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All gardeners grow tomatoes. But often the harvests of this crop do not spoil them. The reason is most likely the wrong choice of variety. There is a huge variety of varieties, so choosing the right tomatoes is not so easy.
We propose to consider one of the varieties of Dutch selection, named after the great Russian writer Lev Nikolaevich Tolstoy. Tomato Tolstoy F1 fully justifies the characteristics given by the breeders. It is also important that cultivation and care are practically uncomplicated, but the harvest is stable and rich.
Description and characteristics of the variety
If you are interested in Tomato Tolstoy F1, descriptions, reviews and detailed characteristics can be found in special reference books. We will also introduce you to the benefits of culture with photos and videos.
Tomato Tolstoy F1 is highly valued by vegetable growers, because it can be grown not only in a greenhouse, but also in open ground. This is a mid-early ripening hybrid. From the moment of sowing the seeds until the harvest of the first fruits, 110-112 days pass.
Tomato variety Tolstoy is a tall plant, so there is a need for attachment to a trellis or stakes. The brushes also need to be tied, and there are usually about 12 of them. And each brush contains 10-12 tomatoes weighing almost 125 grams. It is clear that a tomato without a garter will have a hard time, this can be seen in the photo.
Fruit
The fruits of the Lev Tolstoy tomato are rounded and flattened, ribbed near the stalk. The largest tomatoes are on the lower clusters. Some specimens reach a weight of 500 grams. The higher the brush is, the smaller the tomatoes. Moreover, simultaneously with the fruits, flowers are also formed on the cluster. Look at the photo below.
The surface of Tolstoy F1 tomatoes is flat and smooth. The glossy skin is dense, but not tough. The tomatoes ripen smoothly and no cracking is observed. The transportability of tomatoes is excellent; they do not wrinkle on the road and do not lose their taste.
The pulp of the Tolstoy F1 tomato variety, as vegetable growers indicate in reviews, is distinguished by its juiciness and amazing taste. The tomatoes are sweet, the acid is not noticeable, but fruity notes slip through the aroma. In each Tolstoy tomato, if you cut it, you can see 5 or 6 chambers with seeds. This is clearly visible in the photo.
When set, the tomatoes are apple-green in color, and when fully ripe, they are deep red. The yield of the Tolstoy tomato, according to vegetable growers, is quite high: from one bush you can collect 12-15 kg of tasty and aromatic fruits.
Even when planted in partial shade, hybrids of the Tolstoy F1 variety practically do not reduce yield. Plants grown in open ground also have good returns. Readers will often report this in reviews and comments.
The universal Tolstoy F1 variety of Dutch selection is resistant to many diseases that affect nightshade crops. He is almost not affected:
- fusarium;
- cladosporiosis;
- tobacco mosaic;
- verticillium.
Application and storage
Tolstoy F1 tomatoes, according to the characteristics and description of the variety, as well as reviews, are rich in vitamins and amino acids. All of them have a beneficial effect on human health, for example:
- plant phytosterols have a positive effect on male potency;
- the antioxidant lycopene reduces the risk of cancer;
- Thanks to calcium, potassium, magnesium and other microelements, immunity increases.
The fruits of the Lev Tolstoy F1 tomato are universal. Various preserves, salads, and side dishes are prepared from ripe fruits. Pickled tomatoes retain their shape and do not crack. Tomato juice is very tasty; you need to add minimal sugar to it. Salted or pickled green tomatoes are no less original.
Since the Tolstoy F1 tomato is a high-yielding variety, storage features are of concern to those who are just planning to plant this variety. Due to the fact that the ripening period is extended, in our Russian conditions, even in greenhouses, all the tomatoes do not have time to turn red. But it doesn’t matter, because they can ripen right in the apartment. Tomatoes of the Tolstoy F1 variety are stored until the New Year.
