Characteristics and description of the tomato "Boni MM"

The "Boni MM" tomato doesn't take up much space in the garden, doesn't require much attention or meticulous care, and yet produces an ultra-early and abundant harvest. In 2001, this variety was added to the State Register of the Russian Federation and has since become a favorite and reliable outdoor variety for many gardeners.

General characteristics of the variety

The State Register classifies "Boni MM" as a variety suitable for cultivation without shelter or under temporary tunnel shelters in garden plots, homesteads, and small farms throughout the country. The cultivar's originator is the agrotechnical company "GAVRISH."

Ripening speed

This variety is considered ultra-early, with a ripening period of only 80-85 days. The fruiting period is very short, as the plant produces fruit on the first bunches and develops flowers on subsequent bunches almost simultaneously. Therefore, the bush yields its entire harvest in an average of 15-20 days.

Botanical description of the plant

The "Boni MM" tomato plant is a determinate variety, meaning it has limited growth. The maximum height of the tomato plant does not exceed half a meter. Furthermore, this variety is a standard variety, meaning the tomatoes have a small, shallow root system and an upright, thick trunk. Plants with these characteristics are compact, neat, and very stable. The lateral stems of the bushes are strong, covered with dark green, corrugated leaves. The number of stems and leaves is small, and the crown of the plant is moderately dense.

The first cluster of flowers appears after the fifth or sixth leaf has unfurled; subsequent clusters are very dense, with every other leaf or one after the other. On simple, unbranched inflorescences, the fruits are arranged alternately and very compactly on a single stem. After three or four fruit clusters have formed, the main stem stops growing.

Features of fruits and their use

The fruits are flat-round, gently ribbed, and weigh an average of 50-70 grams. Unripe tomatoes are light green with a dark green spot near the stem; as they ripen, this spot disappears, and at full maturity, the fruits acquire a uniform, classic, bright red color. The fleshy, juicy pulp contains 2-3 small chambers with a moderate number of seeds. The flavor is traditional tomato, without pronounced sweetness or acidity. Among ultra-early ripening varieties, the "Boni MM" tomato is recognized as one of the best in terms of flavor.

The information on the seed packaging indicates this variety is intended for salads. This is precisely how most vegetable growers use it. Thanks to their super-early ripening, these tomatoes are among the first vegetables on gardeners' tables. They are eaten raw, in vegetable salads, and in sliced ​​vegetables. The fruit's characteristics and uniform ripening make this variety suitable for canning and early, profitable sale.

Productivity

The average yield per bush is 2 kg. Due to the plant's ability to thrive in dense plantings, yields can reach 16 kg per square meter.

Agricultural technology of the Boni MM variety

Sowing seeds

Sow seeds 55-60 days before the planned transplant date. It's important to carefully consider the planting date for tomatoes. Over-exposed plants, just like under-exposed ones, have a hard time adapting to a new location, losing their blooms, and producing poor fruit set.

In regions with long and reliably warm summers, the seeds of this ultra-early variety can be sown directly into the soil. When grown this way, the seeds are sown in April in a densely packed bed or spaced 10-15 cm apart. Cover the bed with plastic for the initial season. After germination, the seedlings are carefully watered as the topsoil dries. Thin out overly dense seedlings when they have 2-3 true leaves, and thin out more sparse seedlings when they have 4-5 leaves. Plants removed during thinning can be replanted. To protect young seedlings from pests, sprinkle them with ash or treat them with special products. Fertilize young tomatoes with organic fertilizers, such as fermented nettle or mullein infusion, every 7-10 days. It is believed that tomatoes grown this way are not subject to stress during transplantation and therefore grow stronger and the harvest is earlier.

Site preparation and fertilization

Over the winter, the soil becomes heavily compacted and should be dug to a depth of 20-25 cm before planting. If the soil wasn't fertilized during the fall, it can be fertilized in the spring. The most effective time to add nutrients to the holes is immediately before planting. You can use the following mixture: add 2 cups of wood ash to a bucket of compost. Use one liter of the mixture per tomato plant.

Timing of transplantation into the ground and planting features of the variety

The timing of transplanting into the ground varies depending on the growing zone. In warm southern regions, this time is April 15-25, in temperate climates – May 1-10, and in cool northern regions – May 25-June 10. By these times, spring frosts have generally passed.

Since "Boni MM" is an ultra-early, low-growing, standard tomato, it can be planted in a variety of ways. Here are some:

1. Square-nest method. Planting holes are marked 60-65 cm apart. Two to three seedlings are planted in each hole, spaced 5-7 cm apart.
2. Ribbon method. A continuous furrow 15-20 cm deep is prepared for planting. The furrow length depends on preference and availability. Seedlings are planted in the furrow at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other. If multiple furrows are planned, the distance between them should be approximately 60 cm.

