Content
Tomatoes can be classified as a must-have vegetable that the gardener grows. When choosing varieties, many prefer tall tomatoes because of their good yields and the beautiful appearance of even formed bushes.
Characteristics of the variety
Indeterminate bushes of Chukhloma grow above two meters, which must be taken into account when planting plants in a greenhouse. Small structures will restrict the development of Chukhloma tomatoes and this will affect yields. Therefore, fans of balcony gardens are not recommended to choose this variety for apartment conditions.
When growing Chukhloma in a greenhouse, it is recommended to form one stem, which will allow the plants to be well ventilated and illuminated. And in the open field, you can leave more stems (two or three). However, it is undesirable to completely abandon the formation of a bush, otherwise it will grow strongly and the yield will decrease.
The Chukhloma variety is considered mid-season and the first ripe tomatoes can be harvested in 109-114 days. In the long clusters that grow on the bush, 12-15 fruits weighing 100-120 g each are formed. The Chukhloma tomato can be classified as a high-yielding one, since 5-6 kg of fruits are collected from each bush, subject to the rules of agricultural technology.
For bright orange fruits (10-12 cm), an elongated shape is characteristic (as in the photo). The peculiarity of the Chukhloma tomato is to hold tightly to the brush, to be well preserved during transportation. Tomatoes look interesting with whole-fruit canning. Tomatoes have firm flesh and firm skin.
Advantages of the Chukhloma variety:
- decent yield;
- resistance to certain diseases (fusarium, cladospariosis);
- suitable for growing in various regions;
- excellent keeping quality.
Therefore, in regions with strong winds, it is undesirable to grow Chukhloma tomato in the open field.
Growing rules
Plants can be planted both in a greenhouse and in open ground. In any case, it is advisable to use seedlings.
Sowing seeds
To ensure a high yield of Chukhloma tomatoes, it is necessary to adhere to the seedling germination technology. It is better to sow tomato grains in 10-15 March.
To ensure the rapid growth of Chukhloma seeds, it is advisable to prepare a fertile soil: sod, humus and peat are mixed in equal proportions. For seed germination, you can use shallow boxes - 5-7 cm high. The soil is moistened before planting.
In the ground, grooves are made about 1 cm deep, at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. Seeds are laid in steps of 1.5-2 cm.
The grooves are covered with soil.
Seedling containers are placed in a warm place (temperature approximately + 25-30˚ С). To prevent the soil from drying out, the boxes are covered with polyethylene or glass. It is necessary to monitor soil moisture daily. When dry, the soil is abundantly irrigated. If mold suddenly appears on the ground, it is carefully removed, and the surface is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
As soon as the seeds of the Chukhloma tomatoes germinate (after about 5-6 days), the containers with the seedlings are placed in the most luminous place. It is believed that in the first 2-3 days after germination, the sprouts need to be provided with round-the-clock lighting.
After the appearance of two leaves (as in the photo), seedlings of tomatoes of the Chukhloma variety dive - they are seated in separate pots.For about a month, the seedlings grow at one constant temperature of + 23-24˚ С. And then they begin to harden the seedlings - they lower the temperature by one or two degrees.
Two weeks before planting seedlings in open ground, they begin to take it out into the open air for a short time. The hardening time is gradually increasing every day.
Before planting an indeterminate tomato variety, trellises are installed in advance to tie up the seedlings. Stakes / sticks are installed 2-2.5 m high. The gardeners come up with a variant of trellises themselves: a plastic net, individual stakes, rows of wire.
Tomatoes of the Chukhloma variety are planted in the ground in increments of 45-55 cm, 70-80 cm are left between rows. It is recommended to arrange a furrow for seedlings. Thus, the plants will be better moistened, and in the future, when hilling, the grown Chukhloma tomatoes will grow already on the ridge. This will prevent the stems from getting wet when watering and will be an excellent prophylaxis against diseases.
Watering rules
Like any tomatoes, the Chukhloma variety is watered at the root. If you arrange the grooves in advance, then there will be no problems with soil moisture.
To exclude drops in soil moisture, mulching is used. This is especially important when fixing tomatoes on trellises, when the soil is not shaded and dries quickly. And just mulching eliminates this problem.
Regulate the frequency of watering the tomato variety Chukhloma, taking into account the region of planting, the phase of plant growth. Adult tomatoes require more water, and the air temperature rises by the middle of the season. It should also not be overlooked that the indeterminate variety Chukhloma constantly blooms and fruit is tied on it.
Fertilizing tomatoes
Chukhloma tomatoes respond well to feeding. Overuse of supplements is harmful though. It is better to "underfeed" tomatoes than to give an excess portion of fertilizers. Therefore, it is advisable to gradually introduce additional feeding.
The first feeding is carried out a week and a half after transplantation. The best option is to use special water-soluble mineral mixtures. Top dressing is applied to the soil during watering and it is advisable to mulch the soil later.
As soon as the fruits are tied on the second brush, fertilizers are again applied. Use a solution: add a tablespoon of mineral dressing to 10 liters of organic infusion. Two liters of solution are poured under the Chukhloma bush.
As soon as the first ripe fruits appear, fertilization is necessary for the third time. You can also use an organic + inorganic composition. Moreover, 2-2.5 liters of solution are poured under each bush.
There is no specific composition of fertilizers. Each gardener uses his own set of dressings. But it is imperative to take into account the structure of the soil, its composition, the state of the tomatoes.
Diseases of tomatoes
It is believed that the Chukhloma variety is resistant to many nightshade diseases. But to protect the tomato from late blight, it is better to use preventive measures.
This fungal disease usually begins in the middle of the season when heavy rains begin. The disease spreads in high humidity and low temperatures. The whole plant and even fruits are affected. The disease manifests itself in the form of grayish-brown spots.
As a preventive measure, it is recommended:
- avoid planting Chukhloma tomatoes next to potatoes or after potatoes, peppers;
- regularly pinch the plant and weed the ground;
- if the Chukhloma tomato is grown in a greenhouse, it is necessary to often ventilate it and prevent condensation on the walls;
- the remains of the tops are burned, and the greenhouse is treated with bleach.
The Chukhloma tomato gratefully responds to timely feeding and constant care. Therefore, with due attention, even a novice gardener will reap a decent harvest.