Main characteristics of the Tolstoy F1 variety:
Some cons
Tomato Tolstoy, according to the description of the variety, photos and reviews, is a tall plant with many advantages.But it would be dishonest to our readers to remain silent about some shortcomings:
- On soils with low nutrient content, tomato develops poorly, the number of bunches and the weight of tomatoes decreases.
- Tomato responds well to heat, so it grows faster in a greenhouse and produces a rich harvest. Plants planted in open ground experience a lack of heat. And our summers in Russia have been cold in recent years.
- Those vegetable growers who planted the Tolstoy tomato in their reviews indicate that the variety’s immunity to late blight is not strong enough, especially in rainy summers. Tomatoes suffer from the disease both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. Failure to process in a timely manner leads to the death of plants.
Growing and care
The characteristics of the Tolstoy tomato and the description of the variety are given precisely so that there are fewer problems during cultivation.
Sowing seeds
Tomato seeds are sown for seedlings at the end of March. Light soil is poured into the planting container. Acidic soils are not used for the Tolstoy variety. It is best to mix garden soil and humus. Feed the soil mixture with wood ash. The soil is spilled with boiling water with the addition of potassium permanganate.
Tolstoy tomato seeds are also disinfected with hydrogen peroxide or in a pink solution of manganese. To speed up germination, you need to soak the seed in a growth stimulator for half a day.
The seeds are buried 1.5 cm, covered with film and placed in a warm place. As a rule, shoots appear on the 4-5th day. Boxes with tomato seedlings are placed in a sunny window and watered as needed.
Picking
When 3 leaves appear on the Lev Tolstoy tomato seedlings, the plants are transplanted into separate containers. The soil must be nutritious.It is also advisable to feed the tomatoes with mineral fertilizers.
The seedlings are shaded for several days and then placed in a sunny window. If there is not enough light, you can install additional lighting above the tomatoes using conventional incandescent lamps.
Water the seedlings with small portions of water to avoid stagnation. You also need to loosen the soil, but only superficially, so as not to damage the root system.
It is necessary to plant Tolstoy tomatoes in a greenhouse when stable heat has been established, when there is no threat of frost returning. In open ground only when the average daily temperature is within 15 degrees. But before planting, tomatoes must be hardened and accustomed to new conditions.
Before planting, the soil is dug up, fertilized and watered.
Holes are dug at a distance of 40 cm, and row spacing - up to 60 cm. Planted tomatoes should be watered with warm water. The next time the plants are watered is in a week. Watering should be moderate so that the water does not stagnate, but the soil should not dry out. It’s even better to organize drip irrigation of tomatoes, as in the photo.
During the growing season, Tolstoy tomatoes, according to reviews from vegetable growers, are fed 3 or 4 times, depending on the condition of the plants, with potassium-phosphorus fertilizers.
Tomatoes are harvested during the season, and unripe ones are removed before frost. They turn red beautifully at home.
How to protect plants from diseases and pests
It is easier to prevent a disease than to get rid of it later. If you are planting tomatoes in the same greenhouse, then the top layer must be removed before preparing the soil and replaced with soil from the beds on which peas, beans, cabbage or carrots grew. And cover the soil and the greenhouse itself with copper sulfate. You can also light a smoke bomb.
According to the description, the Lev Tolstoy variety is resistant to many nightshade diseases. But prevention still won't hurt. But tomatoes planted in open ground must be treated, because spores of fungal diseases can enter the area with wind or rain.
It is better to mulch the row spacing with straw or peat. This will save the tomatoes from diseases and pests. Tomatoes, including the Tolstoy variety, can be affected by slugs, aphids, whiteflies, thrips and spider mites. Plants need to be inspected and, at the slightest suspicion, treated with a special preparation. Experienced vegetable growers hang tea bags soaked in iodine in the greenhouse. Numerous reviews confirm the benefits of iodine.
Plantings in open ground suffer from the Colorado mole cricket beetle. You can repel pests using ammonia. In addition, the greenhouse must be constantly ventilated to avoid high humidity.
