- Authors: Russia, SibNIIRS
- Category: grade
- Growth type: semi-determinant
- Appointment: fresh consumption, for pickling and preserving
- Ripening period: mid-season
- Ripening time, days: 100-110
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for closed ground
- Bush height, cm: 90-170
- Ripe fruit color: Red
- Fruit shape: pear-shaped
The Japanese truffle series pleases with its variety, from which you can create a rainbow on the table and in the jar. One of the species, which is a classic in color of tomato plant growing, is the Red Truffle, known since 2002. From the very beginning, he attracted the attention of gardeners with an unusual shape, a little later with a piquant taste and universal purpose, the ability to grow in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. Great summer salads are prepared from the red truffle berry, they are good in whole-fruit canning, and even in the company with the same fruits, but in different shades. Tomatoes are an excellent base for juices, tomato paste and sauces.
Breeding history
Russian breeders of SibNIIRS are considered the originators of the Red Truffle. Farmers adopted the variety almost immediately after it appeared on the market.
Description of the variety
Indeterminate tall bushes, reaching a height of 170 cm or more in greenhouses, in open ground from 90 cm, covered with dark green foliage of medium density, with a classic tomato aroma. The surface of the straight leaf plate has a slight pubescence and a slight dissection along the edges. The bushes give straight, weak shoots that need to be tied to a support. The stems are prone to the development of a large number of stepchildren, the flowers are collected in simple inflorescences. The trunks can form a large number of brushes as they grow indefinitely, therefore they need not only shaping, but also rationing. Each brush yields up to 7 berries.
Pros of Truffle red:
the unique shape of the fruit;
balanced taste and unpretentiousness;
excellent transportability, high yield;
strong immunity, the formation of a large number of ovaries.
The disadvantages of the variety are the need for formation, organization of support, exactingness to watering.
The main qualities of the fruit
Milky-green, truffle-shaped, slightly ribbed fruits acquire a rich carmine-red color upon reaching technical and physiological ripeness. The berry weighing 150-200 g is distinguished by its excellent ripening ability - the removed green fruits quickly gain the desired condition at home. Ripe tomatoes can be stored at room temperature and much longer in professional vegetable stores, which allows industrial cultivation of the crop. The cross section shows 5–6 seed chambers with a moderate number of seeds.
Taste characteristics
The dense fleshy pulp has a sweet taste with a moderate amount of acidity, a classic aroma, and a pleasant aftertaste. The berry is covered with a thin, but dense skin, almost imperceptible during meals, which prevents cracking, and contains a group of vitamins, carotenoids. Dry matter about 6%.
Ripening and fruiting
The variety belongs to the group of mid-ripening terms of ripening - 100-110 days from the date of emergence.
Yield
The yield of the Red Truffle is high. The average figure is 6–8 kg per bush, and 15–20 kg per square meter.Ideal agronomic conditions can increase the yield.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
Seeds are sown 50-60 days before planting in the ground, the timing is calculated depending on the cultivation area. This is usually late March - early April for temperate climates, and late February - early March in the southern regions.
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 optimal planting scheme for tall indeterminate bushes is 60x50 cm, no more than 3-4 roots per square meter.
Growing and care
The red truffle is grown in seedlings, with the exception of the southern regions, where it is permissible to sow seeds directly into the ground. Before planting seedlings in a permanent place, experts recommend hardening procedures. Young plants are taken out into the street, open balconies and loggias, accustoming the seedlings to environmental conditions, and to sunlight. Activities start approximately 2-3 weeks prior to disembarkation.
A place in the garden is chosen with a good degree of illumination, with fertile and breathable soil, and a neutral level of acidity.
If the earth is too acidic, it becomes deoxidized:
chalk or plaster;
lime fluff;
bone or dolomite meal.
Loamy, dense and heavy soils loosen:
buckwheat husk;
the introduction of humus;
regular sowing of siderates.
Tall bushes need support, so stakes are installed in the ridges, or a trellis is arranged. The soil in the holes is enriched with organic matter (humus, compost, bird droppings), complex mineral fertilizers, superphosphate, and wood ash are added.
When planting seedlings, it is necessary to ensure that the root collar is above the ground. The soil in the near-trunk circle is compacted, well spilled with warm water, and loosened the next day. Thus, oxygen is provided to the root system. Tall seedlings are immediately tied to a support, and continue to do this as they grow.
Follow-up care consists of traditional activities:
watering and weeding;
shaping and pinning;
feeding and sanitization.
Growing bushes are formed into 1-2 trunks, leaving for this the first appeared stepson. In the future, the plant is constantly stepchild, trying to avoid thickening and the formation of unnecessary shoots. The foliage is almost completely removed as the clusters with ovaries form.
The first feeding is carried out 2-3 weeks after planting. At this time, tomatoes need nitrogen support to build up their vegetative mass. The second time they are fed with potassium-phosphorus compounds during the formation of ovaries. Tomatoes can be spilled several times during the season with infusion of fresh mullein or nettle. The red truffle needs regular watering, but at the same time it is necessary to monitor the humidity level - to ventilate the greenhouse after each watering, to avoid stagnant water in the ridges. Preventive spraying is carried out as needed, sanitizing when dangerous symptoms are detected.
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 declared health of Red Truffle is a strong immunity, and reviews of gardeners confirm this. However, this does not mean that the variety is not in danger. Failure to comply with the rules of agricultural technology, such as high humidity, lack of watering, can lead to the appearance of brown rot, dry spotting, late blight. Dangerous for tomato and pests:
thrips;
whitefly;
melon aphid and bear;
rusty mite and Colorado potato beetle.
Preventive treatments with insecticides and fungicides will help to avoid such problems.
Resistant to adverse weather conditions
Tomato tolerates high temperatures well, but hardly survives daily changes in the northern regions, as well as prolonged cold snaps with precipitation.
Growing regions
The variety thrives in the open field when cultivated in the southern regions, but it bears excellent fruit in greenhouse conditions if grown in cold regions. Its cultivation is available in the North, North-West, Central, Volgo-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, North Caucasian, Middle Volga regions, as well as in the Crimea, Kuban, and Krasnodar Territory.