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Any vegetable grower who grows tomatoes wants to find that cherished variety that will combine all the best qualities. First, the bets are placed on the yield and taste of the fruit. Secondly, the culture must be resistant to disease, bad weather and require a minimum of maintenance. Many gardeners are confident that all these qualities cannot be combined in one variety. In fact, they are deluded. A striking example is the Bobcat tomato, with which we will now get acquainted.
Variety characteristics
We will begin to consider the characteristics and description of the Bobkat tomato variety by determining the place of origin of the culture. The hybrid was developed by Dutch breeders. The registration of a tomato in Russia is dated 2008. Since then, the tomato Bobcat F1 has gained popular popularity among vegetable growers. The hybrid is in great demand among farmers who grow vegetables for sale.
As for the characteristics of the Bobcat tomato directly, the culture belongs to the determinant group. The bush grows from 1 to 1.2 m in height. Tomatoes are intended for open and closed ground. In terms of ripening, Bobkat is considered late-ripening. The first crop of tomatoes is harvested no earlier than 120 days later.
Reviews of even lazy vegetable growers about Bobkat tomato are always filled with positive. The hybrid is resistant to almost all common diseases. The crop yield is high. A lazy vegetable grower can create conditions for tomatoes under which from 1 m2 it will turn out to collect up to 8 kg of fruit. Effortlessly yields on a 1m plot2 makes from 4 to 6 kg of tomatoes.
Description of fruits
In many reviews, the description of the Bobcat F1 tomato begins with the fruit. This is correct, because any vegetable grower grows a crop for the sake of the end result - to get delicious tomatoes.
The fruits of the Bobkat hybrid can be characterized as follows:
- When ripe, the tomato acquires a uniform bright red color. There is no green spot around the stalk.
- In shape, the fruits of the Bobkat hybrid are round, slightly flattened. Weak ribbing is observed on the walls. The skin is glossy, thin, but firm.
- Under good growing conditions of tomato, the size of the fruits obtained in the second, as well as all subsequent batches of the harvest, is stable.
- The fleshy flesh is characterized by good taste. The dry matter content is not more than 6.6%. There are 4 to 6 seed chambers inside the fruit.
Plucked Bobkat fruits can be stored for up to one month. Tomatoes are transported well. In addition to conservation, tomatoes are processed. The fruit produces a thick puree, pasta and delicious juice. Thanks to the perfect balance of sugar and acid, Bobkat is also delicious in fresh salads.
The video tells about the seeds of the Bobcat hybrid:
Positive and negative traits of the variety
To summarize the characteristics of Bobcat tomatoes, let's look at the pros and cons of this hybrid. Let's start with the positive qualities:
- the hybrid is slightly affected by pests, and is also resistant to diseases;
- Bobkat tolerates droughts and waterlogging of the soil, but it is better not to subject the tomato to such tests;
- the crop will bring a crop in any case, even if the care of the tomato was poor;
- excellent fruit taste;
- tomatoes are versatile in use.
The Bobkat hybrid practically does not have negative qualities, except that the late ripening period. In cold regions, it will have to be grown in a greenhouse or completely abandoned in favor of other early varieties of tomatoes.
Growing a hybrid and caring for it
Since Bobcat tomatoes are late ripening, they are best grown in warm regions. For example, in the Krasnodar Territory or the North Caucasus, tomatoes are grown in the open air. For the middle lane, a hybrid is also suitable, but you will have to use a greenhouse or greenhouse. Vegetable growers of the northern regions should not get involved with late-ripening tomatoes. The fruits will fall off with the onset of frost without having time to ripen.
Sowing tomatoes begins in March. Bobcat is a hybrid. This suggests that his seeds only need to be bought. In the package, they are pickled and completely ready for sowing. The grower only needs to immerse them in the ground.
It is better to buy soil mixture for seedlings in the store. If there is a desire to tinker on your own, then the land is taken from the garden. The soil is calcined in the oven, disinfected with a manganese solution, and after drying in the fresh air, mix it with humus.
The prepared soil for tomatoes is poured into containers. Sowing tomato seeds is performed to a depth of 1 cm. The grooves can simply be made with your finger. The grains are placed every 2–3 cm. The same distance is maintained between the grooves. The decomposed tomato seeds are sprinkled with soil on top, moistened with water from a spray bottle, after which the boxes are covered with foil and placed in a warm place.
After friendly shoots, the film must be removed. Grown tomatoes are dived into cups and fed with potash fertilizer. Further care for tomato seedlings provides for timely watering, plus the organization of lighting. Tomatoes will lack natural light as the day is still short in spring. It can only be extended by arranging artificial lighting.
When warm days are established in spring, the tomato seedlings will already grow up. To make the plants stronger, they are hardened before planting. Tomatoes are taken out into the street, first in the shade. The time spent in the fresh air is increased during the week, starting from 1 hour and ending with the whole day. When the tomatoes are strong, they can be exposed to the sun.
The Bobkat hybrid is planted in staggered order in the holes or grooves. It is important to maintain a minimum distance of 50 cm between the plants so that they can develop. Before planting seedlings, prepare the soil. To disinfect the soil, use a solution prepared from 1 tbsp. l. copper sulfate and 10 liters of water. You cannot make a lot of top dressing, otherwise Bobkat will begin to fatten. It is enough to add humus and wood ash to the ground.
The next important step in growing a Bobcat hybrid is the formation of a bush. You can leave one stem. In this case, there will be fewer fruits, but the tomatoes will grow large and ripen faster. Formation in two stems allows you to increase the yield. However, the fruits will be slightly smaller and will ripen later.
To get a good harvest, you need to care for the Bobkat hybrid in accordance with the following rules:
- the bush will not support the weight of the fruit, so it must be tied to a trellis;
- all extra stepsons are removed so that they do not oppress the plant;
- the abundance of foliage also depresses the culture and it is necessary to partially get rid of it, 4 pieces per week, so that the tomato does not cause stress;
- the Bobkat hybrid loves occasional watering up to twice a week, but abundant;
- moisture in the soil under the tomatoes is retained with a mound of straw or hay;
- with greenhouse cultivation, Bobkatu requires frequent ventilation.
Following these simple rules will help the grower get a large harvest of delicious tomatoes.
Vegetable growers' secrets for caring for tomatoes
In the process of getting to know the Bobcat tomato, photos, reviews and characteristics indicate that the hybrid allows even lazy vegetable growers to get a harvest. But why not make a minimum of effort and collect twice as much fruit. Let's find out a few secrets from experienced vegetable growers:
- The Bobkat hybrid loves abundant watering and moisture retention in the soil. The fruits do not crack from water, and the plant is not affected by late blight. However, if the heat is constantly set on the street more than +24aboutC, tomato plantings for prevention are sprayed with Quadris. Ridomil Gold showed good results.
- Bobkat can do without top dressing, but their presence will help to significantly increase the yield of tomatoes.
If the hybrid is treated with due respect, the culture will thank a large number of tomatoes, which are enough for their own consumption and sale.
Disease and pest control
For common diseases, Bobcat is considered an invulnerable hybrid. However, prevention should not be neglected, especially since it will do without much labor and investment. What a tomato needs is compliance with the watering and feeding regime, loosening the soil, as well as providing seedlings with high-quality lighting.
Insects are pests of tomatoes. Whitefly can cause harm to Bobkat. An inexpensive drug Confidor is suitable for the fight. It is diluted in a proportion of 1 ml to 10 liters of water. This amount of solution is enough to treat tomato plantings with an area of 100 m2.
Testimonials
Now let's read about the Bobcat F1 tomato reviews from vegetable growers engaged in hybrid cultivation.
