What is good about "Kostroma" tomato and why summer residents love it so much

Surprisingly, many centuries ago, the tomato was mistaken for a poisonous berry. People found the taste and appearance of the vegetable questionable. And now, centuries later, tomatoes are found in every garden. Gardeners love this culture for its ease of care and great taste. Among the whole variety of varieties, the Kostroma tomato variety stands out. It is about him that will be discussed below.

Description of the variety

The Kostroma variety is a hybrid obtained as a result of the work of agronomists. Kostroma is grown in any conditions, but a rich harvest is obtained precisely when it is planted in a greenhouse. The ripening period of vegetables is average, the first crop is harvested 105 days after planting. Below is a detailed description and description of the Kostroma tomato variety.

Distinctive features

Leaves are medium in size, dark green in color. The bushes grow up to 2 m in height, which means that they must be tied up. Otherwise, the stem breaks under the weight of ripe tomatoes. The vegetable forms stepchildren, which are removed once a week. For the rest, the tomato does not require special care skills.

Characteristics of tomatoes, productivity

About 5 kg of tomatoes are harvested from one bush of this variety. And about 20 kg comes out from 1 square meter. Such indicators make it possible to grow the variety not only for personal consumption, but also on an industrial scale.

The fruits are red, the aroma is pronounced. The shape is flat-round, slightly elongated. Kostroma has a dense and glossy rind, and the flesh is juicy, not watery. On average, the mass of one tomato is about 110 g.

Important! The Kostroma variety has high storage and transportation characteristics; it does not lose its appearance even during long-distance transportation.

How to grow seedlings

Some gardeners argue that growing seedlings for a hybrid is not at all necessary. However, most gardeners adhere to the classic rules and recommend paying special attention to the seedlings.

Seed preparation

Since Kostroma is a hybrid, seeds are purchased only in the store. Such seeds are already pre-disinfected and treated with a special solution.

After purchase, the seeds are hardened. This will make it easier for the material to withstand frost and other weather changes in the future. To do this, place the seeds in a freezer for 10 hours, and then take them out and leave them at room temperature for a day. Then they are again placed in the freezer and taken out for the same time. Do such manipulations 3-4 times. Thus, future vegetables will be ready for bad weather.

The final stage of preparation is soaking. It consists in placing the seeds on a damp gauze. Seeds in a humid environment will give the first shoots faster and take root in future soil faster.

Capacity and soil

Any containers of the appropriate size are suitable for seedlings. The main thing is to clean the container cleanly and dry it before planting. Better yet, treat it from the inside with hydrogen peroxide, and then rinse with water.

The soil for seedlings is purchased in the store, but many prepare themselves. The soil must contain nutrients for the plant. The ideal option is a mixture of humus, peat and sawdust. Humus saturates the earth with vitamins, peat retains moisture, and sawdust serves as a good drainage component.

Important! When preparing the soil yourself, do not forget to disinfect it. For example, by heating in the oven. High temperatures will kill bacteria and viruses as well as insects.

Sowing

To begin with, they pour earth into the container. Use a pencil to make small holes in the soil for the seeds and place the grains in them. Sprinkle with earth on top. The ideal distance between seeds is at least 5 cm. Some make it even easier. For example, the seeds are placed on the soil prepared in advance and sprinkled on top with a layer of soil 1 cm thick.

Growing and care

First of all, the soil moisture is monitored. If the soil is dry, it is recommended to irrigate it with a spray bottle. If there is a lot of moisture, then on the contrary, we temporarily reduce the number of waterings. Due to an excess of water in the soil and on plants, mold forms. As a preventive measure, some gardeners use well-known antifungal drugs such as Fitosporin or Fundazol.

Water the soil regularly using a pipette or syringe. So the water gets exactly under the root, and not on the leaves or stem of the sprouts. Containers with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. The windowsill is ideal. If there is not enough light, then additional lighting is organized for the tomatoes using fluorescent lamps.

Fertilizers will be needed. For the first time, the tomato is fed 2 weeks after the first shoots appear. It is best to use natural organic fertilizers based on grass or manure. Subsequent dressings are recommended every week. It can be humic fertilizers.

How to plant tomatoes

As soon as the seedlings have sprouted, they begin to plant the tomato in the garden. Tomatoes love spacious and well-lit areas. The best predecessors for them are zucchini, pepper, cucumber beds. A cloudy, windless day is ideal for planting.

Landing

To get a good harvest of Kostroma, farmers advise using a mixture of garden soil and peat soil "Universal" in a 1: 1 ratio. Such a composition will enrich the plant with all the necessary vitamins and accelerate the ripening period.

Plant the seedlings so that the center stem extends 2 cm. After a couple of days, roots will form around this stem, and the root system will become even more powerful and durable. The distance between the bushes is made at least 30 cm, otherwise the plant will have little space. After planting, be sure to water the beds with plenty of warm water.

