Content
Hybrid varieties of tomatoes have become widespread among gardeners in recent years. The Mazarin tomato is particularly successful, the description of the variety, photos, reviews of which indicate its great popularity.
The large red-pink fruits of this variety are distinguished by their original shape and excellent taste characteristics, which makes them indispensable in any salads.
Characteristics of the variety
Mazarin was bred by Russian breeders for regions with warm and temperate climates. Depending on natural conditions, it is grown in open ground or in greenhouses. Indeterminate tomato bushes with lush dark green leaves can reach 1.8-2.0 m, actively developing lateral branches. With proper care, Mazarin tomato bushes produce excellent yields approximately 3.5-4 months after germination and until frost.
The Mazarin tomato is valued due to its characteristics such as:
- resistance to changes in weather conditions;
- high yield - each cluster forms up to six fruits, and up to 14 kg can be obtained from a bush;
- resistance to characteristic tomato pathologies;
- long fruiting;
- undemanding to care; in dry years, the Mazarin variety can withstand 40-degree heat.
At the same time, it should be noted that the productivity of Mazarin tomato bushes and the taste of its fruits are greatly influenced by the intensity of sunlight.
Description of fruits
The Cardinal Mazarin tomato produces the largest fruits - up to 0.6-0.7 kg in weight in the lower cluster, in the rest they are two times smaller. Mazarin tomatoes stand out:
- unusual shape, reminiscent of a strawberry with a pointed nose;
- fleshy pulp with excellent taste, ideal for salads;
- thick skin that protects against cracks;
- good keeping quality;
- ability to ripen in light during storage.
Mazarin tomatoes go well with other products, which allows them to be used in the preparation of many dishes. Sauces prepared on their basis are especially tasty. When canned, Mazarin tomatoes give a refreshing taste with a slightly noticeable sourness:
Agricultural technology
Growing a Mazarin tomato does not require labor-intensive techniques; timely implementation of the necessary procedures is sufficient.
Sowing seeds
As the characteristics and description of the variety recommend, the Mazarin tomato is best planted in open ground in the form of ready-made seedlings. To grow it, seeds are sown starting around the second half of February. The soil can be prepared from a mixture of garden soil with the same amount of humus. You can add a little ash and superphosphate to it. The acidity of the mixture should be neutral.
It is better to purchase Mazarin variety seeds in trusted stores. You can prepare them yourself, however, the fruits of the Mazarin variety have few seeds, so for extensive plantings it is difficult to collect the required number of seeds.The seeds should first be checked for germination - pour cold water, mix and leave for half an hour. Full-fledged tomato seeds will settle to the bottom and can be planted. The ones that float up should be thrown away, but the good ones should be soaked overnight in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection. In the morning, Mazarin tomato seeds can be rinsed and slightly dried. They are sown without deepening and sprinkled on top with a thin layer of soil, which is moistened with a spray bottle.
Growing seedlings
For the growth of Mazarin tomato seedlings, according to reviews, the temperature regime is favorable within the range of 22-27 degrees. When the first shoots appear, the film must be removed and the tomato sprouts must be provided with good lighting. In cloudy weather, you can additionally connect daylight devices. Watering should be done at the roots of the plants, but only when the soil dries out.
In the phase of the first leaves, seedlings of the Mazarin variety are picked, planted in separate pots with simultaneous liquid feeding. Gardeners often use peat pots, which are convenient for later planting tomatoes in open ground. After the end of the return frosts, tomato seedlings begin to gradually harden off in the open air - first for a short time, and then for the whole day and even at night.
Planting in open ground
When the night frosts stop and the soil warms up to about 16-18 degrees, you can plant Mazarin tomatoes in open ground. This usually happens in May-June, depending on the region.Before planting tomato seedlings, the soil must be well loosened and the holes prepared by adding a tablespoon of a mixture of potassium and phosphorus salts to each hole. In the future, fertilizing can be done once a month, but it is better to avoid nitrogen fertilizers at the moment of ovary formation. During this period, it is better to add wood ash to the tomatoes. The optimal planting scheme for the Mazarin variety is 3 bushes per 1 square meter. m, placing tomatoes too close will negatively affect their productivity.
Features of care
To increase the yield of the Mazarin variety, it is recommended:
- cut off the side shoots and leaves, leaving only the central stem;
- To prevent the seedling from breaking under the weight of large fruits, Mazarin tomato characteristics, reviews recommend tying it to trellises or stakes - this procedure should be carried out as the seedling grows;
- 5-6 clusters is the optimal amount that can effectively develop on each plant, otherwise the fruits will be small;
- on sunny days, you can speed up the pollination of Mazarin tomatoes by tapping the stem;
- watering is carried out with settled water as the soil dries; it should not be over-moistened, especially during the period of intensive growth of bushes;
- after watering, you need to carefully loosen the soil under the tomatoes to ensure air access to the roots;
- You should regularly inspect the Mazarin bushes, promptly removing dried or diseased leaves.
If the Mazarin tomato began to actively grow green mass in the absence of flowers, perhaps the reason lies in excess humidity with insufficient lighting.In this case, experienced gardeners advise taking the following measures:
- stop watering the tomato for several days;
- carry out pollination in the light by shaking the stem;
- feed the roots with phosphorus fertilizer.
Protection from diseases and pests
Protecting the Mazarin tomato from pests and diseases, it is better not to abuse chemicals. They cause enormous damage to the soil layer, and also accumulate in fruits, then entering the human body. Today there are products that are safer for the environment. Folk recipes have not lost their relevance either.
Tomato diseases
Subject to the correct temperature and humidity conditions, the Mazarin tomato, as evidenced by the characteristics and description of the variety, as well as reviews, is quite resistant to diseases that are often found in nightshades:
- late blight, which manifests itself as dark spots on leaves and fruits;
- gray rot, which causes watery mold on the stems;
- tobacco mosaic, manifested by curling and drying of tomato leaves;
- black leg, affecting the root collar.
Timely implementation of preventive measures will help protect the Mazarin tomato from these scourges. In greenhouses, the beds are regularly sprayed with antiviral and antifungal drugs. To treat Mazarin bushes in open ground, many gardeners use folk remedies that have long been time-tested:
- Garlic infusions and whey are effective against late blight;
- treatment with soapy water protects tomatoes from aphids;
- ammonia solution destroys slugs;
- spraying with Bordeaux mixture, as the description of the Mazarin tomato shows, protects against white spotting, and with copper sulfate - against brown spotting;
- potassium permanganate solution is an effective remedy for tobacco mosaic;
- wood ash is a universal disinfectant;
- The proximity of plants such as garlic, mint, and onions next to tomatoes will have a beneficial effect.
Fighting a mole cricket
The mole cricket causes especially great damage to plants. Fighting it with chemicals can lead to soil intoxication. Therefore, it is better to use one of the proven folk remedies:
- when planting seedlings of the Mazarin variety, place the seedling in a tube about 15 cm long, cut from a plastic bottle - since the mole cricket’s passages are in the top layer, the plant will be protected;
- along the perimeter of the area where the Cardinal Mazarin tomato grows, the description of the variety recommends spreading sawdust, eggshells, and dried marigolds - the mole cricket will stay away from them;
- When periodically fertilized with chicken droppings, its smell will repel the pest.
Reviews
Numerous reviews indicate the popularity of the Mazarin variety and its excellent characteristics.
Conclusion
The combination of excellent taste, simple agricultural technology and high yield makes the Mazarin tomato indispensable among other varieties and explains its high popularity.
