Contents
Among vegetable growers there are many lovers of exotic varieties of tomatoes with an unusual taste or color of fruits. We would like to offer Malachite Box tomato for growing on plots. The article will indicate the main characteristics and description of the plant, the features of cultivation. For clarity, we present the photos that gardeners who grow this variety send.
Description
Tomatoes Malachite Box is a relatively new variety created by Novosibirsk breeders. It was entered into the State Register in 2006. Despite their youth, tomatoes of this variety have already managed to gain well-deserved fame and popularity. And not only among Siberians, but also in other regions of Our Country.
The reason for the love of gardeners for tomatoes The malachite box, judging by the reviews, is the possibility of harvesting even under adverse conditions. As stated in the description, the variety belongs to cold-resistant plants.
Bush
Tomato belongs to tall indeterminate varieties of unlimited growth. When grown in a greenhouse, they reach one and a half meters. Plants are mid-ripening, the first tomatoes ripen after 100 days, counting from planting.
The bushes are not only tall, but also densely leafy. The leaves are medium branched, deep green. The inflorescences of the variety are a simple brush; joints are clearly visible on the stalk of the tomato. The set is almost one hundred percent, and the tomatoes grow along the entire length of the stem.
Plodov
The tomato Malachite box, according to the description, has flat-round fruits. The surface is smooth and glossy. As a rule, tomatoes on the lower tassels are larger, reaching a mass of 250-300 grams. Often there are specimens weighing more than 500 grams.
In an unripe state, the fruits of the Malachite box are light green, with stains, as in the photo below.
In technical maturity, tomatoes acquire a beautiful color of malachite with a yellowish-green tint. It seems that someone specially painted bizarre patterns on the fruits. As gardeners note, the variety of tomatoes resembles a mountain mineral in color.
It is also worth noting that this feature is inherent not only in Malachite Box tomatoes, but also in all varieties with green fruits.
According to the description, the pulp is juicy, sugary, emerald green, it also has stains. The taste of the tomato is unusual, exotic. Many consumers say that tomatoes of this variety resemble melon or kiwi.
There are only four seed chambers in a tomato, and the number of seeds is small. The skin of a tomato Malachite box is delicate, thin, which makes it difficult to transport.
Fruit application
Tomatoes Malachite box, judging by the description, is only suitable for fresh consumption. Preservation of whole tomatoes is impossible because of their large size, but, most importantly, because of the thin skin, which bursts during processing. But if it is necessary to peel the tomatoes, this is a clear plus – the peel is removed without difficulty.
From tomatoes of the variety, you can cook adjika, lecho, get a sauce with excellent taste. But the main feature of the variety is the preparation of jam. The finished product will fill the kitchen with a fruity aroma.
Yields
As gardeners who have been dealing with the variety for more than one year write in the reviews, the harvest is stable and excellent. With proper agricultural technology and care, the yield of a tomato Malachite box per square meter in the beds reaches 4-6 kg, in a greenhouse it can be about 15 kg. This characteristic of the variety is confirmed by the photo.
Characteristics
It should be noted that tomatoes of this variety are most often grown by lovers of exotic plants, ready to experiment. It is impossible to find out all the information about the culture, including the Malachite Box tomato, only by description. More detailed characteristics of the variety are needed. Let’s talk about her now.
Like any plant, the Malachite Box has its pros and cons.
Pros of the variety
- Stable yield with long yield. As a rule, the fruits are harvested before the onset of cold weather.
- The set of fruits is almost 100%, there are practically no empty flowers.
- Exotic taste and color of tomatoes. The fruit is often added to fruit salads.
- Tomatoes do not cause allergies like red varieties, so they can be given to children without fear of consequences. The fruits are not only tasty, but also healthy. They contain a large number of micro and macro elements necessary for a person.
- Possibility of cultivation in the open and protected ground.
- The fruits on the bushes do not crack.
- The variety of tomatoes is resistant to diseases, especially late blight.
- Since Malachite Box is a pure variety, seeds can be obtained. They retain varietal properties.
Cons
The Casket has disadvantages, although there are not so many of them as advantages:
- Tomatoes are capricious in care, so before choosing them, you need to carefully read the description, characteristics and features of cultivation.
- It is impossible to transport over long distances because of the thin and delicate skin.
- Tomatoes of the Malachite Box variety are not subject to long-term storage.
- Gardeners growing tomatoes of this variety for the first time experience difficulty in determining the ripeness of the fruit due to the unusual color. Overripe tomatoes of this variety become tasteless.
