- Authors: Nastenko N.V., Kachainik V.G., Afonina I.M. (Agrofirma Aelita LLC)
- Year of approval: 2013
- Category: grade
- Growth type: indeterminate
- Appointment: fresh consumption, for pickling and preserving, for juice
- Ripening period: early
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for film greenhouses
- Marketability: high
- Bush size: tall
- Bush height, cm: 150-200
Many gardeners pay great attention to the selection of varieties that must meet certain requirements. The Big Dipper tomato has unique characteristics. Consider the main taste of fruits, yield, ripening time, agrotechnical aspects and planting scheme.
Description of the variety
The Big Dipper tomato is an indeterminate variety. This means that the bushes have unlimited growth. Usually they reach a height of 1.5-2 m. On the open ground, the indicators are lower, the growth is only 1.5-1.7 m. The stem is thick and strong, green in color. It is important to install a trellis system, or drive pegs next to the bush for timely tying.
The leaves are large, oblong, strongly elongated, pointed. There is a pronounced ribbing. The surface of the plates is rough and matte. The shade of the leaves is rich green. During the season, some leaves may begin to curl up from lack of moisture or too active sun exposure.
The recommended number of stems is 2. A larger number will overload the bushes.
The first peduncles are formed between 8-10 leaves from ground level, then every 1-2 leaves.
No more than 8 brushes should be left on one bush, then 5-6 large fruits can form on one brush.
The positive aspects include:
fruit size;
taste qualities;
storage periods;
transportability.
The main disadvantage of the variety is that the tomato is susceptible to late blight. Therefore, timely processing of the bushes is necessary.
The main qualities of the fruit
The fruits are large, rounded and slightly flattened at the edges. The rind is dense, glossy. From abundant watering, the skin may begin to crack. Slight ribbing is noted. The color in mature tomatoes is pink, and in unripe tomatoes it is light green.
By weight, the fruits are different, although they ripen together. Tomatoes on the lower brushes can weigh up to 500 g, towards the top of the head the fruits begin to shrink and weigh 210-260 g.
The pulp is fleshy, juicy, pink, with a lot of grains. There are quite a few cameras, from 4-6 or more, but they are all small in size.
Taste characteristics
Gardeners note the sugary aftertaste of the fruit with a slight sourness. Therefore, the variety is very often consumed fresh.
Ripening and fruiting
The Big Dipper tomato belongs to the early maturing varieties. The ripening period is 100-110 days. The harvest takes place in several stages, so the harvesting of fruits lasts from July to September.
Yield
The variety is high-yielding, up to 15 kg is removed from 1 m2. On the open ground, the indicators are slightly different - 11-13 kg.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
Before sowing seeds, it is necessary to prepare special seedling boxes. Two hours before planting the seeds, they should be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate. This is done in order to subsequently avoid infection with fungal diseases.
In the boxes, pits are prepared according to the following scheme - the depth of the hole is 2 cm, and the ratio of the pits is 2 by 3 cm.
The box is covered with foil or transparent glass. The seedlings should be placed in a warm place. After 5-7 days, the seeds will hatch.
The picking of the bushes occurs after 2 strong leaves have appeared on the bush.
In May, when the air warms up to +13 degrees, the seedlings can be taken outside to acclimatize. Saplings should be planted in a greenhouse at a daily rate of +14, and in open ground at +17 degrees Celsius.
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
The place must be dug up in the fall, adding useful minerals and compost to the soil. During the winter period, the earth will be saturated with useful substances and rest. Before planting seedlings, the site is spilled abundantly with water. This can be done in the evening, then all excess moisture will go away.
The trellis system or pegs are prepared before planting the seedlings in the ground, since some bushes can grow up to 60 cm in height.
The holes are dug to a depth of no more than 30 cm, and between the bushes - 40 cm. Gardeners advise to plant only 3 bushes per 1 m2. If you plant 4, then over time, the stems will have little space, and they will begin to intertwine with the neighboring ones. This will complicate the treatment of bushes, pruning of stepchildren and harvesting.
Growing and care
Yield depends on proper care. The Big Dipper variety is unpretentious, but it is worth observing some agrotechnical points.
Normalized watering regime. Tomatoes Big dipper do not like too wet and too dry soil. In a humid environment, the skin of the fruit may crack, and in a dry environment, leaves curl up.
Timely pinching. The removed stepchildren should not exceed 5 cm in height.
The bushes are indeterminate, so the garter of the stems plays an important role. Seedlings can lean to the ground under their own weight, and even break during the period of fruit formation.
In the greenhouse, the daily rate should be +30 degrees. In the sun, all flaps should be open for air circulation.
The earth around the bushes is weeded every two weeks.
If desired, the bushes can be mulched with sawdust to maintain a moist environment.
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.
