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An amazing creation of domestic breeders is the “Valentina” tomato variety. Most gardeners fell in love with it for a reason. This variety is ideally adapted to the Russian climate, its care requirements are minimal, and the harvest can please even true gourmets. It is precisely due to the high yield and excellent quality of the fruit that it has gained its popularity throughout the country.
General description of the variety
The “Valentina” tomato stands out in the characteristics and description of the variety because it is most suitable for growing in open ground, and not just in greenhouses. Externally, the plant is a dense bush, which reaches an average height of 60 cm. If we talk about statistical ripening times, then the variety belongs to the early ripening species. From practice it has been established that most of the planted bushes produce ripened fruits in about 100-105 days, if you count from the day of seeds for breeding seedlings.
At the same time, those who have already planted the “Valentina” tomato in a greenhouse supplement their reviews with photos with warnings about moderate removal of stepchildren from seedlings.
The tomato bush is spreading, which is why it is necessary to tie its stem to a garden support, because with a large number of fruits, their weight can simply break the stem. There are few leaves on the bush, but this does not mean that the seedlings are bad or that the bush was grown in negative conditions. The foliage of this plant is naturally greenish-yellow, which is normal. The shape of the leaves is slightly corrugated and more reminiscent of potato leaves than of a tomato.
The first inflorescence appears on the stem no lower than the seventh leaf. All subsequent flowers are arranged alternating 1-2 leaves upward.
If there is a low level of drought or if it was short-lived, you should not immediately thoroughly water the bush and the negative effects of dryness will not affect the plant.
This variety was bred more than a decade ago, however, it became known only in the 2000s, when a group of research breeders subjected it to a large number of tests. The results of such experiments became the leading position of this variety due to the high quality of ripened tomatoes.
Significant benefits
Reviews about the “Valentina” tomato are most often positive and laudatory. This is due to the large number of advantages of this variety, which are as follows:
- The bush has a compact size in height and width.
- The fruits ripen fairly quickly after the seedlings are planted.
- The plant is resistant to drought if it does not last long.
- Strong stems provide a good level of preservation of seedlings during transportation.
- The tomato variety “Valentina” has a very high threshold of resistance to common diseases of this type of plant.
- After planting the seedlings, removing the stepchildren is not required.
- Extensive care for the plant is not needed.
- Productivity is high and stable.
- The fruits have excellent taste and aromatic qualities, without the need for chemical fertilization of the plant during flowering and fruit set.
- In the description of the developers for the “Valentina” variety of tomatoes there is no indication of special requirements for soil.
Reviews of “Valentina” tomatoes say that the average yield of this species is 2-3 kilograms per bush. If the frequency of planting is no more than 6-7 bushes per 1 square meter, then the yield will be approximately 10-12 kg from this area.
The characteristics of the “Valentina” tomato say that this variety is optimal for those who do not have deep knowledge of gardening or gardening. Thanks to the minimum requirements for soil, care and fertilizers, even a beginner in gardening will be able to get maximum yield from this tomato seedlings with little effort.
Existing disadvantages
If you look at gardeners’ reviews of the “Valentina” tomato, the photos provided and read the yield statistics, you can say with confidence that this type has no obvious drawbacks. The only thing that can be attributed to negative characteristics is the need to tie the bush to a support. Although this situation is not surprising, because with the high fertility of the bush, its stems simply cannot support the weight of the tomatoes, they bend and can break.To avoid such consequences, it is better to tie the stems of the bush to the support in advance. This will allow all the tomatoes to form and ripen normally.
Characteristics and description of fruits
The fruits of the “Valentina” tomato variety are medium in size and slightly elongated, plum-shaped. The average weight of one tomato is 80 grams, although if the bushes are grown in a greenhouse, it can be up to 100 grams. Due to their taste characteristics, Valentina tomatoes are suitable for salads, however, they are best used for:
- Preparation of dishes such as sauces and lecho.
- Canning whole fruits.
- Preparations for the winter consisting of lecho, roasts and canned tomato-based salads.
