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The Altai orange tomato passed variety testing and was included in the State Register. Since 2007, gardeners in Siberia, the Krasnodar Territory and the Moscow region have fallen in love with it. The tomato is recommended for all regions of the Russian Federation. It can be grown in unheated greenhouses and open ground.
Description of the Altai orange tomato
From the name it is clear that the variety was bred by Altai breeders. The originator is the agricultural company “Demetra-Siberia”. There are many rave reviews on the Internet on forums, as well as photos of Altai orange tomatoes. Many people praise the taste and shape of the fruit.
The tomato variety of this variety is indeterminate in growth type. The formation of flower clusters, stepsons and the growth of the central stem continues until the end of the growing season. The height of the bushes in open ground is from 1.6 to 1.7 m, but in greenhouses the Altai orange tomato grows up to 2 m.
There are many leaves and shoots, which complicates care. For normal fruit setting and ripening, it is necessary to regularly carry out pinching and partial removal of leaves. We recommend 3 schemes for forming a bush:
- into one stem, when all the stepsons are removed;
- into 2 stems, then leave one stepson after the 4th leaf;
- into 3 stems, leaving 2 stepsons in the 3rd and 4th axils.
Tomato has simple inflorescences, clusters are tied in every second axil, the first is formed behind 9-12 leaves. Due to their high growth, the bushes need strong support. The garter has to be done frequently: as the shoots grow and the fruits fill.
Altai orange tomato fruits reach the technical ripeness phase in 110 days. According to the ripening period, the plant belongs to the group of mid-season varieties, the growing season of which lasts up to 115 days. The Altai orange tomato variety is propagated only by seedlings. Tomatoes have no restrictions on climate zones.
Brief description and taste of the fruit
The fruits of the Altai orange tomato delight gardeners. It is difficult to find another variety with such good reviews of taste. This is a large-fruited variety; if agricultural techniques are followed, it is possible to grow specimens weighing up to 700 g.
Most of the fruits weigh 250-300 g. The tomatoes are round-flattened in shape. Slightly ribbed at the junction with the stalk. When ripe, the skin turns bright orange. A ripe tomato of the Altai orange variety resembles an orange in color.
The pulp contains useful substances. It contains β-carotene and a high concentration of chloroplasts. Thanks to this, the Altai Orange tomato variety has such a high sugar-acid index and intense fruity taste.
It is better to use fruits fresh. If the harvest is large, then it can be processed. The best processing option is collecting juice. The harvest is stored for about one month. The fruits can be picked green; they will ripen.The taste and appearance are not affected.
Varietal characteristics
The yield of tomatoes of this variety depends on the quality of care and location of growth. The yield is higher in the greenhouse. If you follow the planting scheme of 3-4 bushes per 1 m², 10 kg are harvested from the Altai orange tomato variety (3-4 kg from one bush). In the garden, 12-15 tomatoes are formed on one plant. The size depends on the pattern of bush formation, the quality and quantity of fertilizing.
The fruiting period begins early. The first Altai orange variety tomatoes are harvested in early July. When seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in April, the first harvest is enjoyed at the end of June. Fruiting lasts a long time. The last fruits are harvested at the end of August.
If you follow crop rotation and carry out planned preventive measures, the Altai orange tomato does not get sick. Gardeners note that tomato is resistant to verticillium and fusarium, and rarely suffers from tobacco mosaic virus.
As measures to prevent rot (root, crown) it is recommended to carry out preventive measures:
- keep the soil clean;
- loosen the soil;
- mulch the beds;
- treat the bushes with the drug “Fitosporin-M”.
You can expect an insect invasion during flowering. The Altai Orange tomato variety may be threatened by:
- whitefly;
- thrips;
- spider mite;
- aphid;
- Colorado beetle;
- bear
The beetle and mole cricket are collected and destroyed, the bushes are treated with an aqueous solution of ammonia. Insecticides are used for mites and whiteflies; for aphids, an ash-soap solution and a decoction of celandine are used.
