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When choosing seeds for sowing, every gardener worries about whether the tomatoes will behave in the garden as described. It is on every seed bag. But not everything is reflected there. Experienced sellers know a lot more about tomato varieties.
The spy scene perfectly characterizes the Nikola tomato variety. It was in the city market. A woman came up to the counter and began to pick out the tomato seeds meticulously. The seller offered her both, but nothing suited her. In the end, he said, "Plant Nicola, a reliable, proven variety." The woman replied: "I planted it, I didn't like it." The seller was amazed: "Well, if you don't like Nikola, then I have nothing more to offer." This short dialogue is a testament to the excellent reputation of the variety with the sellers, and they are good at it.
The gardeners also agree with them. Reviews of those who planted Nikola's tomato confirm this. Over the 25 years that have passed since the introduction of Nikola's tomato into the State Register of Breeding Achievements, many new varieties have been created, but it does not give up its positions and is invariably in demand among gardeners. We will draw up a detailed description and description of the Nikola tomato variety, look at his photo.
Description and characteristics
Tomato Nikola was bred by Siberian breeders at the West Siberian Vegetable Experimental Station in Barnaul. The variety was tested in the harsh continental conditions of Siberia and is intended for cultivation in regions with a similar climate: Volgo-Vyatka, West Siberian, East Siberian and Middle Volga. The summer is hot, but not too long, sometimes with little rainfall. Fluctuations in average daily temperatures can be large. The Nikola tomato variety is well adapted to all these weather features. They took it out for growing in the open field, but it may well grow in a greenhouse. Many seed companies successfully produce and distribute this variety.
What can be said about Nikola's tomato:
- It belongs to the determinant varieties and has a low bush: depending on growing conditions, from 40 to 65 cm.
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The bush is not spreading, not very leafy, an ordinary leaf. The flower brush is tied under the 7th leaf. It can contain up to 7 fruits.
- Tomato Nikola does not require any garter or pinching.
- In terms of ripening, this variety is classified as medium early. The first tomatoes can be picked already at 105, and in a cool summer at 115 days from the emergence of shoots.
- The fruits have an uneven weight, which ranges from 100 to 120 g.
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The shape of the fruits is standard, flat-round, their color is intense red. They are multi-chamber, have a good taste with a slight sourness.
The variety was created as a marketable variety, it is well stored and can be transported well. - Nikola tomatoes are delicious in summer salads and are suitable for all types of preparations. They are well suited for whole-fruit canning, retain their shape when pickled and pickled, the skin does not crack. A considerable content of dry substances - up to 4.8% allows you to get high-quality tomato paste from them.
- The yield of the Nikola variety is high and can be up to 8 kg per sq. m beds. Tomatoes ripen amicably.
In order for the description and characteristics of the Nikola tomato variety to be objective, it must also be said about the disadvantages of the variety. According to gardeners, it is not too resistant to tomato diseases: top rot, black spot, late blight. And if the first is a physiological state that can be easily corrected by treatment with calcium nitrate, then a whole range of measures will be required against fungal diseases.
How to care
Tomato variety Nikola needs to be grown through seedlings. Manufacturers advise doing this in March. For cultivation in the southern regions, tomato seeds are sown at the beginning of the month, for cool ones - closer to its end. Usually, seedlings are planted in open ground with 7 or 8 true leaves and an outlined flower brush. With good care, it happens after 45 or 50 days.
Cooking seedlings
Nikola's tomato seeds can be harvested from your own garden or purchased from a seed shop.
In hot weather, nearby growing tomatoes of different varieties are pollinated. If you take seeds from such fruits, you will not be able to save the Nikola variety.
Both purchased and own Nikola's tomato seeds require pre-sowing treatment. The health of future tomato bushes largely depends on its correct implementation. How and with what to process seeds?
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For dressing, that is, getting rid of possible pathogens on the surface of the seeds, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate of 1% concentration. The selected seeds of Nikola's tomato are kept in it for about 20 minutes. The pickled seeds must be washed with running water.
- For these purposes, you can use a solution of hydrogen peroxide of 3% concentration. It is heated to 40 degrees and the seeds are treated for 8 minutes. It is imperative to rinse them after processing.
- A good result is also obtained by treatment with a phytosporin solution prepared according to the instructions.
- The pickled seeds are soaked in a growth promoter. You can take the following drugs: Humate with trace elements, Epin, Zircon. The soaking time and dilution method are indicated in the instructions.
You can germinate the processed Nikola tomato seeds before sowing, but if you are confident in their good germination, you can sow them right away. The seedling soil should be loose, absorb moisture well and allow air to pass through. They are sown to a depth of about 2 cm so that when picking, which is carried out in phase 2 of true leaves, the roots of small tomatoes are not damaged. Tomatoes need greenhouse conditions before germination. They are easy to create by putting a plastic bag on the container with crops. Keep it in a warm place.
As soon as the first shoots appear, the container is determined on the lightest windowsill, the temperature at this time should be slightly below normal - about 16 degrees, and at night - about 14. But the maximum amount of light is needed. If the weather is cloudy, additional lighting with phytolamps will be required.
In a week, Nikola's tomato seedlings will grow the root system. If they did not stretch out, remained strong and stocky, then the seedlings are being raised correctly. In order for her to grow as well and in the future she will need:
- the temperature is about 22 degrees during the day and a couple of degrees lower at night;
- enough light;
- timely watering with warm, settled water, as soon as the topsoil dries up. Some gardeners allow seedlings to wither without watering them on time. Such stress causes stunted growth and is harmful to tomatoes;
- a pick made in time into separate containers;
- double feeding with a weak solution of mineral fertilizer: a week after the pick and another 2 or 3 weeks later;
- hardening of Nikola's tomato seedlings 2 weeks before planting in the ground.
Seedlings of Nikola's tomatoes are planted only in warm soil. It is necessary to wait until the end of the spring frost so that the planted plants do not freeze. Tomato Nikola is a cold-resistant variety, but plants are powerless against frost.
Leaving after disembarkation
The soil for planting should be prepared and fertilized in the fall. In the spring, they just loosen the soil and apply starter fertilizer to the dug holes. Water the wells with plenty of water - at least 1 liter. If instead of water you use a solution of Fitosporin enriched with the elixir of fertility Gumi, then the benefits will be twofold: Fitosporin will destroy the causative agents of many diseases of tomatoes living in the upper layer of the soil, and Gumi will promote the fastest growth of the root system, which is important for the development of plants.
Further care for Nikola tomatoes is as follows:
- watering, the first time - in a week, then weekly, at the time of pouring the fruits - 2 times a week;
- mulching the soil with any biological material with a layer of 10 cm;
- top dressing every decade with complex chlorine-free fertilizer in liquid form;
- treatment with a solution of calcium nitrate when pouring fruits in the first brush - prevention of apical rot;
- preventive treatments against phytophthora: before flowering by means of chemical protection, with the onset of flowering - with biological preparations and folk methods.
You can watch the video about the peculiarities of growing Nikola's tomato variety:
