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Each gardener, wanting to get an early harvest of vegetables from his site, tries to allocate part of the garden for the appropriate varieties. Early ripening tomatoes are always a priority, especially for colder regions. Although the fruits cannot boast of large sizes, they are distinguished by excellent taste and aroma. There are a lot of early tomatoes. One of the varieties proven by vegetable growers is the Agata tomato, characterized by a compact bush and high yield.
Description of the variety
Almost all early tomatoes are undersized. This is the main distinguishing feature of the culture. Considering the characteristics and description of the Agata tomato variety, it is worth noting that the plant belongs to the determinant group, but the shrub is not a standard one. The stem grows only 33 cm in height. Sometimes it can stretch up to 45 cm. Fruits are tied with tassels. There are a maximum of five of them on a plant. The first brush forms above the fifth leaf, and all subsequent ones appear after two leaves. After the formation of the last fifth cluster, the stem of the tomato stops growing, and all the energy is directed to the ripening of the fruit.
A low-growing tomato can do without a garter to the trellis, but the bush is not a standard one. The stem is unable to independently hold five brushes, in each of which from 3 to 6 tomatoes are tied. Under the weight of the fruit, the bush tilts to the ground. Tomatoes can rot on contact with the ground. Supports will be the solution to the problem. It is enough to drive a peg into the ground near each bush and tie a tomato stalk to it. A plant fixed to a support is better illuminated by sunlight, plus it is blown by a fresh wind. This reduces the risk of late blight.
Agata tomato ripens in 95-100 days from the moment of seed germination. The yield for such a small bush is high - up to 4 kg of fruits. According to reviews, the Agata tomato variety shows excellent results in open and closed cultivation. Cultural agrotechnics are simple. Tomato can be grown by seeds and seedlings. The second method is considered preferable.
Looking at a photo of an Agata tomato variety, you can make sure of the beauty of the fruit. Tomatoes grow to almost the same size. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly flattened. The walls are even, only in the area of the stalk attachment is there a weak ribbing. In an unripe fruit, the top is dark pink, and the back and sides are orange. A ripe tomato turns completely bright red. Fruits weigh a maximum of 100 g.
Despite the early maturity of the variety, the tomato pulp is dense, plus covered with a strong skin. This is another distinguishing feature of the Agate tomato, which makes the fruit resistant to cracking. Ripe tomatoes tolerate transportation well and go for conservation. The skin of the fruit does not wrinkle during heat treatment. The tomato stays beautiful in the jar and on the table. In addition to preservation, Agata tomato is suitable for fresh consumption, preparation of various dishes, juice.
Agata tomato variety is weakly resistant to diseases. However, the early ripening period helps out the tomato. The plant manages to give almost the entire crop before the onset of the epidemic of late blight and other nightshade diseases. Tomato Agatha grows best in the garden where cucumbers, carrots, salad greens or legumes grew last summer. The tomato loves fertile soil. It is advisable to choose a site with light soil. If this is not the case, then the earth is loosened by adding sand.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Probably, the characteristics of the Agata tomato will be incomplete if you miss the overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the variety. Let's start with the good qualities:
- early ripening of fruits allows you to quickly get a harvest;
- fruits are universal, do not crack and have an excellent presentation;
- the Agata variety allows you to get a harvest, even if the grower has made a minimum of effort to care for the crop;
- in warm regions, you can abandon the seedling method of growing and sow tomato grains directly into the garden;
- the tomato variety is suitable for greenhouse cultivation, which is important for cold regions;
- amicable ripening of fruits, and all tomatoes grow to the same size.
Despite the large number of positive qualities, the Agata tomato has a couple of disadvantages:
- in the event of an early outbreak of an epidemic, tomato plantations are affected by late blight;
- a rather weak stem has to be tied to a support so that the lower tier of fruits does not touch the ground.
In principle, the listed disadvantages are typical for most varieties of tomatoes. The problem can be dire if the appropriate measures are not taken in time.
Features of the use of the crop
We have already talked about the versatility of the fruits of the Agatha tomato. Early ripe fruits are most often tried to be consumed fresh. Tomatoes are also excellent for processing, but vitamins are not stored in the digested paste or fruit drink. Experienced housewives have found a solution to this problem. In order to preserve all the nutrients to the maximum, the juice from the milled fruits is not boiled. It is heated to a temperature of 70aboutC, after which they are rolled up with metal lids in cans. This recipe allows you to feel the taste of a tomato just picked from the garden in winter.
In the video you will find information about the Agata tomato:
Agrotechnics of culture
Agata cultivation technology does not have any special differences. Let's take a look at what steps a vegetable grower needs to do in order to end up with a bountiful tomato harvest.
Sowing seeds
Strong seedlings are the key to a good tomato harvest. You can get it from quality seeds, but you need to sow them in fertile soil. It is better to buy soil for tomato seedlings in a store. It is completely disinfected and has all the necessary useful additives. If the soil is collected from the garden, it is calcined in the oven and watered with a manganese solution. Organic and complex fertilizers are used as nutritional supplements.
Sowing tomato seeds for seedlings is carried out in March. Here it is better for the grower to navigate himself, given the weather conditions of the region. If the seeds are self-collected, then it is advisable to subject them to preparatory procedures. First of all, the tomato grains are immersed in a jar of saline solution for about 15 minutes. The pacifiers will surely float to the surface. These seeds will not sprout and you need to part with them. The rest of the grains are washed with clean water, pickled with manganese, and then laid out on a wet napkin for germination.
Sowing of the hatched seeds of Agate tomatoes is carried out in grooves with a depth of 1.5–2 cm. Before the emergence of seedlings, containers with crops are kept warm, covered with a transparent film. Sprouts usually appear no later than seven days. Now the film will need to be removed, and the boxes with tomato seedlings will be placed on the windowsill.
After the appearance of two adult leaves, the tomato seedlings dive into cups. On the third day, top dressing is applied. Before planting in open ground, young tomatoes are hardened.You can take seedlings outside during the week or in a room where tomatoes grow, open a window.
Planting tomatoes in the garden
Agate tomato seedlings are planted in the garden in mid-May. Usually this is the 15-20th number. In most regions, the weather is already warm, but night frosts are possible. Protect tomato plantings with a film cover. It is enough just to put arcs over the bed, and lay the canvas on top.
For colder regions, the time for landing in open ground is shifted to mid-June. At this time, you can already do without installing a film shelter. However, late planting does not guarantee that the tomatoes will have time to ripen before the dangerous period associated with the occurrence of late blight.
The Agata variety is characterized by a small bush size. Tomatoes can be planted according to the scheme 50x50 cm.At 1 m2 four plants will feel free.
Features of tomato care
Agata is easy to care for. The tomato grower will not give much trouble to the vegetable grower. Of the mandatory procedures, regular watering is needed. It is undesirable to use cold water from a well. The growth of the tomato will be inhibited. It is better to water it with warm water, but for this you will need to put a storage tank on the site.
Top dressing of tomatoes for the entire season is performed three times. You can use prefabricated complex fertilizers. However, the Agata variety is well susceptible to organic matter. Tomatoes respond well to foliage and mullein humus, wood ash, and egg shells. You can pour the bushes with a weak solution of chicken droppings.
Tomato bushes do without the obligatory stepchild. The foliage of the lower tier is removed to free the sun's access to the fruits. If the grower believes that too many shoots have grown, then they can be partially removed. The soil under the tomatoes is kept slightly moist. It is optimal to cover the ground with mulch. Waterlogging for Agata tomato is unacceptable. There is a threat of fungus. Plants love to periodically loosen the soil. Weeds can clog stunted bushes, so they need to be removed in a timely manner.
Late blight is a great danger to the Agate tomato. It is better not to wait for the outbreak of an epidemic, but to perform preventive spraying of the plantings with a solution of Bordeaux liquid in advance.
Testimonials
There are different reviews about Agata tomato. Some growers like the variety, others do not. Let's take a look at a couple of prime examples.
