- Authors: Kachainik V.G., Gulkin M.N., Karmanova O.A., Matyunina S.V. (Agrofirma Aelita LLC)
- Year of approval: 2018
- Category: grade
- Growth type: indeterminate
- Appointment: fresh consumption, for ketchup and tomato paste
- Ripening period: early
- Ripening time, days: 95-110
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for film greenhouses
- Bush size: tall
- Bush height, cm: 160-180
Tomatoes of an unusual color are always popular among gardeners. The Chocolate Bunny variety is no exception.
Breeding history
Development of the variety began at the end of 2016. The originator was the agrofirm "Aelita", including the team of authors: V. G. Kachainik, M. N. Gulkina, O. A. Karmanova, S. V. Matyunina. Culture passed all the necessary tests, and in 2018 it was approved for use and entered to the State Register.
Tomato Chocolate bunny belongs to indeterminate varieties. Designed for indoor and outdoor cultivation. There are no restrictions on growing regions.
Description of the variety
The bushes reach a height of 160-180 cm, which puts them in the category of tall plants. The crown is semi-spreading with leaves of medium length, dark green. A tie to the trellis or support is required. Not only the main stem is tied up, but also the fruiting brushes, since the fruits are too heavy.
The inflorescences are simple, the first is formed over the 5th leaf, and then through each leaf. 4–6 fruits are formed on one hand. It is recommended to form a bush of 1-2 stems.
The main qualities of the fruit
Fruits of brown color, weighing 300-350 g. In shape, vegetables are flat-round, slightly elongated, with ribbing at the stalk. Unripe fruits are dark green with a small spot.
The skin is dense, thin, glossy. It does not crack, so the variety has good keeping quality and transportability.
The pulp is of medium density, fleshy in color, dark red. Several seed chambers with large seeds are formed inside, which can be used for subsequent propagation of the culture.
The berries are versatile, so they can be used to make salads, sauces, juices and ketchups. They are also suitable for preparing hot dishes (in particular, soups). Due to their large size, the fruits are rarely preserved whole. But even in the marinade, the vegetables remain juicy and tasty.
Taste characteristics
Many people note an interesting tart and tomato flavor. There is practically no sourness in the aftertaste.
Ripening and fruiting
Tomato Chocolate bunny belongs to the group of early maturing crops. Fruit ripening takes 95-110 days. Fruiting is long and falls in July - August. Rates may vary by region.
Yield
A stable harvest is noted, which is 8.5 kg of tomatoes per 1m 2.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
Sowing occurs in the first ten days of March. The seeds are pretreated in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or aloe; it is especially necessary to process the material collected by hand.
The land is harvested slightly acidic and loose, with a small addition of sand and peat. It is better to process and dry the soil in the oven before distribution into seedling containers. This will help get rid of harmful organisms.
Half of the soil is poured into the containers and spilled with water. Then the holes are formed. The seeds are sown either in holes or in trenches. Then the earth is leveled and moistened with water. From above, everything is covered with glass or cellophane. The seeds will hatch in a week. Then the containers are opened and placed on the windowsill.
Seedlings are watered with water once a week, fed and loosened the soil. Fertilizer is best applied in liquid form. Wood ash can be used from solid top dressing.
A pick is done in the presence of several strong leaves. New containers should be deeper and at least 10–12 cm in diameter.
10 days before transplanting, the seedlings are taken outside for acclimatization. Disembarkation takes place from 15 May to 5 June. The plant should be 50-60 days old.
The site is prepared, dug up with humus and spilled abundantly with warm water. Then holes are formed and supports are harvested.
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
It is recommended to plant seedlings according to the scheme 50x40 cm. The depth of the hole should be 15 cm, and the same should be in diameter.
Growing and care
The basic care of the Chocolate Bunny tomato is simple, it consists only in standard agrotechnical measures.
- To prevent the soil from drying out, you need to water the seedlings regularly. One bush accounts for up to 3 liters of warm settled water. Irrigation is carried out in the evening, when the sun is no longer in the active phase, and the seedlings will not get burned. If it is not possible to regularly add water, then drip irrigation is used.
- It is recommended to do 3 basic and intensive dressings, and between them a couple of surface dressings (on the leaves). Any fertilizer is always applied at the root after watering, so as not to burn the root system. The peak of the introduction of useful minerals occurs at the time of fruit ripening.
- Soil maintenance is essential. This includes loosening and weeding. The soil should be light and loose in consistency, breathable well and not look too dry. Weeds are removed for several reasons: they take away useful trace elements, and they are also a breeding ground for insect pests.
- Grasshopping, garter and shaping are very important to the plant. The pegs are selected with a length of 1.2–1.5 m, and go deep into the ground by a third. The distance from the stem should be 8-10 cm. Use a small cord or soft cloth for garters. Stepchildren are removed when they reach 6–8 cm. After them, it is best to leave a stump of 2–3 cm. The lower leaves and part of the crown are thinned out, as they take away strength from the bush.
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.