Content
The mid-early tomato Harmoshka was developed by Russian breeders for cultivation in open ground and under film cover. The variety is loved by summer residents for the size and color of the fruit, high yield, and good taste. Thanks to their fleshy, juicy pulp, tomatoes are ideal for fresh consumption, making sauces, adzhiki, juice. If you follow the rules of care, you can get up to 8 kg of fragrant, raspberry-red fruits from the bush.
Description of the tomato Accordion
The high-yielding, large-fruited tomato Accordion belongs to the mid-early varieties. About 120 days pass from emergence to harvest. The plant is indeterminate, medium leafy, grows up to 2 m.
Since tomatoes of the Accordion variety are tall, they need to be tied to a support when growing. To obtain a high yield, the bush is grown in 2 stems. To form the plant, the stepson formed under the first brush is preserved, the rest are carefully removed, leaving a small stump.
Since the plant grows into a powerful bush, per 1 sq. m no more than 3 copies are planted.To ensure that tomatoes receive a sufficient amount of light, all leaves growing under each flower cluster are removed.
Description and taste of fruits
The ribbed fruits of the Accordion tomato are pear-shaped, weighing up to 250 g. At the stage of full maturity, the tomatoes are colored crimson-red. Multi-chambered tomatoes have a rich aroma and sweet and sour taste.
The juicy, fleshy pink pulp is covered with a dense peel, thanks to which the tomatoes are well transported over long distances and have a long shelf life. Due to its juiciness and excellent taste, the Accordion tomato is used fresh for preparing aromatic salads, juices, adjika, tomato paste and for winter preparations.
Varietal characteristics
According to reviews from gardeners and photos, the Accordion tomato is a high-yielding variety. The tall plant forms the first flower cluster above the 9th leaf. Each cluster produces up to 4 large fruits. If agrotechnical rules are observed, up to 5 kg of tomatoes ripen on 1 bush, therefore, from 1 sq. m you can get up to 15 kg of harvest.
The yield of the variety depends on care, growing rules and climatic conditions. When growing the Accordion tomato in greenhouse conditions, the yield, quality and weight of the fruit increase.
The tomato variety Accordion is not able to fight diseases on its own. If the rules of care are not followed, the following may form on the plant:
- Late blight – infection occurs through soil, air or raindrops. At the initial stage of the disease, the leaf blade becomes covered with dark spots, which over time spread to the stem and lead to the death of the plant.
- Blackleg – seedlings often suffer from this disease. The fungus settles on the stem, thins it and leads to the death of the fragile plant. Black leg appears due to frequent watering, high air humidity and if the seeds are planted in untreated soil.
- White spot – the disease can be recognized by black dots on the leaf blade. Without treatment, the foliage dries out and falls off. With timely treatment, the plant can be saved by treating it with Bordeaux mixture.
To grow a generous harvest, it is necessary to carry out disease prevention in a timely manner:
- observe crop rotation;
- purchase quality seeds;
- treat seeds and soil before planting;
- provide timely care.
Pros and cons of the variety
Accordion tomatoes, like any plant, have advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include:
- mid-early ripening;
- good taste and presentation;
- long-distance transportation and good keeping quality;
- large-fruited variety;
- collecting seeds from the grown crop;
- tomatoes can be grown in open beds and under film cover.
The disadvantages many gardeners include:
- instability to diseases;
- bush formation;
- the need to install a support;
- tendency of fruits to crack;
- yield depends on weather conditions.
Rules for planting and care
Getting a big harvest is the goal of every gardener, but not many manage to grow a healthy plant and harvest large fruits. To achieve this goal, you need to grow strong seedlings and follow the rules of cultivation and care.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Healthy, strong seedlings are the key to a generous harvest. Before planting, it is necessary to treat the soil and planting material.