Care

Bushes need shaping. In other words, this is the timely removal of additional shoots (stepchildren) and pinching the top. These operations allow the bushes to grow and form many stems. The more stems, the more tomatoes.

The first time to remove stepsons is recommended after 20 days. Repeat this procedure every week to prevent overgrowth.

Note. Excess shoots are not cut off, but broken off. They break best in the morning.

The root stepchildren, which most often look out of the ground, are also subject to removal. The tops are pinched so that the plant stops growing.

Besides pinning, don't forget about watering... Watering tomatoes is best in the morning or evening. If the summer is dry, the amount of moisture is increased, if there was a lot of rain, it is reduced. Controlling water consumption is necessary so as not to develop favorable conditions for pests and diseases.

Do not neglect measures such as removing weeds and loosening the soil. Weeds feed on tomatoes, so you need to get rid of them every 7-10 days. And loosening allows you to make the soil more nutritious and lighter.

And of course, the tomatoes of Kostroma need to be fed. Mineral or organic fertilizers are suitable. For example, superphosphate or ammonium nitrate, urea or wood ash.

Important! Be careful with nitrogen-containing preparations, their excess leads to cracking of tomatoes.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Pay special attention to such a procedure as tying bushes. Most often, wooden pegs and scraps of fabric are used for this. Pegs are installed at a distance of 1 m from the bush. They should be the same in height.

Also remember that the soil needs to be cultivated before planting. A solution of potassium permanganate is excellent for this. If you plant Kostroma in a greenhouse, then in addition to the ground, process walls, doors, windows, pegs, and so on.

Diseases and pests

The most common diseases of the variety:

• late blight... Appears due to excess moisture and improper care. It looks like brown spots on the leaves. It is almost impossible to get rid of it, but it can be prevented. Periodically treat plants with garlic infusion or wood ash;
• root rot. The name speaks for itself, harmful bacteria form on the roots and eat the plant from the inside. As a preventive measure, the beds are treated with a solution based on tobacco leaves;
• powdery mildew. Looks like white bloom on the leaves. Ammonium nitrate helps to cope with it;
• blackleg. Infects plant roots. Able to spread to neighboring bushes. In the fight against it, use "Fitosporin".

The most common pests:

• bear. This large insect eats the plant, which leads to its slow death. It is advised to get rid of the bear with the help of a solution of ammonia;
• spider mite. Leaves a barely noticeable cobweb on tomato leaves. The cause of the appearance is humidity and heat. A solution based on citrus peels is recognized as a good remedy for spider mites;
• wireworm. Penetrates deep into the soil and begins to destroy the root system. Eggshells are recognized as an effective remedy against it. Just scatter it around the garden and the wireworm won't touch your tomatoes.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

When growing Kostroma in the open field, carefully monitor the appearance of the plant. If you see small black or white spots, then the tomato is lacking in zinc. In this case, apply top dressing with a solution of zinc sulfate. If the leaves are dry and withering, the bushes lack magnesium. Spraying with magnesium nitrate is required. Remember that in the open air Kostroma is less protected from adverse weather conditions than in a greenhouse.

If the fruits are planted in the greenhouse, monitor the level of nitrogenous substances. If the plant stretches, the stem becomes soft, and the leaves become smaller, it means that nitrogen-containing feeding should be carried out. Urea is great for this - dilute one tablespoon in 10 liters of water.

Harvesting and application of the crop

The Kostroma variety is versatile in use. With his help, the mistress prepare juicy salads, original appetizers, spicy winter blanks... In addition, tomatoes make excellent tomato paste and ketchup. Kostroma does not lose its taste and useful properties even after heat treatment.

Tomatoes ripen together, so you can enjoy ripe vegetables only for 1-2 weeks. However, in some regions of the country, summer residents harvest longer - for a month.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Pros of the Kostroma variety:

• excellent taste and high vitamin content;
• immunity to disease;
• resistance to transportation;
• long shelf life;
• versatility in use.

Cons of tomato:

• mandatory formation of a bush is required;
• the need for a garter and pinning.

Farmers reviews

Here is what Russian farmers say about the Kostroma variety:

Vladimir, Ufa: “I have been ordering seeds online for the third year in a row. I really like this variety. He has excellent germination and even tomatoes. My grandchildren also love Kostroma, so I will grow tomatoes next year as well. "

Lyudmila, Cheboksary: “The yield is decent, it is not difficult to take care of the bushes.I have been planting a variety for 7 years, and only once did it get sick with a black leg. Now I always do prophylaxis to avoid diseases. "

Dmitry, Ozersk: “Kostroma was recommended to me by my friends. As for me, the taste of the variety is bland and watery. It loses significantly to other hybrids. I will not plant any more ”.

Conclusion

Kostroma is not only a famous city in Russia, but also the name of a delicious and beautiful tomato. The hybrid has taken root well in our country, and every year it is gaining the attention of more and more people. Appreciated for its versatility in use and ease of care.