Content
The Argonaut F1 tomato is a first-generation hybrid capable of stably bearing fruit in open soils. Compared to similar varieties, it is highly resistant to pests and diseases and produces crops early. To achieve maximum results, you need to familiarize yourself with the description and characteristics of the variety and study the requirements for cultivation.
Breeding history
Argonaut is the result of the work of the famous breeder L. A. Myazina. Approved for use in 2015. The hybrid origin of the tomato is confirmed by the F1 mark. There is no information about “parents”.
The culture is characterized by resistance to adverse factors and excellent taste of the fruits
Description of the tomato variety Argonaut F1
The Argonaut F1 variety feels good in greenhouses and open ground. The hybrid is resistant to cold, grows and bears fruit successfully in regions with different climates and weather.
Description of tomato Argonaut:
- The bush is of a determinate type, grows no more than 70 cm in height.Suitable for growing in one stem, although it is not a standard plant.
- The base of the tomato is powerful. Bushes of the Argonaut F1 variety can be grown without support, but it must be taken into account that during the fruiting period there is a risk of collapse.
- The crown is compact, with medium foliage. The leaf blades are medium-sized, green in color, with a shape characteristic of this crop.
- The fruits of the Argonaut hybrid are colored red and have a rounded, leveled shape. Each weight reaches 180 g.
- Medium density pulp with excellent taste and pleasant tomato aroma. There are nine seed chambers inside.
Thick skin gives tomato fruit protection during transportation and storage
Ripening and yield
The Argonaut hybrid harvest ripens in 85-95 days from the beginning of the growing season. This allows us to classify it as an early ripening crop. The yield is high - 3.5-4 kg of tomatoes from each bush with minimal care. The fruits are collected as they ripen.
The register of breeding achievements indicates the commercial yield of the hybrid in film greenhouses – 14-15 kg/sq.m.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The Argonaut F1 tomato has strong immunity to most pathogens and, due to the early harvest, does not have time to be damaged by late blight. When timely treatments are carried out, the bushes are not afraid of attacks from pests such as bollworms, tomato moths, aphids and the Colorado potato beetle.
Growing regions
This variety of tomato is grown in almost all regions of Russia. The Argonaut F1 variety is suitable for the harsh climate of the Urals and northern regions of Siberia.
Purpose and application
Tomatoes of the Argonaut F1 variety are suitable for canning. They can be pickled and also processed to produce juice. Although some gardeners note the sour taste of the drink.
The fruits are dense and do not burst when cooked. However, the Argonaut F1 tomato has a universal purpose, so they can be eaten raw, dried, dried and frozen.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews from summer residents about the Argonaut tomato indicate that it has a lot of advantages. The main one is strong immunity to the main ailments characteristic of nightshade crops.
The Argonaut variety is undemanding to the soil, unpretentious in care, and during the cultivation process there are no special difficulties with it
Pros:
- plasticity - the tomato tolerates cold snaps and other vagaries of the weather without pain;
- early ripeness - tomatoes can be picked from the bush as early as mid-July, which is especially attractive for those gardeners who do not like to wait a long time for the harvest;
- productivity - with good care, the variety pleases with an abundance of fruits;
- stable fruiting – bushes form ovaries in any weather;
- fruits of high consumer quality, good fresh;
- transportability and keeping quality – tomatoes are suitable for long-term storage in a cool room.
Minuses:
- bushes require tying to a support;
- you cannot get seeds for next season.
Recommendations for cultivation
Before planting Argonaut F1 tomatoes in open ground, you need to wait until the air warms up to +13-15 °C. Planting at lower temperatures will cause seedlings to lag in growth, as they are less resistant to cold than mature bushes. It is recommended to plant tomato seedlings in a bright area, protected from cold winds.Plants require up to eight hours of sun to develop properly.
Every year you need to choose a new planting location. Beds where potatoes, peppers and eggplants grew are not suitable for growing tomatoes, since these crops have common diseases.
In the fall, the site is dug up and aged manure, compost and wood ash are added. The soil is loosened, leveled and compacted. When planting, Argonaut F1 tomato seedlings are buried in the ground, which promotes the appearance of more roots, good growth and proper development of the bush. Plants are placed in holes at a distance of 40 cm from each other and a distance between rows of 60 cm. Argonaut F1 tomatoes require fertile soil with high moisture capacity.
The Argonaut tomato grows well in slightly acidic soils where the pH level is 6.0-7.0
Argonaut F1 develops quickly and consumes a lot of nutrients. Therefore, for a large harvest, the hybrid needs regular feeding. During the planting process, it will be useful to fill the beds with mineral fertilizers, especially if this was not done in the fall.
During the period of fruit formation, any organic fertilizer, for example, bird droppings, is applied every two weeks. Usually it is dissolved in water and the resulting solution is watered on tomato bushes.
For smooth ripening, Argonaut F1 tomatoes need moisture. Watering should be plentiful but rare. The soil is moistened mainly in the morning, while the sun is still less active. Waterlogged soil will lead to root rot, and lack of moisture will lead to stunted growth. Therefore, moderation is important when watering.
Argonaut tomato bushes form three stems. To do this, starting from the bottom, remove all the lateral shoots except the two upper ones and the main trunk. Then the individual parts of the plant that shade the ovaries the most are removed. Stepchildren are removed as they appear at the age of 5 cm.
Diseases and pests
To prevent diseases, Argonaut tomato bushes are treated with Fitosporin or Iskra before flowering. Onion or garlic infusion helps stop pest invasions and protect plants from damage.
The greatest damage to the Argonaut tomato is caused by the mole cricket. This insect loves to feast on egg shells, which means it is ideal as bait. It must first be crushed to a powder state, then mixed with a small amount of unrefined vegetable oil. Part of this mixture should be placed in each hole when planting a tomato.
If the pest attacked the plants after planting, you will need to fill the shallow furrows near the holes with shells. The mole cricket will eat such bait and die.
If you don’t want to prepare bait, then you can use ready-made products - Zolon, Grom, Rubit, Bearcatcher
Conclusion
Tomato Argonaut F1 is a good choice for open beds and greenhouses. It has strong immunity and is almost not damaged by harmful insects. It has a salad purpose and is ideal for canning. The hybrid has proven itself not only among summer residents, but also among farmers when grown for sale.
Reviews from gardeners about the Argonaut F1 tomato
