- Authors: Ognev Valery Vladimirovich, Maksimov Sergey Vasilievich, Klimenko Nikolay Nikolaevich, Kostenko Alexander Nikolaevich
- Year of approval: 2008
- Category: grade
- Growth type: indeterminate
- Appointment: universal
- Ripening period: mid-season
- Ripening time, days: 125-130
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for film greenhouses
- Transportability: Yes
- Bush size: tall
Tomato Alyosha Popovich is very popular in our country. Gardeners praise its delicious fruit and its ability to bear fruit until late autumn. However, not every novice summer resident can harvest a bountiful harvest.
Breeding history
This tomato variety was bred in Russia more than 10 years ago. Breeders Alexander Nikolaevich Kostenko, Valery Vladimirovich Ognev, Nikolai Nikolayevich Klimenko, Sergey Vasilyevich Maksimov worked on its creation. In 2008, he joined the ranks of the register of breeding achievements and became approved for use.
Description of the variety
It is a representative of the indeterminate tomato group. The height of the bush ranges from one and a half to two meters. The plant looks impressive, the leaves are similar to potato leaves, their size is medium, the color is dark green. Designed for growing both in greenhouses and in open beds.
The main qualities of the fruit
Fruits are spherical in shape, slightly ribbed. The top and base of the peduncle are slightly flattened. Ripe tomatoes are scarlet with a pink tint. If the tomatoes have a light green color, they still need to ripen. The average weight of the fruit is 150-200 grams, but there are specimens up to 300 grams.
Tomatoes are juicy and fleshy.
Taste characteristics
The tomatoes taste sweet, with the lightest sourness. Alyosha Popovich's tomatoes belong to the salad category, which is why they are mostly consumed fresh. They are also used for making ketchup, pasta, adjika, sauces and juice. Canning is acceptable only for small fruits, others will not fit in the jar.
Ripening and fruiting
This variety is called mid-season, from the time of sowing the seeds to the fruiting stage, an average of 125-130 days pass. It is characterized by simple inflorescences, each forming up to 6 fruits. Alyosha Popovich has a long fruiting period, new tomatoes are formed before the first frost and ripen from the bottom up.
Yield
The yield depends on the growing conditions. In a favorable environment, 6-6.4 kilograms of tomatoes are obtained from one square meter.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
Tomato seeds are planted in early spring, in the first decade of March. Young plants are moved to open ground only when the frosty nights are over, and the weather will be warm, and to the greenhouse - a little earlier. It is recommended to plant seedlings on which at least 5-6 leaves have appeared. On the eve of planting, it is advisable to install a support for a garter in each hole.
Growing tomato seedlings is an extremely important process, because it largely depends on whether the gardener will be able to harvest at all. All aspects must be taken into account, from seedbed preparation to planting in the ground.
Landing scheme
When planting, the distance between the holes should be 60 centimeters in a row, the distance between the rows should be 70 centimeters.Thanks to this method, each bush will receive an optimal amount of fresh air, and plant maintenance will become easier.
Growing and care
Before sowing seeds, they should be disinfected with potassium permanganate and lowered for a while in a solution that stimulates growth. When choosing a soil for sowing, you need to focus on its density: it should be low and easily let air through. The same approach to the beds, where tomatoes will grow in the future.
Alyosha Popovich's tomato care system includes a number of activities.
Watering, loosening, weeding.
Fertilization of the soil with mineral or organic substances with potassium, phosphorus.
Tearing off stepchildren, unnecessary leaves and forming into two or three stems.
Check for symptoms of disease.
Airing the greenhouse.
Tie to the trellis as needed.
A plant needs different micronutrients at each stage of growth. All fertilizers can be divided into two groups: mineral and organic. Folk remedies are often used: iodine, yeast, bird droppings, eggshells.
It is important to observe the rate and period of feeding. This also applies to folk remedies and organic fertilizers.
Disease and pest resistance
Tomato is resistant to common diseases such as tobacco mosaic and fusarium, and rarely suffers from them.
However, Alyosha Popovich is vulnerable to attacks by pests (Colorado potato beetle, aphid, whitefly), which is why it is advised not to forget about preventive treatment. Here natural methods will come in handy: spraying with an infusion of ash and wormwood. Colorado beetles are harvested by hand.
Resistant to adverse weather conditions
This variety can hardly tolerate temperature changes and a lack of sunlight, its frost resistance is average. In an unfavorable environment, the yield may be lower than expected.
Growing regions
Tomato is successfully grown outdoors in the southern regions of Russia. It is recommended for gardeners of the Central European part to build greenhouses for tomatoes.
Review overview
The described variety receives conflicting reviews. Some gardeners approve of it for tasty fruits, strong immunity to diseases and good yields. Others are criticized for their exactingness to light, soil composition and garter.
