Content
The Apple tomato attracts gardeners with its large size, taste and versatility of the fruit. Due to their high yield and hardiness, tomatoes of this variety are popular with gardeners in both the southern and northern regions of the Russian Federation.
Breeding history
The Apple tomato belongs to the representatives of the Altai selection
The originator of the variety is unknown. As of January 2024, the Apple tomato is not included in the State Register.
Vegetable growers classify the Apple tomato as an amateur selection.
Description and characteristics of the tomato variety Apple
The plant is indeterminate. On average, bushes of the Apple variety grow up to 1.8 m. They require tying and constant support. The stems of the plant are not particularly strong and can easily break if handled carelessly. Therefore, it is not recommended to tie up mature bushes. When well-groomed, medium-sized bushes have a beautiful appearance.
The number of leaves is average.When the ovaries are formed at the bottom of the bush, the lower leaves are cut off. Form an Apple tomato into two stems. Leave the main shoot and the shoot extending from the first flower cluster. The remaining side stepsons are cut off.
Apple tomatoes with a perfect round shape look like large apples
The fruits are red, large, weighing 350–500 g. With dense pulp. Juicy and sweet, with a rich aroma and smooth skin. They have a round shape, slightly elongated vertically, but not flattened. Slight ribbing is noticeable on the fruit.
The core of the Apple tomato is multi-chambered, with dense fleshy walls
The stalk is of good quality, holds tightly, but can be separated if necessary. The fruits are grouped into clusters - up to five pieces in each.
The taste characteristics of the Apple tomato are excellent. The fruits are moderately sweet and delicious, sometimes a slight sourness is felt.
Ripening time
Mid-early tomato. The growing season lasts about 3.5 months from the moment of planting. But the speed is affected by general conditions and the growing region. In northern latitudes you will have to wait 120 days for the harvest, in southern latitudes much less. Caring for bushes plays a significant role. If you follow the basic rules of cultivation, tomatoes will ripen on time.
Apple tomato yield
Usually up to 5 kg of tomatoes are harvested from a bush, i.e. about 12–15 ripe fruits. The time to collect ripe fruits is from mid-August to September.
Resistance to adverse factors
The variety is unpretentious and tolerates low temperatures well. The culture is resistant to cracking of tomatoes, pathogens, weather conditions and the vagaries of cool summers.
Where is it grown?
Apple tomatoes can be cultivated in warm regions of Russia, the Urals, and Siberia.Growing conditions: open ground, film greenhouses.
Methods of application
The Apple tomato not only has excellent taste, but also high nutritional value.
The fruits contain a large amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that are beneficial for health.
The variety is widely used in home and professional cooking.
Tomatoes are universal, therefore they are suitable as a dessert, for making snacks, salads and juices. Suitable for preparing ketchups, sauces, pastes, lecho, adjika. The fruits are also consumed fresh.
Advantages and disadvantages
Indeterminate tomatoes, including Apple tomatoes, have many positive characteristics. If certain rules are followed, they will not only bring a rich harvest, but also will not cause much trouble.
The main advantage of the Apple variety is its resistance to low temperatures and cold snaps.
Pros:
- high productivity;
- cultivation in many regions of the Russian Federation;
- cultivation in closed and open ground;
- good presentation and transportability;
- dense, non-cracking skin;
- keeping quality;
- pleasant taste and aroma.
Minuses:
- the need to garter bushes;
- mandatory stepsoning.
Features of agricultural technology
Apple tomato is grown using seedlings. Time for sowing seeds: late February - early March. Pots or special containers are prepared for them. Apple tomato seeds are deepened into the soil by 10–15 mm. The ground temperature should be 20°C or slightly higher.
The best seed material is produced by the agricultural companies Seeds of Altai and Siberian Garden.
In mid-May, and later in the northern regions, Apple tomato seedlings are transferred to the ground. By this time, the seedlings are hardened, gradually increasing the time the sprouts spend in the open air.The shoots should reach 15–20 cm in height and be 50–60 days old.
At the same time, the soil is prepared, weeds are removed, and the dirt is leveled. Loosen the soil 15–20 cm deep. Do not forget that you need to add sand and humus in equal volumes to heavy and clayey soil. If the soil is sandy loam, add clay and compost. The Apple tomato prefers moist soil. Therefore, before planting, the soil is watered with warm water, but in moderation.
Planting holes are located half a meter from each other. The depth of each hole is 15–20 cm. Before planting, the seedlings need to be thinned out, leaving one seedling leaf on each sprout. Place the shoot in the hole, fill it with soil and thoroughly compact the soil around the roots.
Care Tips
Although indeterminate tomatoes of the Yablochny variety are grown in open ground and in a greenhouse, gartering and shaping are required in both cases. In addition to the main stem, heavy brushes are subject to garter. If you want to get large tomatoes (up to 500 g), thin out the bunches. Otherwise, the numerous ovaries are not touched. In this case, there will be much more fruits, but they will be small.
Abundant watering with warm water directly under the root is necessary. It is advisable not to wet the foliage. Not watered very often. Otherwise, Apple tomatoes will grow watery and less sugary.
Another mandatory procedure is removing weeds and constantly monitoring the soil. Once every two weeks it is necessary to fertilize with fertilizers of different groups. To improve the taste, it is advisable to add potassium, calcium, and phosphorus.
Treatment against diseases and pests
Apple tomatoes are often infected with blossom end rot, so it is necessary to carry out therapeutic sprays
Compositions for treatment (per bucket of water):
- calcium nitrate – 9–10 g;
- boric acid – 8–10 g;
- soda – 20 g;
- Fitosporin – 5 g.
You can use an infusion of wood ash, prepared as follows: pour a glass of ash with a liter of boiling water and leave for 24 hours. Strain, add cold water to 10 liters. Or use the drug "Brexil Ca", containing calcium with boron.
In hot summers, sandy soils must be mulched with a small layer of peat. Dolomite flour (0.5 kg per 1 sq. m) is introduced into acidic soil before planting. Deoxidation of the soil also helps against illness.
Conclusion
The Apple tomato of Altai selection is gaining more and more admirers. The fruits are large, have a beautiful appearance, and taste good both fresh and canned. The main advantages of the variety are high yield and endurance, the ability to grow not only in the southern regions, but also in the Urals and Siberia.
Reviews of summer residents about Apple tomato
