Tomato Countryman

Not all varieties are suitable for harvesting for the winter, therefore, tomatoes of a certain type are chosen for canning. Among Russian summer residents, a variety called Countryman has become widespread. Its fruits are great for preparing tasty and healthy preparations.

Tomatoes are grown outdoors or in plastic greenhouses. Medium-sized plants reach a height of 70-76 meters. Growth type is determinant. The harvest is great for both fresh consumption and whole-fruit canning. Leafiness and branching are medium. The size of the leaves is medium, the color is light green. The texture is slightly corrugated. Form - standard, tomato. Shoots are straight.

Due to their small growth, the bushes are not tied up, but it is advisable to install supports under the brushes. This will prevent the branches from breaking under the weight of the tomatoes. And also it is not necessary to carry out molding and remove stepsons. As it grows, the plant forms an average number of shoots. During flowering, small yellow flowers appear on the branches, collected in inflorescences. The first brush is laid over 6 or 7 leaves, and the rest are alternated every 2 leaves. On one inflorescence, up to 15 tomatoes can ripen at the same time.

Light green tomatoes take on a bright red color as they ripen. Fruit weight (on average) is from 66 to 89 grams. They resemble plums in shape. The juicy flesh is covered with a glossy rind. Inside, no more than three seed chambers are formed. There are few seeds, but their quantity is quite enough to start a new planting.

Thanks to the sweet pleasant taste, the harvest of the Zemlyak variety received excellent taste characteristics. Ripe fruits are stored for a long time and tolerate transportation without problems.

Most often, ripe fruits are used for harvesting for the winter. Tomatoes retain their shape remarkably, do not crack or burst under the influence of heat treatment. Not only taste remains unchanged, but also an attractive appearance.

The harvest ripens early, and the first tomatoes are harvested from July to August. From the moment of the formation of the first shoots to the collection of fruits, it should take from 96 to 98 days. Dates may vary depending on weather conditions.

The productivity of the Zemlyak variety is noted as high. If comfortable growing conditions are observed, from 3.5 to 4 kilograms of vegetables are obtained from the bush. From 5 to 8 kilograms are harvested from one square meter, and from 348 to 468 centners per hectare of plantation. In certain regions, more abundant fruiting can be achieved.

The following planting dates are recommended:

• in the period from March 20 to April 10 - sowing for seedlings is performed;

• from May 15 to June 5, seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or in open ground.

Given the short ripening period of tomatoes, the variety is not grown through seedlings within the borders of the southern regions. It is customary to plant seeds directly into the ground. The work is carried out in the last decade of April to the first decade of May. In this case, the first harvest of ripe vegetables can be harvested in the last decade of July.

In other regions of the country, the seedling method is used. From the moment the seeds germinate until the time of transplanting young bushes into open ground, it should take about 60 days. Given this, summer residents calculate the exact date. It is possible to transplant mature seedlings only when the spring frosts have passed.

For germination, it is recommended to use ready-made soil mixture from a specialized store. Seeds collected with their own hands must be disinfected with Bordeaux liquid. Small but wide containers are suitable for seedlings. They dive when two permanent leaves appear.

On one square meter of the plot, you can comfortably place 4-4.5 plants. The optimal planting pattern is 50x40 centimeters.

Regular fruiting can only be achieved with proper care of the bushes. Plants need adequate moisture. After transplanting seedlings to a new place, tomatoes should not be watered until they take root. Further, irrigation is carried out every 3-4 days or as the soil dries up. Watering frequency depends on weather conditions. In the hot season, you need to water the tomatoes more often. The soil should remain moist until the vegetables ripen.

It is recommended to use settled water for irrigation. In the morning it is left in the sun, and with the onset of the evening, watering is performed at the root. It is important that the liquid does not get on the shoots and leaves.

With a dense planting, the root zone is loosened only at first. Further, after watering, it is enough to cover the ground with a layer of mulch; humus, mowed grass or straw are great.

For each fruit crop, fertilizing is important. They play an important role in the formation of the crop. And also nutrients affect the appearance and taste of tomatoes. The Zemlyak variety prefers organic fertilizers: chicken droppings, green leaves or cow dung.

Top dressing is applied every 10-12 days after the transfer of seedlings to a new growing site. After the first portion of fertilizers, a couple of additional dressings are applied at intervals of 20-22 days. You cannot feed the plants too often, otherwise the effect will be negative. When cultivated, the bushes are formed into 1-2 stems.

According to most gardeners, the Zemlyak variety is highly resistant to most types of diseases that are characteristic of the nightshade family. Despite a fairly strong immune system, tomatoes are susceptible to late blight. To protect vegetables from this disease, you need to carry out preventive treatment of plants on time. For processing, you can use both ready-made compositions and effective folk remedies. It is also important to monitor the level of soil moisture, and comply with all conditions of agricultural technology.

Vegetable culture is resistant or moderately susceptible to the following ailments:

• cladosporiosis:

• alternaria;

• septoria:

• top rot of fruit.

Bushes are not afraid of a short-term drop in temperature. But if the temperature indicator drops for a long time, the growth of tomatoes and the ripening of vegetables slows down.