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The Kumato tomato was developed at the end of the 20th century in Europe. It has been grown in Russia for about 10 years, but the variety is not widespread, so planting material is not widely sold. The culture was bred by crossing a wild species and an early-ripening Olmec tomato; blackberry genetic material was added to the hybrid, which gives the fruit an exotic color. The variety was patented by the Swiss company Syngenta, which supplies fruits and vegetables around the world. Kumato is supplied to the retail chain in branded packaging, as it is a brand of Swiss agribusiness.
Characteristics and description of the tomato variety Kumato
The mid-early tomato variety Kumato ripens in 110 days from the moment of germination. The plant is not intended for mass cultivation. Tomatoes are grown only in a protected area with constant temperature, humidity and increased lighting.
The microclimate is created as close as possible to the historical homeland (Spain). Therefore, the region of cultivation does not matter; the Kumato tomato variety is most often found in greenhouses in Siberia.If agricultural technology is not followed, the tomato produces fruits of various weights and shapes. Green pigmentation dominates the surface.
The Kumato tomato variety is of an indeterminate type, so without height adjustment it can grow more than two meters. The height of the tomato is limited in accordance with the size of the support at the level of 1.8 m. The plant is not a standard type, but it also produces few side shoots. The bush is formed with 2 trunks, the main one and the first strong stepson. The remaining shoots are removed throughout the growing season.
The tomato is undemanding to soil moisture and is drought-resistant. Subject to temperature and lighting conditions, the variety produces a stable harvest. The plant has a powerful root system that grows to the sides approximately 1 m. At 1 m2 Plant no more than 2 bushes. Dense planting affects the fruiting of tomatoes. Fruits reach biological ripeness by early or mid-July; up to 8 kg are collected from one bush, from 1 m2 within 15 kg.
In the process of hybridization of the black Kumato tomato, the main direction was to improve self-defense against diseases. The variety is resistant to fungal infections that develop in conditions of high humidity in greenhouses: Alternaria, late blight. Not affected by leaf mosaic virus. Preventative measures are used against pests; insects do not parasitize the crop.
External description of the Kumato tomato variety:
- The central stem is thick, light green, with an uneven structure. Intensively covered with fine hair.
- The foliage of the bush is medium, the leaves are small oblong with jagged edges. The surface of the dark green leaf blade is corrugated, with sparse pubescence.
- It blooms with bright yellow single flowers, the variety is self-pollinating, each flower produces a viable ovary.
- Place the first brush under the 11th sheet, subsequent ones every three sheets. The clusters are long, hard, and contain 6–8 fruits.
- The root system is superficial, spreading widely to the sides.
Brief description and taste of the fruit
The calling card of black Kumato tomatoes is the exotic color of the fruit and gastronomic advantages. The tomato has a well-balanced taste, the concentration of acids is minimal. The chemical composition is dominated by sugars, their level is optimal so that the tomato does not seem bland. Tomatoes with a pronounced aroma and taste of blackberries.
Description of fruits:
- the black-fruited tomato Kumato changes color as it grows, from dark green to brown with a burgundy tint;
- fruits are leveled, round, the size of the first circle and the last one do not differ, weight 95–105 g, diameter 5–6 cm;
- the peel is dense, thin, not prone to cracking, on the surface near the stalk, slight green pigmentation is possible;
- The pulp is juicy, dense in consistency, without voids and white fragments, and the color is a shade lighter than the peel.
Kumato tomato fruits are used fresh for preparing salads, slices, and assorted vegetables. They are used extremely rarely for preservation, although the fruits tolerate heat treatment well.
Pros and cons of the variety
According to reviews from vegetable growers, the Kumato tomato variety shown in the photo is characterized by the following advantages:
- high productivity;
- uniform ripening;
- equal weight of fruits and filling of the upper and lower clusters;
- does not require constant watering;
- resistance to diseases and pests;
- high gastronomic assessment;
- long shelf life (up to 14 days after collection, retains its presentation);
- good transportability. During transportation it is not subject to mechanical damage.
The disadvantage of the variety is: intolerance to low temperatures, cultivation only in a greenhouse.
Useful properties of Kumato tomatoes
The Kumato tomato can be classified as a dietary vegetable. The fruits do not contain allergens inherent in red varieties, so tomatoes are not contraindicated for children prone to allergies. The chemical composition of the variety contains a high concentration of anthocyanin, which gives tomatoes a dark color. This active substance is responsible for cell regeneration. Tomato contains an order of magnitude more vitamins A, B, C than other varieties. The fruits are rich in fructose and serotonin (“the joy hormone”).
Rules for planting and care
Tomato variety Kumato is bred from seeds and grown in seedlings.
Planting material can be collected from the mother plant if it is truly Kumato. If in the previous season the seeds were collected from a tomato that was pollinated from other varieties, in the first year of the growing season the plant will not look different from the varietal fruit, but the planting material from it will produce tomatoes of an unexpected color and shape. If you collect material from branded vegetables, the seeds will sprout, but you must ensure the purity of the variety and do not plant other types of tomatoes nearby.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Before planting in the ground, planting material is soaked for 2 hours in a manganese solution, then washed and placed in a growth-stimulating preparation for 1.5 hours. Disinfecting tomato seeds will prevent the development of fungal and viral infections. Sequence of work:
- Prepare a nutritious mixture of peat, compost and river sand (in equal parts).
- Pour the soil into containers or wooden boxes.
- Make furrows 2 cm deep and lay out the seeds.
- Water and cover with soil.
- The containers are covered with glass or polyethylene on top.
The container is placed in a lighted room with an air temperature of +250 C. After emergence of seedlings, the covering is removed.
The seedlings grow until the third leaf appears, then they are dropped into plastic cups. Sowing work is carried out in mid-March.
Transplanting seedlings
The Kumato tomato is planted in the greenhouse in mid-May. Pre-dig up the soil and apply phosphorus fertilizer. Make a planting hole 25 cm deep and 30 cm wide, place the tomato vertically and cover it with soil. At 1 m2 2 plants are placed, the distance between the bushes is 50 cm. A trellis is built for subsequent fixation of the bushes.
Tomato care
Tomato Kumato is fed with ammonia fertilizer at the time of flowering. The next fertilizing with phosphorus is given to the plant during fruit formation. Water every 10 days. Loosen the top layer of soil, weeds cleaned as needed.
Form a tomato bush with two stems. The plant must be fixed to a support. Throughout the growing season, the resulting shoots are removed, the lower leaves and brushes from which ripe tomatoes are removed are cut off. After the first garter, the root circle is mulched with straw.
Conclusion
Tomato Kumato is a mid-early indeterminate variety intended for cultivation in a greenhouse. The culture is drought-resistant, but is demanding on temperature and lighting conditions. Due to the unusual color of the fruit, the variety belongs to the exotic type.In Russia, the crop is not grown in large volumes; the copyright holder company is not interested in the mass sale of seed material so that the brand does not lose relevance.
The seeds were taken from purchased tomatoes in the USA, the tomatoes were brought from Mexico, bought in a store, I grow them in open ground in the Southern Urals, they tolerate cold weather well, I pick the last tomatoes at the end of September, the bushes last almost until the first frost
It’s not a particularly remarkable variety, and it’s also not very productive. I don’t see any point in planting Kumato to get just a few tomatoes from the bush. The taste is not bad, but now there is a huge selection of black tomato seeds with excellent taste and excellent yield.