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For more than twenty years, Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes have been especially popular among vegetable growers due to the excellent taste of fruits, high yield and unpretentious cultivation. In 1992, this variety was included in the State Register, and is intended for open field cultivation in the Central Black Earth, North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions. But later the variety was successfully zoned, and now these tomatoes are grown almost throughout the territory of Russia.
Characteristics of the variety
Tomato "Gift of the Volga region", according to the characteristics and description of the variety, refers to heat-loving and light-loving plants. Therefore, it is most often grown in areas where the summer is long and there is enough sunlight for the full ripening of tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be grown in greenhouses, greenhouses and in the open field. But on the beds, it is recommended to grow tomatoes only in the central and southern regions.
The "Gift of the Volga region" is characterized as a determinant, that is, tomatoes grow no higher than 70-80 cm. They have a powerful root system. The leaves are similar in shape and color to tomatoes of other varieties - medium in size, light green in color. There is no need to pinch the tops of tomatoes. The stem is thick, powerful, with medium foliage.
In terms of ripening, the tomato belongs to the mid-early varieties, the first harvest can be harvested within 100-110 days after seed germination. Fruit formation takes place in clusters of 6-8 medium-sized tomatoes. The first brush is formed over 6-7 leaves, the next - after 1-2 leaves.
The variety is distinguished by high yield for determinant, medium early tomatoes - up to 5-7 kg per 1 m². But subject to the rules of agricultural technology, up to 5 kg can be collected from the bush.
A brief description of the fruit of the tomato "Gift of the Volga" is as follows:
- Average weight of fruits is 80-150 grams;
- Tomatoes are rounded, slightly flattened, with a slight ribbing at the stalk;
- The color can range from pink to deep pink;
- The skin is soft, thin;
- The pulp is quite fleshy, juicy and dense;
- Dry matter content - up to 5.2%
- The sweet taste prevails over the sour taste.
Tomatoes can be transported long and short distances without the risk of losing crops. The presentation and taste of tomatoes are perfectly preserved during transportation. Thanks to this, tomatoes of this variety can be grown both on a personal plot and on farms.
Those vegetable growers who have already grown the Dar Zavolzhya tomato note that the results are quite consistent with the characteristics indicated in the description. Reviews of this variety are extremely positive.
Advantages and disadvantages
For a quarter of a century, many gardeners have already appreciated the advantages of the Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes, their characteristics, description and leave their comments. The main advantages include:
- High seed germination - up to 99.6%;
- Easily transfer picking and transplanting into the ground;
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No special skills and abilities are required when growing;
- Amicable flowering and fruit formation, simultaneous ripening of fruit clusters;
- With moderate watering, tomatoes do not crack during ripening;
- High productivity;
- Excellent taste;
- Long shelf life;
- Excellent presentation;
- Resistance to many diseases and pests;
- Wide range of applications.
Vegetable growers who have appreciated the Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes note that with high humidity and excessive watering during the ripening period, tomatoes acquire a too sour taste. And the second disadvantage of this variety is the low resistance of plants to frequent and long-term changes in ambient temperature. Tomatoes also react sharply to gusty winds and drafts.
Growing features
For seedlings seeds of tomatoes "Gift of the Volga" can be sown in mid-late March. In order to prevent putrefactive and fungal diseases, the soil must be calcined in the oven or disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate. If you decide to use a store-bought soil mixture, disinfection is not required in this case.
Seeds harvested on their own need to be disinfected. Soak them in a light pink potassium permanganate solution for 3-4 hours. The acquired seed material does not need this procedure.
The soil for growing tomato seedlings should be sufficiently loose, fertile, with low acidity.
In the prepared, heated soil, grooves are made with a depth of 1.5-2 cm. The optimal distance between the seeds is 2 cm. The seeds laid in the grooves are covered with soil no more than 2-2.5 cm thick. It is recommended to water the plantings with warm, settled water.
Tomato seeds sprout very quickly, 8-10 days after planting. At the stage of appearance of 2-3 true leaves, the seedlings must be dived. When transplanting seedlings into other containers, you need to adhere to several recommendations:
- The composition of the soil for diving should be as close as possible to the soil in which the seedlings were grown;
- Plants need to be transplanted with thin, cloth gloves. You need to take tender shoots only by the leaves or roots. It is not recommended to take tomato seedlings by the stem - the damaged edge of the stem is not restored.
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It is necessary to deepen the seedlings up to the first, cotyledonous pair of leaves;
- Disposable peat cups or pressed paper containers are deservedly considered the ideal option for diving. In this case, when transplanting tomatoes into the ground, the roots will remain intact, and the plants will start growing faster.
- After picking, boxes or containers with transplanted seedlings are best placed for a couple of days in partial shade. Only when the tomatoes are accepted, it will be possible to rearrange the plantings on the windowsill;
- You need to water the plantings 2-3 times a week, as the top layer of the soil dries up;
- Containers with seedlings must be rotated 180 ° C around their axis every day. All plants will be equally illuminated by the sun and the seedlings will grow evenly.
- Seedlings need to be hardened 7-10 days before transplanting plants into the ground.
It is possible to transplant grown tomatoes into the ground even when the thermometer readings are stable + 22С + 24˚С during the day, and the earth warms up to + 16˚С + 18˚С. The optimal planting scheme involves planting 4 plants per 1 m².
Within a few days after transplanting, the plants need to be shaded so that they begin to grow as quickly as possible. Water your plantings with warm water only. Watering with cold water has a negative effect on growth - tomatoes stop growing and take a long time to recover from stress.
Further care for the Gifts of the Volga Region involves the following activities:
- Timely watering, weeding, loosening;
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Top dressing for tomatoes is needed no more than once every 3-4 weeks;
- During the period of active flowering, 2-3 flowers can be removed in each brush, then the tomatoes will grow larger;
Despite the fact that the Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes, according to their characteristics, are highly resistant to common diseases and most pests, spraying must be carried out in a timely manner in order to prevent it.
Application area
The scope of application of tomatoes "Gift of the Volga", according to reviews of many housewives, is quite wide. Due to its excellent taste, the fruits can be used in the preparation of any dishes and preparations, where tomatoes and their derivatives are indicated as a component.
The first harvest can be eaten fresh, pink tomatoes are perfect for slicing summer vegetable salads and the first omelets with tomatoes. Fans of picnics and kebabs will also find use for "Daram".
The second and subsequent wave of ripe tomatoes can be used for winter harvesting. From sweet, dense, juicy tomatoes, you can prepare any salads, sauces, pastas, ketchups. However, due to excessive density, tomato juices from "Gifts of the Volga region" are too thick and do not have a bright red, saturated color.
"Gifts" will also look perfect in jars, as a whole. Many housewives note that with whole-fruit canning, the skin of tomatoes does not crack.
Every caring housewife will find where the harvested crop can be applied.
The author of the video will show how the Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes look on the beds and in a section
Conclusion
True connoisseurs of tomatoes have long appreciated the advantages of Dar Zavolzhya tomatoes. The rich, rich taste has long found its admirers, and therefore this variety is no longer a guest in many garden plots. We also offer you to grow these tomatoes. Perhaps you will put them on the list of varieties that must be planted annually.