Soil for planting tomatoes of the Accordion variety can be purchased at the store, but it is better to mix it yourself. To do this, take peat, humus and turf in a ratio of 1:4:5 and mix thoroughly. Before sowing, the soil is disinfected by pouring boiling water or a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate on it. Before planting seeds, they are disinfected by immersing them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 10 minutes.
For planting, use plastic or peat cups with a volume of 0.5 liters, boxes with a height of at least 10 cm, and peat tablets. The container is filled with moist nutrient soil and the seeds are buried 2 cm. The crops are covered with film or glass and put in a warm place. Favorable temperature for germination is 25-30 °C. Before the emergence of seedlings, watering is not carried out, since the accumulated condensate is enough to moisten the soil.
After seed germination, the shelter is removed and the container is placed in a lighted place. Since seeds are sown at the end of February or mid-March, the seedlings must be illuminated to prevent them from stretching out.
After 2-3 true leaves appear, the seedlings from the box are transplanted into individual containers filled 1/3 with soil. As the seedlings grow, they are sprinkled with soil, thereby provoking the formation of new roots. A strong, robust root system will help the plant quickly take root in a new location and grow a large, rich harvest.
2 weeks before planting the Garmoshka tomato variety in a permanent place, the seedlings are hardened off. To do this, it is placed in the open air or next to an open window, increasing the time of stay daily.
The main mistakes that summer residents make when growing seedlings:
- early sowing of seeds;
- non-compliance with temperature and humidity conditions;
- use of poor quality soil;
- ignoring additional lighting;
- lack of pre-plant hardening.
Transplanting seedlings
Properly grown seedlings must meet certain requirements before planting in a permanent place:
- have a powerful, well-developed root system;
- the thickened stem should be no more than 30 cm and have at least 7 leaves;
- presence of 1 flower brush.
When growing the Accordion variety tomato in open ground, choose a well-lit place, protected from gusty winds. The best predecessors for tomatoes are pumpkin, cabbage and legumes. After peppers, eggplants and potatoes, the Accordion tomato can only be planted after 3 years.
In the prepared bed, holes are made at a distance of 50x70. Place 2 tbsp at the bottom of the hole. l. wood ash and pour thoroughly. Since the Accordion tomato is a tall variety, seedlings are planted at an angle of 45°.
After planting, the soil is compacted and mulched. Mulch will retain moisture, stop the growth of weeds and act as an additional organic fertilizer. To prevent the bush from bending and breaking during growth, it is immediately tied to a support. The stem is passed through the twine strictly clockwise, so that when the plant turns towards the sun, the trunk does not become constricted.
Tomato care
The first watering is carried out 13 days after planting. To do this, use warm, settled water. At least 3 liters are spent on each bush. Further watering is carried out as the soil dries.
Mandatory irrigation is necessary:
- during flowering;
- during the period of formation and filling of fruits.
After each watering, the soil is carefully loosened to quickly supply oxygen to the root system.
Fertilizing is necessary to obtain a generous harvest. Fertilizing is applied according to certain rules:
- during growth - nitrogenous fertilizers;
- during the flowering period - complex mineral fertilizers or organic matter;
- during fruit formation - phosphorus-potassium fertilizing.
A lack of microelements can be determined by the appearance of the plant. The main problems with a lack of nutrients:
- calcium deficiency – the leaves are deformed and covered with numerous tubercles, the root system is affected by rot and dies;
- potassium deficiency – young leaves acquire a wrinkled appearance;
- iron deficiency – the leaf blade acquires a yellow color, while the veins remain unchanged;
- copper deficiency – the root system is affected, the foliage loses its elasticity;
- nitrogen deficiency – the young plant stops growing and developing.
Conclusion
The Accordion tomato is a high-yielding, large-fruited variety that is grown both under film cover and in open beds. Subject to agrotechnical rules, from 1 sq. m you can collect up to 15 kg of tomatoes. Thanks to their fleshy and juicy pulp, tomatoes are used to prepare various preparations and are consumed fresh.
