of 24 ° C. Periodically, the film is removed to ventilate the soil. Moisten as the top layer of the soil dries up with warm, settled water.

Seedling care

After the first shoots appear, the film is removed, and the containers are rearranged to a more illuminated place, on the windowsill. Daylight hours for seedlings are at least 14 hours, therefore, in the northern regions, with a shortened day, additional lighting is prepared in advance. Usually supplemented with fluorescent lamps.

Attention! With a lack of light, seedlings grow and develop more slowly.

Pour with moderately warm, settled water with a shallow watering can along the edge of the containers. After watering, surface is loosened with a wooden stick.

After the appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings dive, seating them in separate containers. If the plants are left in a common container, the distance between the bushes is increased to 10-15 cm.

During the picking, the seedlings are fed with liquid fertilizer for seedlings, thereby promoting enhanced growth and development of seedlings.

2 weeks before disembarkation, the seedlings begin to harden, taking the planting containers out into the open air for 1-1.5 hours. The time spent on the street is gradually increased to 14 hours. In parallel with daytime hardening, the night temperature in the room is reduced to 13 ° C.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months, the seedlings are ready for transplantation. At this time, the soil warms up to 15-17 ° C. They are transplanted into greenhouse conditions 2 weeks earlier, especially since the seedlings are not afraid of frost.

reference... The earlier the tomato is in the ground, the faster fruiting will come.

Landing

The beds are prepared 2 weeks before transplanting. The soil is dug up and treated with copper sulfate to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. The wells are not prepared deep, 20 cm, some mineral fertilizers are placed on the bottom and filled with water. After transplanting, the holes are re-watered abundantly and the seedlings are left to get used to the new conditions for 10 days.

Planting pattern: 60 cm - distance between seedlings, 70-75 cm - distance between rows. For 1 sq. m place 2-3 plants.

Further care

Regular watering is set once a week. Water abundantly, at the root, without getting on the leaves. The ideal time for watering is early morning or evening hours when the sun is not fully warm. Leaves may burn when watering during the day.

reference... The roots of plants are long, so they can more easily tolerate drought than excess moisture.

After watering, the soil is loosened, removing weeds. Loosening promotes better oxygen penetration to the root system, which has a beneficial effect on the growth of seedlings. To keep the soil moist longer, the beds mulch peat or straw.Using weeds as mulch provides additional benefits. When rotting, it enriches the tomato roots with useful substances.

During the season, the culture is fed three times: during flowering, during the formation of ovaries and during the fruiting period... A full range of mineral fertilizers or organic matter is used as top dressing. From organic matter, an infusion of mullein and bird droppings are used in a ratio of 1:15.

Poultry droppings are more concentrated than mullein infusion, so it is necessary to maintain the appropriate ratio when preparing the solution to avoid scalding the roots. During the fruiting period, potassium salts are added to the fertilizing to accelerate the ripening of fruits.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

The indeterminate type implies unlimited plant growth. To mark the point of growth, it is necessary to pinch the top of the bushes so that they do not consume nutrients to form unnecessary branches. In addition, the higher the branch, the smaller the fruit.

High growth requires a mandatory garter, otherwise the stem will not withstand many fruitful branches and break from the weight of ripe vegetables. As a support during transplantation, wooden stakes or metal rods are installed next to each bush. Plants are fixed almost immediately during transplantation, due to which the stem is formed powerful and even. Fruit-bearing branches are also tied to a support as they grow.

A culture is formed in 1 or 2 stems, regularly removing all other stepsons. Stepson takes care of once every 2 weeks, otherwise thickening of the plantings is possible, which will lead to the development of fungal infections. At the end of the formation of fruits, pinching is stopped.

Diseases and pests

Despite the strong immunity of culture, preventive measures will not be superfluous. With the wrong watering possible development of diseases such as late blight and brown spotting. Therefore, control over the level of humidity in the beds is necessary in any weather.

Closed structures must be ventilated, thereby preventing the formation of high humidity. This not only prevents the onset of the development of diseases, but also destroys the habitual habitat of greenhouse pests.

Outdoors, plants are susceptible to attacks by parasitic insects such as the Colorado potato beetle, slugs, whitefly and aphid... These pests are capable of causing considerable damage to any plantings, so it is important not to let them into your garden, since getting rid of them will be much more difficult.

