Content
Among vegetable growers, there are many who love exotic varieties of tomatoes with an unusual taste or fruit color. We want to offer a tomato Malachite box for growing on plots. The article will indicate the main characteristics and description of the plant, especially the cultivation. For clarity, we will 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, the tomatoes of this variety have already gained well-deserved fame and popularity. And not only among Siberians, but also in other regions of Russia.
The reason for the love of gardeners for tomatoes Malachite box, judging by the reviews, is the possibility of obtaining a harvest even under unfavorable 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. The plants are mid-ripening, the first tomatoes ripen in 100 days, counting from planting.
The bushes are not only tall, but also densely leafy. Leaves are medium-branched, saturated green. The inflorescences of the variety are a simple brush, the joints are clearly visible on the stalk of the tomato. The set is almost one hundred percent, and tomatoes grow along the entire length of the stem.
Fruits
Tomato has a Malachite box, according to the description, the fruits are flat-round. The surface is smooth, 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 streaks, as in the photo below.
In technical maturity, tomatoes acquire a beautiful malachite color with a yellowish-green tint. One gets the impression that someone specially drew bizarre patterns on the fruits. As gardeners note, tomato varieties resemble a mountain mineral in color.
It is also worth noting that this feature is inherent not only in the Malachite Box tomatoes, but also in all varieties with green fruits.
According to the description, the pulp is juicy, sugar, emerald green, there are also streaks on it. The taste of the tomato is unusual, exotic. Many consumers say that tomatoes in this variety resemble melon or kiwi.
There are only four seed chambers in a tomato, and the number of seeds is small. Tomato peel The malachite box is delicate, thin, which makes transportation difficult.
Fruit application
Tomatoes Malachite box, judging by the description, is only suitable for fresh consumption. Canning 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 tomatoes, this is a clear plus - the peel is removed without difficulty.
You can cook adjika, lecho from tomatoes of the variety, 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 engaged in the variety for more than one year write in 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 grown most often by lovers of exotic plants who are ready to experiment. It is impossible to find out all the information about the culture, including the tomato Malachite box only by description. We need even more detailed characteristics of the variety. Let's talk about it now.
Like any plant, the Malachite Box has its pros and cons.
Pros of the variety
- Stable yield with long-term yield. As a rule, the fruits are harvested before the onset of cold weather.
- The fruit set is almost 100%, there are practically no barren flowers.
- Exotic taste and color of tomatoes. The fruits are often added to the preparation of 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 amount of micro and macro elements necessary for humans.
- Possibility of growing in open and protected ground.
- The fruits on the bushes are not subject to cracking.
- The tomato variety is resistant to disease, especially late blight.
- Since the Malachite Box is a pure variety, seeds can be obtained. They retain varietal properties.
Minuses
The Box has disadvantages, although there are not so many of them as advantages:
- Tomatoes are capricious in care, therefore, before choosing them, you need to carefully read the description, characteristics and characteristics of growing.
- It is impossible to transport over long distances due to the thin and delicate skin.
- Tomatoes of the Malachite Box variety are not subject to long-term storage.
- Gardeners who grow tomatoes of this variety for the first time have 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 Russia 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 of sowing the seeds are indicated. It is best to sow them 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.
Preparation of soil and containers
Many gardeners prepare potting soil for tomatoes on their own. The main thing is that the earth is fertile, light and oxygen-permeable. It is also not forbidden to use the store composition. 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 quality tomato seedlings. As a rule, seeds purchased from reliable firms have already been selected. But in the case of using your own seeds, you will have to carry out a thorough rejection.
For this, the seed is dipped in a 5% salt solution. Substandard, puny tomato seeds will rise upward. Throw them away, and rinse the rest in clean water. Then etch in a solution of potassium permanganate or with the help of Epin, Zircon biostimulants. Aloe juice works well in this regard.
Sowing seeds
The seeds of the variety are laid out in grooves prepared at a distance of 3 cm every 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 it is impossible to fill the seedlings in any case - the root system will begin to rot.
Picking
It is necessary to transplant tomato seedlings into separate containers when from 3 to 5 true leaves grow. The picking procedure plays a double role. First, the plants get into a new fertile soil. Secondly, they begin to build up a powerful root system.
After transplanting tomatoes, you need to monitor the state of the upper lump of earth, since you cannot overdry the seedlings. In addition, to obtain powerful and strong tomatoes, they are fed several times with mineral fertilizers. The drugs are diluted in accordance with the instructions.
At this stage, you can use organic fertilizers. In particular, the extract of wood ash, since it contains all the elements necessary for the growth of green mass and the root system. In addition, ash prevents black leg disease in seedlings.
The main thing is not to overdo it with feeding (it is better not to feed it), otherwise the Malachite box tomato will stretch out strongly, which will reduce the yield.
Plant care in soil
Hardening
Before planting the 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 the new conditions. In a city apartment, balconies or loggias are used for this. The main thing is that there is no draft.
Transfer
Tomatoes of the variety are planted in a greenhouse or open ground, respectively, at the end of May or after June 10. The soil is prepared in two weeks. Although, according to the rules, the ground for tomatoes is prepared in the fall.
Fertilized ridges are dug under the tomatoes, spilled with warm water. When the ground warms up, the plants are transplanted. The wells must be spilled with boiling water with potassium permanganate to prevent plant diseases with a black leg.
It is recommended to carry out work on transplanting tomatoes 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 spilled well. The next watering after 3 days.
Further care
The Malachite box variety is formed, according to the description and characteristics, into one or two stems. All stepchildren on tomatoes are removed as they grow. In addition, on tomatoes, leaves are cut off before the first flower cluster, and then after fruit setting. Flower stalks with tomatoes also need to be tied up, otherwise they will break under their own weight.
Watering and feeding the Box as usual. You must also delete weeds, so as not to provoke disease. I recommend mulching the soil under the 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 an extract of wood ash, a solution of boric acid, iodine, potassium permanganate. It is also useful to dust the tomatoes and the soil beneath them with dry ash.
Tomato variety Malachite box responds well to feeding with superphosphate, ammonium nitrate, potash fertilizers.From organics for feeding tomatoes of this variety, you can use infusions of chicken manure, mullein and green herbs.
