Description and characteristics of the Basinga tomato, cultivation and care

Many gardeners order tomato seeds from collectors, finding the most productive and delicious varieties in this way. One such collectible tomato is the Basinga variety, developed quite a long time ago in the United States. It is even mentioned in K. Mail's famous book on ancient American tomatoes, and today it is grown with pleasure in many countries.

Description of the variety

Basinga is an indeterminate tomato, vigorous and tall. It's generally recommended for growing in greenhouses (plastic or polycarbonate), but it also grows well in open beds.

In sheltered conditions, the plant can reach a height of 2-2.2 meters, and in open ground, up to 1.7-1.9 meters. The bush has medium foliage and requires support.

In addition to staking and shaping, this variety also requires mandatory side shoot removal. Delaying side shoot removal is essential, as it impacts tomato yield.

In terms of ripening time, it's considered a mid-season tomato (100-115 days), but the time to harvest the first fruits largely depends on care and growing conditions. Judging by reviews, the Basinga variety is successfully grown in all regions of Russia, producing an excellent harvest.

Tomatoes of this variety have an interesting barrel shape, are large and dense. Even more unique is their coloring—creamy yellow, with a pinkish spot on the top of the fruit. From this pink "cap," rays of veins radiate, giving the tomato a very decorative appearance.

Basinga is a tomato that belongs to a group of amazing bicolor tomatoes. All of them are distinguished by their vibrant skin color, which can include two or more shades.

Tomatoes weigh on average 200-250 grams, but can be larger – up to 400 grams.

Inside the dense, creamy skin is juicy, grainy flesh. The seed chambers are few, all filled with the fleshy, sweet pulp. The flavor is superb, with subtle fruity notes.

This tomato is considered one of the best for salads, purees, and juices. Its unique coloring and flavor make Basinga a favorite among children, and little ones know a thing or two about delicious vegetables.

Basinga is a tomato from the "favorite" category.

Indet Basingii is prized by gardeners for its productivity and ease of maintenance. Its advantages include:

• excellent taste of two-color fruits;
• resistance to adverse weather conditions;
• the ability to grow tomatoes both in beds and in greenhouses.

Basinga is considered one of the best salad varieties, its fruits ideal for children's nutrition and dietary dishes. It is widely grown by gardeners in the US, Canada, and Europe, as well as in our own country.

Among the "cons," judging by reviews, is the possibility of fruit cracking, although this is most likely a consequence of improper care. Otherwise, there are no complaints about this tomato: it's tasty, productive, and easy to care for. And despite the need for bush training and mandatory pinching, this variety is easy to grow even for beginners, as long as they follow all the proper growing practices.

Recommendations for growing and care

In most regions of Russia, the Basinga variety, like many other varieties and hybrids, is grown from seedlings. This allows the first fruits to be harvested as early as July and continues until autumn.

Taking care of seedlings

Considering that tomatoes can generally be planted in a greenhouse in May, seeds for seedlings should be sown in March. Before this, prepare the soil for the tomatoes, the containers where they will grow, disinfect them, and germinate the seeds.

Store-bought soil mixes are also suitable as a nutritious potting soil, but not those made entirely from peat. This type of soil requires the addition of soil, humus, and loosening agents (perlite, coarse river sand). An excellent option is to make your own soil in advance, in the fall, by preparing soil (sod or collected from under deciduous trees), humus, and sand. Ash can be added to the soil (1-2 tablespoons per liter).

Basinga is a vigorous tomato, so plants need nutritious, balanced soil from the very beginning.

The following containers are selected for seedlings:

• boxes, containers (if you will initially sow in common containers);
• cups made of peat or plastic (if you won’t be transplanting).

To prepare the seeds, use potassium permanganate (soak for 20 minutes), growth stimulants EPIN and ZIRCON (soak according to instructions), and an ash infusion. Germination is carried out in a damp cloth.

Sprouted seeds are sown in furrows, lightly covered with soil, covered with glass, and stored in a dark place. Temperature control is crucial during this and subsequent periods:

• during germination it should be +24ºC…+25ºC;
• after sprouts appear: +17ºC…+18ºC;
• seedling growing period: +21ºC…+23ºC.

It's advisable to ventilate the room, but avoid drafts. Care is simple: moderate watering of the seedlings (as soon as the soil dries out) and fertilizing with a complex fertilizer.

If seedlings are being picked (when 2-3 leaves appear), tomatoes are not fed beforehand.