To combat insects, insecticides are used, but do not forget that the use of chemistry is possible only before flowering begins. Therefore, throughout the growing season, they mainly use folk methods.

A soap solution, which is used to treat plant stems, saves from aphids and slugs. It is prepared simply: 1 piece of laundry soap is dissolved in 1 bucket of water.

Pheromone traps are placed next to the tomatoes from the whitefly. Sharp-smelling herbs are also planted nearby, since the pest does not like strong smells.

Colorado potato beetle is harvested by hand, carefully examining the bushes from all sides.

Nuances for open ground and greenhouse conditions

Greenhouse bushes often cannot pollinate themselves. High humidity leads to the fact that the pollen rolls into small lumps and cannot move independently. Therefore, if the gardener does not take control of the pollination process, the number of ovaries will be too low.

The growth of greenhouse plants exceeds those that are planted outdoors, so pinching is of particular importance here. Those who want to get very small tomatoes can take their time with pinching, because the higher the branch, the smaller the fruit.

The roots of the tomato are strong, well developed and extend far downward. For this reason, watering the crop often does not make sense. Tomato thrives in hot and arid climates.

The lower leaves must be removed without fail, since when in contact with wet beds, they can rot and cause the spread of infections.

Planting tomato crops next to potatoes is not recommended. Potatoes belong to the same family as tomatoes, and when affected by any infection, they immediately transfer it to a neighboring crop. The same applies to insect pests, they often go to tomato from potatoes.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Golden tomatoes begin to ripen in the second half of summer. The yield is high, the fruitful branches are literally bursting with ripe vegetables. It is important not to overripe and unload the bush in time for the full maturation of subsequent vegetables.

The purpose in cooking is universal, especially vegetables are good fresh. They are used to prepare a variety of dishes: hot, vegetable, various snacks, delicious salads, mashed potatoes.

Large fruits are not suitable for preservation, but smaller tomatoes are used for making marinades and pickles. Yellow vegetables look very beautiful in a jar together with red ones. They also make excellent adjika, lecho and juice.

Advantages and disadvantages

The golden Konigsberg has many fans due to its many advantages:

• frost resistance;
• drought resistance;
• the possibility of breeding in any region;
• uncomplicated agricultural technology;
• good immunity to diseases;
• high yield;
• excellent fruit taste;
• fortified vegetables;
• marketable condition;
• long storage;
• long transportation;
• versatility in cooking.

The negative sides include:

• regular pinching;
• obligatory garter and pinching;
• scarcity of seeds, which is why it is difficult to select high-quality seed for the next plantings on your own.

Other varieties

In addition to the Golden Konigsberg, there are two more subspecies: pink Konigsberg and heart-shaped Koenigsberg.

Growing conditions and agrotechnical methods of all three species practically do not differ. The main difference is in the color and weight category of the fruit.

A pink tomato is a copy of a golden one in all characteristics and reviews. Varietyindeterminate, high yielding, well adapted to cold areas and resistant to many diseases. The only significant difference between the two subspecies is the color of ripe vegetables and taste: yellow, sweeter, rich in carotene.

The heart-shaped subspecies, judging by the reviews from the photo, is distinguished by large tomatoes in the form of a heart. Their weight reaches 900 g. Of course, such sizes are not suitable for canning, therefore, they are mainly used fresh and for making various sauces. In terms of agricultural technology, the subspecies practically does not differ from its brothers, it is well adapted to cold terrain and pleases with high rates of fruiting.

In the photographs, Königsberg is pink and heart-shaped.

Farmers reviews

We will listen to the opinions and assessments of gardeners who planted the variety on their plots.

Roman, Tomsk: «Last year, I planted a crop from seeds bought in a specialized store. The result was amazing - the fruits are one to one, tasty, beautiful with minimal maintenance. I am inspired to breed this species in the future ”.

Irina, Krasnoyarsk: “I have been planting the culture for many years - I am quite happy with it. Tomatoes do not require special care, and the harvest is always excellent. The fruits are tasty, juicy, without acid, beautiful in conservation. "

Conclusion

The Königsberg golden variety can be called the main one in the Siberian collection of tomatoes. Its unique ability to set fruits at relatively low temperatures has won the special favor of the inhabitants of cold areas. The culture is distinguished by its resistance to diseases, a high rate of fruiting and ease of maintenance, which makes it even more in demand among gardeners.