To ensure even rows, use stakes and string stretched between them to mark the rows. The holes or furrows are generously watered with warm water and left for a while to soak in. Then, carefully remove the seedlings from their individual pots and, without disturbing the root ball, arrange them at the desired distance, depending on the chosen pattern. When planting, plant them 3-4 cm deeper than they were previously growing in their individual containers. Fill the furrow or holes with soil, firm it down, and water thoroughly again. Water very carefully, avoiding erosion of the soil around the seedlings.

Thus, with any planting method, 6-8 plants fit per square meter. This significantly saves space in the garden and significantly increases yields. The plants thrive.

Post-transplant care

The plants don't require any special care for the first two weeks. Quite the contrary, they need time to acclimate to their new environment. The main tasks during this period are maintaining soil moisture and protecting them from night frosts. To maintain moisture, water the plants moderately every two to three days. To prevent a crust from forming on the soil surface, gently and shallowly loosen the soil the day after watering.

The following methods are used to protect against critically low temperatures:

• hats made of newspapers or burlap are placed on the bushes;
• they build caps around the plants from tree branches or spruce branches;
• they create artificial smoke from piles of garbage that were previously prepared and placed around the area;
• Nightly fine-droplet irrigation is carried out using sprinklers.

Once the plants have established themselves and become strong, care will consist of infrequent and light watering, weeding, and loosening the soil. There is no need to pinch or tie up these plants. Regular weeding and loosening can be replaced with a simple mulching procedure. Gardeners often neglect mulching, considering it a waste of time. In fact, this simple and effortless agricultural technique serves several important functions:

• mulch protects the top layer of soil from drying out;
• a layer of mulch prevents weeds from growing;
• when watering, it protects the top layer of soil from erosion;
• accelerates ripening and increases yield;
• When mulching with grass, natural, additional fertilization of the soil occurs.

Plants of this variety do not require additional feeding during the growing season. For vigorous growth and good fruiting, nutrients added to the soil before or during transplanting are sufficient.

Diseases and pests

The Boni MM tomato has low resistance to diseases and pests. However, this poses no threat; if planted and transplanted correctly, it produces a good harvest during the first month of summer, when diseases and pests are still relatively inactive.

Advantages and disadvantages

For several years, gardeners have been leaving numerous reviews of this tomato variety. Almost all of them are positive, describing it as having no drawbacks. However, quite a few advantages have been noted. Here are the main ones:

• very early ripening period;
• friendly return of the harvest;
• good taste (among early varieties);
• tolerates transplantation easily;
• undemanding in care;
• suitable for any region of the country;
• grows well in open ground;
• high yield;
• does not require pinching or tying;
• Grows and bears fruit well when planted in dense rows.

Not all gardeners have the desire or the ability to regularly spend a lot of time and effort on complex tomato cultivation techniques, but everyone dreams of enjoying fresh vegetables from their own garden. The completely undemanding and unpretentious "Boni MM" variety will be a real find for such gardeners. With minimal effort, it will yield an excellent harvest of delicious fruit in the first month of summer.

Reviews

Elena, Moscow region

The seedlings are very stocky and low-growing, with noticeably darker leaves than the others. I initially planted them without staking, but when they were completely covered with tomatoes, they began to topple over, so I had to tie them up. I didn't pinch out any side shoots. The first fruits were harvested in the greenhouse on June 23rd, after sowing seedlings on March 1st. The first fruits were 100 grams each, then smaller ones, 50-60 grams each. The first 100-gram tomatoes had no seeds at all. Flavor: for an early variety, a very good tomato flavor, without excessive acidity, although the skin is a bit thick. Yield: It barely reached the stated 2 kg per plant. But overall, I'm happy with the variety.

Larisa, Nizhny Novgorod region

Last year, I planted these tomatoes in a regular bed very often, without staking them. The bushes are very low, about 40 cm, and sturdy. They were the first to ripen in my garden, and the tomatoes were sweet. I saved the tomatoes for seed, but when I went to collect the seeds, I was very disappointed—there were no seeds! I'm happy with the variety; I'll buy and plant more.

Inna, Rostov region

I planted them in February, and we were already eating them by the end of May. I wouldn't say the taste was amazing, but for a first crop, it was quite good. The harvest was as described, very generously distributed, and by the time the next tomatoes appeared, I had already planted daikon in the place of these bushes.

Vladimir, Mordovia

Mine ripened on June 2nd. Not at all sour, a good early variety. The yield, as stated, is 2 kg. It's a plant-and-forget variety.