Tomato Altai honey

Altai honey is found in two varieties, which differ in fruit color (pink and yellow) and other characteristics. The first option was brought out by agronomists from Ukraine, the second appeared through the efforts of Siberian breeders. The variety with fruits in a sunny color was entered in the state register in 2017. The variety is recommended for breeding in all regions of Russia.

When grown outdoors, the bushes reach a height of one and a half meters. In greenhouses and greenhouses, the determinate tomato can rise higher. Leaves of a standard shape, long, dark green, medium in size. The green mass is not dense. Intermediate inflorescences appear on the branches. One brush holds 5 to 6 tomatoes.

A green spot can be found near the stalk of unripe fruits. It determines the level of maturity of the crop. Tomatoes of the Altai honey variety are recommended to be eaten fresh or used for making juice.

Green tomatoes are colored in a standard green color, with an expressive spot at the stalk. Ripe vegetables turn yellow with a bright orange tint. In weight, they gain from 350 to 500 grams. The shape of the heart is crushed, slightly ribbed. The pulp is moderately dense and juicy.

Many gardeners are attracted by the unusual warm apricot color of tomatoes. If comfortable growing conditions are met, the color will be uniform, both in the skin and in the pulp. The peel is glossy, does not crack. Inside, you can find from 4 to 6 large seed chambers.

Despite the fact that the salad variety is most often eaten in its natural form, it is great for processing and harvesting for the winter. Delicious mashed potatoes and sauces are obtained from the fruits of Altai honey.

The vegetable culture got its name not only due to its unusual appearance, but also due to its special taste. After eating, a sweet and pleasant aftertaste remains. Some note the presence of fruity notes that reveal themselves in a tender and juicy pulp. Only fully ripe vegetables can boast of high gastronomic qualities.

Experts note the mid-early ripening of the crop. The ripening period is from 105 to 110 days. If the seed was sown in February, the first fruits can be obtained as early as July.

Note: on the territory of the northern regions, only those summer residents who grow the variety in a greenhouse will be able to enjoy sweet and tasty tomatoes. The short summers in these regions prevent the fruits from fully ripening, which is why they lose their unusual fruity smell.

In greenhouse conditions, Altai honey demonstrates a high yield - 6.8 kilograms per square meter of land. In the open field, this figure may be lower. Throughout the season, from 3 to 5 kilograms of tomatoes are harvested from one bush, if all the conditions of agricultural technology are observed.

To get the harvest as soon as possible, many summer residents begin to grow seedlings in winter or early spring. The seeds are placed in the ground by 0.5-1 centimeters. The container with the seed is covered with a thick film or glass. The container is transferred to a room in which the temperature does not drop below 20 degrees Celsius. Seedlings germinate after a week. When the first shoots appear from the containers, you need to remove the shelter and transfer them to a bright and cooler place.

Young plants need at least 12 hours of light a day. During the week, the seedlings will get stronger. After that, the temperature in the room is gradually increased to 25 degrees. This indicator is the most comfortable for tomatoes.

The pick is performed as soon as one or two true leaves appear on the sprout. In a new container, the seedlings will grow until they are transferred to a permanent growing place (open ground or greenhouses). When growing tomatoes, you need to carefully monitor the moisture level of the soil, preventing it from drying out.

It should take 55 to 60 days of development of young plants to plant the seedlings in a permanent place. By this time, the bushes grow up to 30 centimeters. The first fruit cluster and 8-9 leaves also develop on them.

It is recommended to plant a maximum of 3 plants of this variety on 1 square meter of the plot. This rule applies to planting both in open ground and in greenhouses. Support structures are installed immediately. Pegs up to one and a half meters high or trellises are suitable.

Summer residents recommend forming productive varieties in two stems. When growing seedlings, it is important that the soil is constantly moist. In greenhouses, plants are irrigated every few days. Once every 3 or 5 days, tomatoes are watered in the garden, taking into account the weather conditions. Settled and warm water is used. At least 1 liter of water is poured under one plant. The variety especially needs moisture when setting buds, during flowering and fruiting.

For feeding tomatoes, organic and mineral compounds are used. The first time fertilization is applied 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. A solution of mullein is widely used, which is diluted in a ratio of 1: 5. Before applying the remaining fertilizers, you need to wait from 14 to 17 days. You can choose ready-made complex dressings, such as "Kristalon" and "Fertika".

Tall plants need a garter in order not to suffer under the weight of the fruit and not take up much space. For the garter, lightweight materials are used that do not injure the plant. Not only large shoots are tied up, but also fruit clusters that sag from large and heavy tomatoes.

The full development of the variety is impossible without pinching. The processes in the deciduous sinuses are periodically removed. Maximum stepchildren grow no more than 7-8 centimeters.

The yield indicator significantly depends on the formation of the fruit crop. At the start of plant development, they choose the first strong or second stepson (at the bottom of the bush) and shoot with a separate stem. According to experienced gardeners, the richest and most stable harvest can be achieved when formed in two stems.As soon as 4-5 brushes appear on each of them, gently pinch the top. Such a procedure is necessary for the plant to give strength to the formation and ripening of vegetables.

When cultivating the Altai honey variety in the open field, it is recommended to pinch immediately after the appearance of 3-4 fruit clusters. So the tomatoes will have time to fully ripen in the hot season.

The variety, bred by breeders from Siberia, received an innate resistance to fungal infections. To get rid of aphids or whiteflies, they use both folk remedies and ready-made chemical compositions.

To prevent the onset and spread of diseases, the following rules must be observed:

• the greenhouse where tomatoes grow must be periodically ventilated;
• withered and damaged leaves in the lower part of the bushes are removed;
• tomatoes in a timely manner stepchild.

Also, the plantation should be carefully inspected for symptoms of disease.