Content
The Walford Miracle tomato is a rare species of indeterminate plant, the seeds of which were brought from far abroad to Russia just a few years ago. The variety is valued for its high gustatory characteristics and high-quality presentation, therefore it is actively distributed among consumers, gardeners and domestic breeders.
Detailed description
The miracle of Walford was bred by the method of selective crossing of several dozen types of tomatoes in the United States. The Miracle hybrid was created by an American experimenter and a farmer from Oklahoma, Max Walford. The variety is distributed worldwide after the farmer wins a tomato competition. The delivery of seeds to Russia began in 2005. The variety grows well in greenhouse conditions. Tomatoes are allowed to grow throughout the country in special comfortable conditions.
The hybrid variety for annual cultivation took only the best qualities from its congeners. Tomato Miracle belongs to the mid-season varieties, the stem of which in greenhouse conditions reaches 1.7-2 m. When grown in open ground, the growth of tomatoes stops at the first night frosts. The leaves of a tomato are medium in size, have a slight corrugation, slightly pubescent with villi on the back. The color of the foliage is green or dark green.
The stem requires a garter, thickened and flexible towards the base. Bushes must be formed, since the variety belongs to indeterminate tomatoes. The inflorescence is simple, found in pale yellow and bright yellow shades. Flowers are arranged in small groups of 3-4 flowers per stalk. The growing season depends on the region of planting and the time of planting seedlings in the ground. The stem is articulated for easy harvesting.
Description and taste of fruits
The fruits of tomatoes are always large in size, typical of the Walford variety, heart-shaped. Tomatoes are lightly ribbed and dense. Unripe fruits are light green in color with a dark spot at the base of the stalk, ripe fruits are bright red or scarlet. In the context of a fleshy flesh of a pinkish hue with 4-5 cavities.
The skin of the fruit is firm and firm, crunches upon tasting. The Miracle Walford tomatoes taste juicy, sweetish. The peel has a slight sour aftertaste, although the composition contains sugar up to 6.5%. Beautiful fruits with a glossy sheen are located on the bushes in alternate brushes of 2-3 tomatoes. In diameter, juicy tomatoes reach 8-10 cm.The average weight varies from 250 to 350 g.
The Miracle Walford fruit is grown commercially in greenhouse conditions. The Miracle tomatoes contain:
- lycopene, which improves digestion;
- pectin normalizes blood pressure;
- glycoalkaloid contained in squeezed tomato juice has bactericidal properties;
- serotonin acts as a natural antidepressant.
Chudo tomato seed powder is used as an additional component of soothing tablets. For human health, Walford tomatoes are best consumed stewed or raw. Many growers praise this variety for maintaining its taste when preserved. After heat treatment, all nutrient minerals retain their usefulness. Due to their unusual sweetish aftertaste, tomatoes are widely used in gourmet culinary dishes.Walford's Miracle tomatoes are often used for juices and sauces. They are especially good when cooked and lecho.
Varietal characteristics
The yield of Walford tomatoes depends on the growing conditions, climate and microclimate at the initial stage of growing a young plant. The Miracle Walford hybrid variety bears fruit until the first severe frosts. The first harvest is done after 110-135 days of growing the seed in the ground. In the greenhouse, the yield of tomatoes of this variety increases several times. During the season, you can collect up to 15 kg from a bush per 1 sq. m.
Due to the indeterminate qualities, the harvest is carried out 3-4 times. Walford tomatoes bear fruit within 4-8 weeks from early August. When grown outdoors, yield is influenced by the planting climate of the region. For 1 sq. m under such conditions, the harvest varies within 6-10 kg. The high productivity of Miracle tomatoes was noticed in the southern zone of Russia with any growing method.
The Miracle Walford variety has a high resistance to nightshade fungal diseases, but is attacked by pests. Tomatoes are not subject to powdery mildew and root rot. To protect the bushes from slugs, the base of the roots is sprinkled with copper sulfate or dust. To prevent the Colorado potato beetle from destroying foliage, flowers and fruits must be chemically disinfected or disinfected when planted in the ground.