Pros and cons of the variety
Tomato has no obvious disadvantages. There are features on which the yield of the Altai Orange variety depends:
- soil fertility;
- mandatory summer feeding.
The advantages include:
- taste, color, size of fruits;
- stable yield;
- standard, uncomplicated care;
- good adaptation to weather conditions;
- stable immunity of tomatoes of the Altai orange variety.
Rules for planting and care
The description of the variety states that the Altai orange tomato is propagated by seedlings. Seeds are sown in March from the 1st to the 20th. By the time of transplanting into the ground, the seedlings should be fully formed. The age of high-quality seedlings is 60 days, maximum 65.
How to grow seedlings
Sowing of seeds is carried out in a common container. Take plastic containers 15-20 cm high. Prepare the soil mixture:
- humus – 1 part;
- turf soil - 1 part;
- lowland peat – 1 part.
Mix everything well. Fertilizers are added to 10 liters of soil mixture:
- urea;
- superphosphate;
- potassium sulfate.
1 tsp each.
Shoots at a temperature of 22-25 °C appear in 5-7 days. After the appearance of the 2nd true leaf, the seedlings dive. Transplant them into separate glasses (milk bags or cartons). You can dive into a larger common box. In a separate container, the roots develop better, and the seedlings do not get sick when transplanted into the ground.
Transplanting seedlings
Seedlings of the Altai Orange variety can be transplanted into the greenhouse in April or early May. The soil should warm up to 15 °C. In cold soil, tomato seedlings stop growing and may die. Ground temperature is considered critical if it is less than 10 °C.
Altai orange tomato is planted in open ground according to the time limits accepted in the region. They depend on weather conditions. Usually transplantation is carried out from June 1 to June 10. The holes are formed according to a 50 x 40 cm pattern. 3-4 Altai orange tomato seedlings are planted per 1 m².
Humus (8-10 kg/m²), superphosphate (25 g/m²), potassium sulfate (15-20 g), urea (15-20 g) are added to the soil. They immediately put up stakes. Seedlings are transplanted using the transshipment method. Overgrown seedlings are planted at an angle. They are tied to stakes immediately or after 5-10 days.
Tomato care
Watering the bushes begins 10-14 days after transplanting the seedlings into the ground. By this time she is getting used to it. The roots begin to work. In a greenhouse, tomatoes are watered more often (once every 3 days), where the soil dries out faster. In the garden, the Altai orange tomato is watered according to the weather. If there is no rain, then once every 5 days.
Stepchildren are pinched as they appear. Do not allow them to stretch more than 5 cm. To obtain large tomatoes, grow the tomato into one stem. If the goal is to grow more fruits, then choose a formation scheme of two, less often 3, stems.
Stepping is carried out weekly. This allows you to maintain the bushes in good condition. After the fruits form in the lower clusters, the lower leaves begin to be removed. This procedure is mandatory. It pursues 3 goals:
- Improve the lighting of the bush.
- Direct the plant’s forces to form fruits.
- Normalize the humidity level in the root zone.
Tomatoes love it when air circulates freely between the bushes. The fruit sets better. Tomatoes are less likely to suffer from fungal diseases. The Altai orange tomato responds well to root and foliar feeding. During the season they need to be carried out at least 3 times:
- the first, when the buds are formed in the first cluster, are fertilized with mullein infusion;
- the second, when the ovaries are formed in the second brush, use nitroammophosphate, superphosphate, and ash;
- the third, during active fruiting, is fed with potassium monophosphate to accelerate ripening.
During the period when the ovaries are forming, Altai orange tomato bushes are fed with complex preparations for tomatoes: “Tomaton”, “Ovary”, “Sudarushka”. They contain microelements. Root feeding is carried out after watering. Spraying the leaves with liquid fertilizers is done in the morning or evening.
Conclusion
For 10 years, the Altai orange tomato has been tested in different regions of the country. The variety is grown in greenhouses and vegetable gardens. The yield indicators of the variety are different. Not everyone manages to remove the stated 3-4 kg from the bush. But everyone is happy with the taste and size of the fruit.
