Content
Many varieties of tomatoes have been deservedly popular for decades. Tomato Novichok, the characteristics and description of the variety which will be given below, is just such a plant. The authors of the tomato are Volgograd breeders, who gave gardeners an unpretentious and productive variety. If you choose this tomato, you will always have fresh salads and preserves.
Description of tomatoes
The Novichok tomato is not a new variety; it has long been included in the State Register in the Lower Volga region. It is recommended to grow in unprotected soil or under temporary film covers on personal plots and farms.
Characteristics of the bush
The Novichok tomato is distinguished by its compact bush and belongs to the determinate varieties with medium-early ripening periods. Ripe fruits begin to be harvested 110-127 days after emergence.
Plant growth is limited by the flower raceme. As a rule, the height is from 50 to 80 cm. Tomatoes of the Novichok variety are medium-leaved. Lush green leaves of medium size.
The first flower tassel on tomatoes of this variety appears above the 6th or 7th leaf. The following inflorescences are in increments of one or 2 leaves. The cluster bears 5 to 6 fruits; barren flowers are rare.
Fruit
The fruits of the Novichok variety are cream-shaped, elongated-oval. Each of them has from three to five chambers. The color of tomatoes can be red or pink, depending on the variety. But there are no stains.
It’s just that different companies produce seeds of the Novichok variety. Hence the color variations. The pink Novichok tomato is produced by the Poisk company, and the pink Novichok Deluxe tomato is produced by the Gavrish seed company.
The fruits have a smooth and soft surface. The pulp is fleshy, the color corresponds to the variety - red or pink. The fruits of the Novichok variety are tasty, with a barely noticeable sourness. As gardeners note in reviews, tomatoes have a bright tomato taste.
The average weight of a tomato is 75-100 grams. The skin is dense and does not crack even on overripe fruits.
Application of tomatoes
The fruits of the Novichok variety are pink or red and are characterized by high yield. The purpose is universal. Small-sized tomatoes are an excellent raw material for pickling and pickling. The integrity of the fruit is preserved even under the influence of boiling marinade. The fruits are also tasty in fresh salads.
Advantages and disadvantages
If the conversation turns to the description and characteristics of vegetable crops, it is necessary to reveal the positive and negative aspects of the varieties. Let's start with the positives.
Advantages of the variety
It should be noted that the pink or red Novichok tomato variety has a lot of advantages, which gardeners often write about in reviews:
- Medium-early ripening period, friendly yield of fruits. Novichok tomatoes are harvested almost simultaneously.
- The bushes are low, with a minimum number of stepsons, which greatly simplifies care.
- It is not necessary to tie it up, but small pegs for support will not hurt.
- High and stable productivity, this quality is confirmed by numerous reviews and photos of gardeners.
From one bush of tomatoes of the Novichok variety, more than two kilograms of delicious fruits are harvested. Considering that it is recommended to plant 7 tomatoes per square meter, the yield will impress the most experienced gardeners: from 12 to 14 kg. - Excellent transportability of fruits is combined with high keeping quality. At the same time, the presentation and taste are preserved 100%.
- Tomatoes Novichok universal purpose.
- Plants are cold- and drought-resistant. That is why this variety of tomatoes can be grown in all regions of Russia in open and protected ground.
- The Novichok variety is not only easy to care for. It is practically not susceptible to diseases that affect nightshade crops.
- Varietal qualities and characteristics are preserved when seeds are prepared independently.
But nothing is known about the shortcomings yet. For such a long time of cultivation, gardeners did not notice them. The only thing is that excellent returns will be provided that agricultural technology and care rules are fully followed.
The excellent characteristics of the Novichok tomato variety, unpretentiousness of cultivation, and the possibility of mechanized harvesting make it possible to cultivate the crop on a wide production scale. Moreover, the harvest can be harvested from all bushes at the same time.
Healthy seedlings are the key to harvest
Gardeners who have been growing the crop for many years note the unpretentiousness of tomatoes and the ease of cultivation. The agricultural technology characteristic of the Novichok variety is no different from other tomatoes.
Growing seedlings
According to the description, Novichok pink tomatoes are characterized by the seedling method of cultivation. Seeds need to be sown 60-65 days before planting in open ground, a greenhouse or under temporary film cover.
Seed preparation
Self-respecting gardeners will never sow untested and untreated tomato seeds.
We will describe the processing technique below:
- Prepare a 5% saline solution (½ teaspoon of salt dissolved in half a glass of water). The seeds are dipped into it for a quarter of an hour. Viable seed will end up at the bottom. They continue to work with these seeds. They are washed and dried.
- Then they are dipped in a solution of pink potassium permanganate (as in the photo) for a third of an hour, the seeds are washed again with clean water.
Thanks to processing in saline and manganese solutions, the seeds are disinfected. You can be sure that disease spores, if they were on the seeds, will die. In addition, germination and nutrition of the seed are stimulated.
Seeds can be sown dry or germinated before planting. To do this, the treated planting material is wrapped in a damp cloth and left in a warm place. As soon as the little white roots hatch, they are immediately placed in the ground.
Preparing soil and containers
Soil preparation should be done in advance, five days before sowing. Many gardeners use ready-made mixtures for seedlings, which are sold in the store. They contain balanced nutrients.If the composition is prepared independently, then it should contain turf soil, compost or humus, and sand. In addition to the listed components, you also need to add wood ash.
Novichok tomato seedlings can be grown in wooden or plastic boxes and containers. They are filled with soil and poured with boiling water, adding potassium permanganate.
Sowing seeds
Seeds should be sown in moist soil at a distance of 2-3 cm. Planted to a depth of one centimeter. The top of the container is covered with film to speed up germination. When the tomatoes begin to sprout, remove the cellophane.
Features of caring for seedlings
Before germination, maintain a temperature of 21-24 degrees. Then it is reduced by three days: at night about 8-10, during the day no higher than 15-16 degrees. As for lighting, it should be sufficient. Otherwise, tomato seedlings of the Novichok variety will stretch out and be flimsy.
Water the seedlings as the top lump of earth dries. The appearance of 2-3 true leaves is a signal to pick Novichok tomatoes. This procedure is required. During transplantation, you need to pinch the central root a little to stimulate the development of a powerful root system with lateral shoots.
When growing seedlings, Novichok tomatoes are not fed if the soil is fertile. You can carry out foliar feeding by dusting the plants with wood ash. Water moderately so that the water does not stagnate.
Ten days before planting, Novichok tomatoes are hardened in the open air.The procedure is carried out by gradually increasing the plants’ exposure to air.
Planting seedlings
Tomatoes are planted in accordance with the climatic conditions of the regions, but only after there is no threat of return frosts. In the greenhouse - at the end of May, and in open ground or under temporary film shelters - after June 10.
According to the description and characteristics, pink or red tomatoes of the Novichok variety are planted 7 pieces per square meter in a checkerboard pattern. The planting diagram is in the picture below.
As for agricultural technology, it is traditional. It comes down to watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil and treating against diseases.
Caring for the Novichok tomato variety is simple and pleasant.
I planted it in 2019 and was very pleased with it in a greenhouse. Next year I will definitely plant it in open ground.
This year I planted Novichok for the first time. I'm very pleased. I grew it in two trunks. There are really a lot of fruits, strong, beautiful, mostly pulp, with a “tomato” taste. I will definitely grow at least a few plants.