The fruits of this variety are perfectly stored for a long time and during transportation; they have a strong skin and a dense pulp structure.
The consistency of the fruits is very fleshy and juicy, even despite the thickness of the peel, which is why they are often used in tomato juice or paste preparations. This variety is excellent for preparing high-quality, flavorful sauce and gravy.
From the description of tomatoes of the “Valentina” variety and from the photo you can see that the fruits are formed in clusters, and not singly. Due to the fact that the fruits themselves are not large, but medium in size, there are usually a lot of tomatoes in one bunch.
A fully ripened tomato of the “Valentina” variety has a bright red color with an orange tint. They taste sweet and sour, which makes them more original.Manufacturers who grow the “Valentina” tomato variety in their descriptions and reviews say that from large areas the yield of this species is approximately 40,000 kg per hectare of land.
Useful composition
Reviews of the “Valentina” tomato and characteristics of experts indicate that the fruits are not only very tasty, but also healthy. The special value of this type of tomato lies in its vitamin composition:
- Natural saccharides.
- Vitamins of groups: C, K and B.
- Squirrels.
- Cellulose.
- Organic acids.
- Carotene.
- Minerals.
The peculiarity of tomatoes is that even after heat treatment they do not lose their beneficial properties. Available reviews of the “Valentina” tomato, together with the description of the variety and existing photos, leave no doubt about the uniqueness of this species, its excellent taste and usefulness both when grown at home and for production.
What you need to know about growing
The description of the “Valentina” tomato contains important information that in order to maintain the high yield of this variety, it is not recommended to breed the seeds yourself. Such an activity is troublesome and ineffective. Due to the fact that this species is a breeding development, it is not capable of independently producing seeds. For the northern regions of Russia, it would be optimal to grow such tomatoes only in a greenhouse. Although it is adapted to the domestic climate, it does not tolerate low temperatures during the period of flowering and fruit formation.
From the description and photo of planting “Valentina” tomato seeds, it is clear that a certain distance should be maintained when sowing. Although the root system of this variety is dense, it is not recommended to damage the roots when planting sprouts. After planting the seeds and until the first shoots appear, it is strongly recommended to keep the container with the seeds covered with film, remembering to periodically open it for 10-20 minutes for ventilation and watering.
After the first shoots reach a height of 30-50 mm, they need to be planted at an even greater distance from each other for enhanced growth. At this time, the sprouts should be provided with plenty of light and watering.
Planting in the ground should occur only when the stems and roots are strong. The soil in which the seedlings are planted must be loose. It is recommended to place peat, sand and manure at the bottom of the hole, and place seedlings on top of them. This manipulation will allow you to subsequently maintain the soil loose, and at the same time feed the seedlings with natural fertilizers, which tomatoes love so much.
More about care
The description of the “Valentina” tomato and the captions under the photo show that this variety does not require special care, however, the tomatoes do not grow as weeds. Basic care for them is still necessary. Yes, this species does not require the creation of special soil or special conditions for ripening and increasing productivity. At the same time, professionals talk about the need to follow a few simple rules:
- Ensuring proper watering. This does not mean that you should fill tomato seedlings with water every day. Either a little bit every day, or once a week and very generously.
- Regular loosening of the soil.You can also loosen the soil around the sprout once a week.
- Frequently clearing the ground next to the seedlings from weeds. Weeds not only take water from the ground from the tomato, but also nutrients that are necessary for their proper and timely development.
- Spraying against insect pests. This variety is protected from common diseases, but it is not protected from insects that eat its foliage, flowers and roots.
- In a greenhouse, it is important to provide the plant with frequent ventilation. Once a day will be enough.
- If the seedlings are planted in open ground, at first they will need to be covered with film.
Warning! Watering plants should be done only with warm water, never cold.
Moreover, the water must be settled. That is why experienced gardeners have large containers on their plots in which they store water for irrigation.
Those who have been growing Valentina tomatoes for many years now willingly post a description of this variety and photos of their own harvest precisely because they have something to brag about. Beautiful appearance, amazing taste and unforgettable aroma - these are its main advantages.
