Development of domestic breeders for the Russian climate - tomato "Valentina"

Valentine's tomato is known to many gardeners in all regions of our country. And this is not surprising, because it was developed specifically for the Russian climate, which is often completely unpredictable. Frequent changes of cool days with torrential rains or, conversely, a sharp drought, the variety is not afraid - the tomato will withstand any weather tests. But its main feature is its vitamin composition. The fruits are saturated with vitamins of groups C, K and B, proteins, fiber, organic acids, carotene and minerals.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Valentine tomato variety was bred more than two decades ago by Russian breeders. Included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 1998. Ideal for breeding in any climatic conditions of the regions of Russia, both in open and protected ground.

Distinctive features

Determinant type, non-standard, spreading, height 55-60 cm. Branching is weak, leaves are yellow-green. The inflorescences are simple, the first is laid over 6-7 leaves, the subsequent ones every 1-2 leaves.

reference! The main difference between a non-standard plant and a standard plant is a weak stem.

An early ripe species, from the moment of emergence to full maturation, 95-100 days pass.

The yield is high, 3-4 kg are harvested from 1 seedling, provided that 6-7 plants are planted per 1 sq. m. Fruiting is not stretched, ripening occurs at the same time.

Differs in high resistance to the main diseases of the Solanaceae family. Well adapted to short drought conditions.

The culture does not require pinching, but you cannot do without a garter, despite the short stature of the seedlings. The fruiting branches are strewn with ripe vegetables, so they cannot bear the weight of their weight.

Fruit characteristics

Average weight 80-90 g, oval shape, elongated, orange-red color, intense. The taste is sweet with a slight sourness, the pulp is juicy, fleshy. Seed chambers 2, few seeds. The skin is thick, firm, not prone to cracking.

The purpose of tomatoes is universal: they are used fresh for the preparation of various dishes, used for winter harvesting and put into processing for tomato products.

Ripe vegetables can be stored for several months and can withstand long transportation without losing their presentation.

The photo shows Valentine tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

Sowing seeds for seedlings begins 2 months before planting in the ground. The seed must be prepared for planting in order to prevent a number of diseases and increase the quantitative indicator of fruiting.

Seed preparation

The beans are laid out on the table and carefully examined one at a time for visible damage. Grains suitable for sowing must be light in color, without distortions and defects. Then they are placed in saline solution for 10 minutes. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are washed with running water and disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.

To improve germination, seeds are soaked in a growth stimulator for 10 hours. Swollen grains can be sown in the ground.

reference! In addition to specialized drugs, melt or ordinary boiled water can serve as a growth stimulator.

Capacity and soil

The soil is prepared from a mixture of garden soil, humus, peat and river sand. River sand is added as a baking powder, for ease... Peat contains many nutrients necessary for the full growth and development of seedlings. Such a nutritious and fertile soil will speed up the emergence of seedlings.

The resulting mixture is disinfected by steaming in an oven at a temperature of 50 ° C for at least 15 minutes or spilled with a hot manganese solution. Soil disinfection destroys pathogenic flora, which leads to healthy seedling growth throughout the entire period.

You can plant in a common wooden box and in a separate container. The prepared soil is filled with the planting container in half, adding the remaining soil as the seedlings grow. This technique helps to constantly receive the required amount of nutrients. At the bottom of the containers, small drainage holes are made in advance to drain excess moisture into them.

Sowing

Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm with a distance of 3 cm from each other. Fall asleep on top with earth, level, compact and slightly moisten with warm, settled water using a spray bottle. The seeded containers are covered with foil, thereby creating a greenhouse effect, and left in a dark and warm room at a temperature of 24-26 ° C until shoots appear.

Growing and care

When shoots appear, the film is removed, and the containers are rearranged in a well-lit place on the windowsill. The temperature regime is kept at around 24-25 ° C. Daylight hours for seedlings are at least 14 hours. If the plants do not have enough daylight, they are supplemented with phytolamps.

Watered sparingly along the edge of the nursery with warm, settled water with an ordinary tablespoon. The main thing is not to flood the sprouts, since excess moisture will negatively affect the young roots. After watering, the soil is superficially loosened with a wooden stick.

When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive, seating them in separate containers. If the seeds were sown in peat pots, the seedlings do not need picking. The picking procedure involves shortening the main root by one third. The picking promotes the growth of lateral roots, due to which the seedlings grow vigorously.

reference! Throughout the entire period, seedlings do not need feeding.

2-2.5 weeks before planting, the seedlings are hardened, taking them outside for 1 hour at a temperature of 16 ° C. The time spent outdoors is gradually increased to 14 hours. Simultaneously with daytime hardening, the nighttime room temperature is reduced to 12 ° C.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months, the seedlings are ready for planting in the ground. By this time, it has 5-7 true leaves, a strong stem and a fully developed root system.

Landing

The soil is prepared in the fall, dug up and fertilized with humus. In the spring, they dig it up again with the introduction of mineral fertilizers. For planting, holes are prepared with a depth of 15-20 cm at the bottom of which a little sawdust or wood ash is placed.

Transplanted on a cloudy day or in the evening, after sunset. The tomato is planted in the ground where beets, greens, garlic, cabbage or carrots previously grew. After these crops, the soil is not depleted, which is favorable for crops from the Solanaceae family.

Planting scheme: 40 cm - distance between seedlings, 60 cm - distance between rows. For 1 sq. m place 6 - 7 plants. They are planted in a checkerboard pattern, which helps to ventilate each plant and obtain the required amount of light. After transplanting, the bushes are not watered or fed for 2 weeks. During this time, they adapt to new conditions.