Features of agricultural technology and cultivation
As already noted, the State Register of Our Country recommends the Malachite Box variety for cultivation in any region. But everyone will agree that our climatic conditions are not the same. Despite the ripening of the fruits 100 days after sowing the seeds, it is best to use the seedling method.
On the package with seeds of the Casket variety, the approximate dates for sowing the seeds are indicated. It is best to sow them about two months before planting in the ground.
Growing seedlings
To get strong and healthy tomato seedlings Malachite box, you need to take into account many nuances.
Soil and tank preparation
Many gardeners prepare the soil mixture for tomatoes on their own. The main thing is that the land should be fertile, light and pass oxygen well. The use of store composition is also not forbidden. Boxes and soil are disinfected before sowing tomato seeds. Experienced gardeners use boiling water, add potassium permanganate crystals to it.
Seed preparation
This is an important point for obtaining high-quality tomato seedlings. As a rule, seeds purchased from reliable companies have already been selected. But in the case of using your own seeds, you will have to carry out a thorough culling.
To do this, the seed is dipped in a 5% salt solution. Substandard, feeble tomato seeds will rise to the top. Throw them away and rinse the rest in clean water. Then pickle in a solution of potassium permanganate or with the help of Epin, Zircon biostimulants. Aloe juice works well in this regard.
Seed sowing
The seeds of the variety are laid out in grooves prepared at a distance of 3 cm after 1-2 cm. Then the containers are covered with foil and placed in a warm (22-25 degrees), well-lit place. When the first hooks appear (this happens on the 3rd or 4th day), the film is removed. The air temperature of the day is reduced by three to 15 degrees so that the seedlings do not stretch out. But the illumination should be maximum.
Watering at this stage is carried out as needed, but in no case should the seedlings be flooded – the root system will begin to rot.
Picks
It is necessary to transplant tomato seedlings into separate containers when 3 to 5 true leaves grow. The picking procedure plays a dual role. First, the plants fall into a new fertile soil. Secondly, they begin to build up a powerful root system.
After transplanting tomatoes, you need to monitor the condition of the upper clod of earth, since it is impossible to overdry the seedlings. In addition, to obtain powerful and strong tomatoes, they are fed several times with mineral fertilizers. Diluted drugs in accordance with the instructions.
At this stage, you can use organic fertilizers. In particular, wood ash extract, as it contains all the elements necessary to build green mass and root system. In addition, the ash prevents black leg disease in seedlings.
The main thing is not to overdo it with top dressing (it is better not to supplement it), otherwise the Malachite Box tomato will stretch out a lot, which will reduce the yield.
Plant care in the ground
Hardening
Before planting tomatoes, the Malachite box is hardened. Within 10 days, the containers are taken out into the street, gradually increasing the residence time so that the tomatoes adapt to new conditions. In a city apartment, balconies or loggias are used for this. The main thing is that there is no draft.
Transfer
In a greenhouse or open ground, planting tomatoes of a variety is carried out, respectively, at the end of May or after June 10. The ground is being prepared in two weeks. Although according to the rules, the ground for tomatoes is prepared in the fall.
Fertilized ridges for tomatoes are dug up, spilled with warm water. When the earth warms up, the plants are transplanted. The wells must be shed with boiling water with potassium permanganate to prevent plant disease with a black leg.
Work on transplanting tomatoes is recommended to be carried out in the evening, then the seedlings will have time to rise by morning. No more than two tomatoes are planted per square meter. A reliable support is immediately placed, the tomatoes are tied up and spill well. Next watering after 3 days.
Further Care
The Malachite Box variety is formed, according to the description and characteristics, in one or two stems. All stepchildren on tomatoes are harvested as they grow. In addition, leaves are cut off on tomatoes before the first flower brush, and then after fruit set. Peduncles with tomatoes also need to be tied up, otherwise they will break under their own weight.
Water and feed the Casket as usual. It is also necessary to remove weeds so as not to provoke diseases. I recommend mulching the soil under tomatoes with straw, freshly cut grass (without seeds) or peat. This is not only a salvation from weeds, but also an additional subcortex.
As a preventive measure, if the gardener does not want to use chemicals, you can spray the tomatoes with wood ash extract, a solution of boric acid, iodine, potassium permanganate. It is also useful to dust the tomatoes and the soil under them with dry ash.
Tomato variety Malachite box responds well to top dressing with superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, and potash fertilizers. From organics for feeding tomatoes of this variety, you can use infusions of chicken manure, mullein and green herbs.