- Authors: Motov V.M.
- Year of approval: 2000
- Category: hybrid
- Growth type: determinant
- Appointment: fresh consumption
- Ripening period: mid-early
- Ripening time, days: 82-127
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for film greenhouses
- Marketability: high
- Marketable fruit yield,%: 95%
The expectations for the newest promising varieties that have only recently appeared on the market are very good. However, it is much more correct for insufficiently experienced farmers to trust at least varieties tested over several years. And it is in this regard that the Kupets tomato could give odds to a number of more advanced options.
Breeding history
The creator of such a plant is the well-known breeder V. M. Motov. The official admission for the cultivation of the crop was given in 2000. It is known to be a hybrid, but the original forms are not disclosed in the official description.
Description of the variety
A determinant type of development is characteristic of the Merchant. The plant is suitable for both ordinary soil and for growing in greenhouses under plastic wrap. The branching of the bush is moderately intense. The number of leaves is also not very large. Foliage itself:
it is medium in size;
is green;
shines with gloss;
slightly corrugated.
The main qualities of the fruit
The berries that have just been transformed from the ovaries will have a light green color. As they ripen, they invariably blush. The tomatoes themselves are large and differ by an insignificant spread in weight - from 114 to 127 g. There are also round, flat-round, and transitional specimens between these forms. The shelf life of the crop will be 150-180 days.
The first inflorescence will be laid above the 9th leaf. Subsequent ones are formed with a step of 1-2 sheets. A simple type of inflorescence is characteristic. The skin has a smooth surface. Like foliage, it shines with gloss.
Taste characteristics
Most often, the Merchant's fruits are consumed fresh. Home canning is also possible. A very dense pulp is typical for him. In consumer reviews, the meatiness of this variety is also noted. In terms of juiciness, finally, it is also not inferior to many popular varieties. A sweet and sour taste is noted, with the balance shifted towards the sweet line.
Ripening and fruiting
The merchant is a representative of the category of mid-early tomatoes. After the formation of shoots, it will take him from 85 to 127 days to lay edible berries. More precisely, it can be said only taking into account the specific weather and other growing conditions. And also, undoubtedly, the use of a greenhouse or cultivation in an open garden will affect.
Yield
The culture belongs to the high-yielding group. It is capable of producing from 11.1 to 14.2 kg of berries per 1 m2. This difference in performance emphasizes the importance of adhering to growing conditions and caring for plantings. It should also be noted that the share of marketable fruits is very high. It can reach 95% (subject to proper agricultural practices).
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
It is necessary to start working with seedlings in late March - early April. You will have to wait for seedlings from 7 to 10 days. The exact moment of transplanting into open ground is not indicated in the available sources. It is best to be guided by the readiness of the seedlings.
Growing tomato seedlings is an extremely important process, because it largely depends on whether the gardener can harvest at all. All aspects must be taken into account, from seedbed preparation to planting in the ground.
Landing scheme
There are no more than 3 or 4 plants per 1 m2.Better to plant less, but thereby improve the care of the culture. The gap between the holes is 50 cm.
Growing and care
The main measures of care are as follows:
regular irrigation with warm water;
loosening after watering or precipitation;
mineral fertilizers (according to the same schedule as for other tomatoes);
regular weeding of weeds.
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
The merchant is able to effectively survive when exposed to:
late blight;
verticillosis;
tobacco mosaic;
cladosporiosis;
fusarium wilting (which does not allow, however, to ignore the need for additional protection).
Resistant to adverse weather conditions
Such a variety is designed, according to the assurances of the suppliers of planting material, to successfully survive during temperature fluctuations. But responsible and neat gardeners will try, if possible, to eliminate this factor altogether.
Growing regions
You can plant the Merchant in the center of the European part of Russia. It can also be grown in the central Black Earth Region. It is permissible to assume that in regions with an even more favorable climate, this culture will also give a good result. But such an assumption has not yet been tested, and gardeners will take any such actions at their own peril and risk.
Review overview
Even experienced vegetable growers will be pleasantly surprised by the results of growing such a crop. In addition to the high quality of the fruits themselves, they can also be stored for a long time, even without refrigeration. This hybrid is hardy and rarely gets sick.The efforts spent are rewarded guaranteed. No complaints about this culture have been reported yet.