Further care of the Valentine tomato

Regular watering installed no more than 2 times a week. Watered with warm water, spending 4-5 liters under each bush. During the formation of buds, the number of waterings is increased, watering every 3 days.After each watering, the beds are loosened, removing weeds and thereby destroying a favorable substrate for the development of fungal diseases.

Also, pests reproduce successfully in weeds, which, switching to tomatoes, destroy both the leaves and the fruits themselves. To keep the beds moist longer, they are mulched with peat or straw.

Tomatoes are fed once every 3 weeks. Before flowering top dressing are mineral fertilizers containing mainly nitrogen, which is needed for the active growth of shoots. Organics are also used, for example, a urea solution.

During the formation of the ovaries, they are fed with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers for faster pouring of the fruits. 35 g of superphosphate and potassium salts are dissolved in 10 l of water.

reference! All dressings are applied after watering, under the root of the plants.

Features in care and possible difficulties

Culture does not require pinching... Moreover, experienced gardeners claim that pinching this variety leads to a decrease in yield.

Bushes need a must garter not only the stem, but also the fruit-bearing branches. To do this, next to each seedling, wooden stakes or metal rods are installed, to which the plants are fixed. If the stem is tied to a support immediately after transplanting, the stem will form even and strong. As the branches develop, they are also necessarily fixed, otherwise they will creep along the ground from the weight of ripe vegetables. In addition, the tied branches make harvesting easier.

Diseases and pests

The most dangerous for tomato are fungal diseases such as late blight, gray rot and fusarium leaf wilting. The risk of disease increases with prolonged rains and constant humidity in the beds due to non-observance of a moderate watering regime.

For prophylactic purposes, plants are treated with contact fungicides "Fitosporin" and "Hom". You can also spray plants with infusions of various herbs, for example: nettle, plantain, onion husk decoction.

Processing plants with such infusions protects the culture from many pests that do not like pungent odors. These include: whitefly, spider mite, bear. To scare off a bear living underground, chopped cloves of garlic are dug into the beds.

The surest preventive method is to examine the bushes for pests and changes. In this way, pathology can be prevented almost immediately, which will preserve plant health.

The nuances of cultivation in the open field and in the greenhouse

Tomato leaves have a yellow-green color, but this does not mean that the plant is unhealthy. This color is quite normal for this variety and does not imply any remedial measures.

Pinching the shoots leads to a decrease in the quantitative indicator of fruiting; it is not recommended to pick off the leaves even during the seedling period. The only leaves that need to be removed are the lowest ones, since they can rot and cause various infections when in contact with wet beds.

When transplanting into open ground in regions with a temperate climate, do not forget about the danger of an unexpected drop in temperature. For such cases, a covering material is kept at hand in order to use it immediately if necessary, thereby preserving the plants. Also, the culture is sheltered in case of prolonged rains.

Closed structures are ventilated on a daily basis. The influx of fresh air destroys the habitual habitat of pathogenic microorganisms and many pests. In addition, ventilation regulates the state of humidity, preventing it from rising and creating favorable conditions for the development of diseases.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Ripe vegetables are harvested in July-August. Fruiting is not extended, ripening is almost simultaneous, which greatly simplifies collection.

The purpose is universal: smaller tomatoes are used for whole-fruit canning, barrel pickles and marinades. Larger vegetables are used for processing into tomato products, from which excellent juices, pasta, adjika, ketchup and lecho are obtained.

Tomatoes are also ideal in any fresh dishes: summer salads, hot and vegetable stews, mashed potatoes, they are used in a variety of snacks, for sandwiches. Also used in roasting with meat and for pizza.

Ripe vegetables can be stored for several weeks or even months without loss of memory and can withstand long transportation, perfectly preserving their presentation.

Advantages and disadvantages

A review of this section will summarize all the positive qualities of culture and point out some of the disadvantages. The benefits include:

• drought resistance;
• early ripening;
• amicable return:
• unpretentious care;
• does not require pinning;
• high rate of fruiting;
• the possibility of breeding in any region;
• immunity to disease;
• great fruit taste;
• universal purpose;
• long storage;
• long transportation.

The disadvantages include the obligatory garter of low-growing plants, but this is a common procedure with which all gardeners are familiar.

Farmers reviews

Judging by the characteristics and reviews of those who planted crops in their gardens, for most gardeners this tomato is a kind of lifesaver that will not fail under any circumstances.

Vera, Magnitogorsk: “I was very impressed with the photos, so I decided to plant this tomato. The seeds sprouted together, the seedlings did not hurt. Grown in the open field. Even with minimal care, the variety pleased with its yield. 6-7 fruits ripened on each bush. Used for pickling, but they are good fresh too. I will definitely plant it again. "

Peter, Nizhny Novgorod: “Great view for open ground. I always plant low-growing tomatoes in the garden without shelter. The bushes do not stretch and give a good offspring. Vegetables of an unusual elongated shape. The pulp is juicy. The taste is pleasant, you can add these tomatoes to salads. The variety is also suitable for conservation. I didn’t pinch the plants, the yield was at the level ”.

Conclusion

When creating Valentine's tomato, Russian breeders tried to instill in it a unique adaptation to unfavorable climatic conditions. Thanks to this, the variety is resistant to drought and cold snaps. The formation of ovaries in any weather is a definite plus in regions that do not differ in a constant temperature regime. The high rate of fruiting, resistance to diseases, simple agricultural technology and the versatility of the fruits attract more and more fans of the variety every year.