Assessment of the pros and cons of the variety
When growing Miracle Walford tomatoes, minor disadvantages were noticed:
- the need for pinching;
- the seeds are suitable for one-time planting;
- thin stem from the beginning of fruiting branches;
- a garter is needed under each large fruit.
As a result of growing Walford tomato varieties, summer residents and gardeners get:
- high productivity;
- frost resistance;
- seedlings can withstand sudden changes in temperature;
- fruits have an attractive presentation;
- high taste characteristics;
- long storage period after harvest;
- collection of fruits with brushes is possible;
- tomatoes do not burst from an excess of obtained vitamins and minerals;
- possibility of transportation over a long distance.
Due to the unusual shape of tomatoes and high-quality presentation, as well as the long shelf life of the harvest, the Wonder of Walford tomato variety is actively spreading among gardeners.
Planting and care rules
The Wonder Walford tomato variety is a thermophilic plant that requires a lot of natural light. Experienced gardeners prefer to grow mid-season varieties in seedlings. With the creation of comfortable conditions and the correct selection of soil, tomatoes will give a fertile and high-quality harvest.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
Tomatoes grow well on black earth and low acid soils. The soil for planting is either prepared in the fall, or a ready-made substrate is purchased. In the second case, you should be careful when choosing the soil or preheating the soil with steam. Purchased cassettes or peat glasses can be used as containers for planting. Regardless of the type of soil, a few hours before planting, the soil is disinfected with a weak solution of manganese.
The soil in the peat glasses must be loosened in order to saturate the soil with oxygen. It is best to start planting hybrid tomato seeds in mid or late March. The seeds are hardened by sudden changes in temperature: they are placed in the refrigerator for several hours, then heated with steam. For quick germination, seeds are soaked in a weak solution of growth stimulants.
The finished substrate is mixed with sand to increase the looseness of the soil. Seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of 2-2.5 cm, sprinkled with earth. The distance between the seedlings is from 2 to 3 cm. Watering is carried out with water at room temperature 2-3 times a week. The first shoots appear after 3 weeks, then the seedlings begin to grow actively.When planting seeds in open ground, to create a microclimate, the beds are covered with thick polyethylene. In such conditions, seedlings will grow equally quickly if shelters are removed daily or the plants are placed in a well-lit place.
Transplanting seedlings
Tomatoes are ready for transplanting when the plants have 3-4 formed leaves and reach a height of 15 cm.In open ground, planting is done 50-60 days after planting on seedlings. To exclude transplanting in greenhouse conditions, you can initially grow Walford Miracle tomatoes in individual pots or in beds.
For 1 sq. m are planted in 4 or 5 plants. When transplanting into open ground, it is necessary to make a deep digging of the earth. Next, beds are formed with an admixture of compost or manure. On the planting site, the distance between plants should be up to 40 cm in a checkerboard pattern. Tomatoes are planted to a depth of 5-7 cm so that the soil covers the roots and keeps the stems tightly in a standing position.
Tomato care
The Miracle Wolford variety requires regular watering. 1 young plant will take up to 1-1.5 liters per week. An adult bush will need about 30 liters per week to completely saturate the roots with moisture. In dry climates, watering is carried out in the evening 3-4 times a week. Top dressing is done at planting and every 2 weeks. Potassium additives are introduced into the soil in small quantities along with the compost. Chudo tomatoes are fed with nitrogen fertilizers 7-10 days after planting the seedlings in the soil.
In a dry summer, to retain moisture, the bases of tomatoes are mulched with small or large sawdust, hay. As the soil subsides, hay is added 2 times per season. It will also protect the bushes from extreme temperature changes. To obtain a large harvest before flowering, adult bushes are pinched or pinched, then the bush is formed into 2 main stems. The stem is tied up with wide cloth bandages on a trellis. You also need to tie a garter under each large tomato.
Conclusion
The Wonder of Walford Tomato is an exquisite and juicy tomato variety that can be grown in the comfort of your own home. Providing a sufficient amount of light and timely care, the bushes give a large and high-quality crop. The seeds of the Miracle Walford variety can be used in obtaining new varieties of hybrid tomatoes.
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