Two weeks before transplanting tomatoes into the greenhouse, it's important to harden them off. This is an essential procedure that will help the plants cope with stress more quickly and easily. To do this, place the seedlings directly in their cups outside for 15-20 minutes, then leave them on the veranda or balcony with the windows open for the entire day.

After such preparation, the plants are ready for transplantation.

Greenhouse care

In the central part of the country, Basinga is typically planted in greenhouses in early or mid-May. In the Northwest, as well as the Ural and Siberian regions, even planting in greenhouses is not advisable, as the risk of the tomatoes being damaged by subsequent frosts is too high.

The soil temperature should be around 14ºC…16ºC, then the plants will feel comfortable. Tomatoes in the greenhouse can be additionally covered with non-woven material for the first few months.

The planting pattern for Basinga tomatoes is three plants per square meter. Avoid densely planting, as this can reduce tomato yield. After planting, do not water the plants for approximately 5-6 days; this will stimulate root growth and development. Subsequently, water approximately twice every 7-8 days, using only warm, settled water. It's difficult to provide an exact watering schedule, as much depends on weather conditions and the condition of the plants.

When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it's crucial to control the air temperature. Experienced gardeners know that tomatoes, although heat-loving plants, do not tolerate extreme heat and dry air. High humidity is also harmful, as it creates a "greenhouse" effect and causes the tomatoes to become diseased.

The best temperature in a greenhouse for tomatoes is +22ºC…+25ºC; at night from +18ºC to +20ºC.

Using mulch—peat, humus, or grass clippings—produces good results. It prevents weeds from growing, but most importantly, it ensures optimal soil moisture levels.

Fertilizer is essential, as without proper nutrition, Basinga reduces yield. To produce fruit on strong shoots, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are needed, and gardeners most often use complex fertilizers.

Nitrogen fertilizers predominate during the first half of the growing season, when diluted mullein (1:10) or poultry manure (1:20) are used. Once tomatoes begin to bloom and fruit formation begins, potassium and phosphorus should be included in the fertilizer.

Doses of fertilizers, especially nitrogen, should not be exceeded, as this leads to an increase in the green mass of plants to the detriment of fruits.

Gardeners who don't want to use chemicals on their plots prefer the following compositions:

• herbal infusion;
• ash infusions.

Also, to increase yields, plants are sprayed with boric acid, iodine, and yeast infusion.

Although the Basinga tomato variety is resistant to infections and diseases, it's important to follow all agricultural practices and practice preventative measures. Here are some recommendations:

1. Water tomatoes only with warm water.
2. Watering is done at the roots or in special holes and furrows so that moisture does not get on the leaves of the plants.
3. Be sure to ventilate the greenhouse.
4. Stepchildren are taken from the bushes, removing all unnecessary shoots at an early stage.
5. They mulch the soil.

As mentioned above, the bush is formed into 2-3 stems. Stakes are used as supports, and trellis cultivation is also very suitable.

Tomatoes are harvested when they are technically ripe, without waiting for them to fully ripen on the vine. This allows the plant to produce subsequent fruits, which increases overall yield.

Reviews of the Basinga tomato variety

Natalia, Saratov region

I got the Basingu tomato seeds from a friend, who also ordered them from a collector. She praised the taste of this tomato, so I decided to try it. What can I say – it's a very tasty and beautiful tomato! The yield was simply excellent, growing in a garden bed (I didn't have room for it in the greenhouse; the seeds arrived later, and everything was already planned out). Next year, I'll plant it in the greenhouse. There were plenty of tomatoes, and the color was neither white nor yellow. The ripening tomatoes later developed a pinkish tint, so it's definitely bicolor. The flavor is like apple mixed with pear and something else fruity.

Elena, Leningrad region

I've been growing this variety for three years. I love the taste of the tomatoes, as well as the yield. However, the description (I read about it on a forum) said the fruits were yellow. Mine turned out more like a lemon-white color. There was almost no red tint, just a large, creamy tomato. Very tasty, fleshy and aromatic. We used them mainly in salads, and ate them straight from the vine when ripe. Delicious!

Dmitry, Uglich

I grow many different varieties of tomatoes, and I love choosing unusual ones. I ordered Basinga, like many other American tomatoes, and it yielded six seeds. I was pleased with the tomato; the yield is very decent, and I'd also like to point out the excellent flavor of the fruit. However, I want to point out right away that this variety requires good nutrition, like many other tall tomatoes. Then it will definitely live up to your expectations, even if the summer isn't very pleasant. Although, as I've noticed, tomatoes are still tastier and juicier in warm summers; sunshine plays a big role.