Characteristics and description of the Brutus tomato, cultivation features

It's hard to find a gardener who wouldn't dream of growing large tomatoes in their garden. You can make that dream come true by planting the Brutus tomato variety. In addition to their impressive size, the fruits are distinguished by their excellent taste.

General characteristics of the variety

The medium ripening time and large fruit of this tomato variety suggest greenhouse cultivation in most regions. Growing outdoors can result in a loss of some of the harvest, as the fruits simply won't have time to ripen before the cold weather sets in. In regions with long, warm summers, such as the Krasnodar Krai, this variety thrives in open beds.

Description of the plant and characteristics of the fruits

This indeterminate variety grows to a height of 1.5 meters. It has a strong main trunk and equally robust shoots. The first flower cluster appears above the 8th or 9th leaf. It is highly susceptible to side shoots.

This variety is classified as a large-fruited variety. Fruits in the first flower cluster can reach up to 1 kg in weight. Subsequent fruits average 600-800 g. The tomatoes are round, gently ribbed, and bright red when ripe. The flesh is sweet, juicy, and crispy, with a delicate tomato aroma.

Ripening time and yield

The first fruits of the Brutus tomato will be ready to harvest in 110-115 days. To shorten the ripening period, you can reduce the number of flowers per cluster and the number of clusters themselves. This same approach can increase the fruit weight.

Yields are quite high. With proper farming practices, a single bush can yield up to 5 kg of large fruit.

Variety designation

The incomparably delicious, substantial tomatoes of this variety are most often grown for eating on their own or in summer vegetable or fruit salads. Their juiciness and easily peelable skin make them ideal for making tomato juices, pastes, ketchups, and dressings.

The thin, flaky skin ensures the fruit's excellent transportability. Therefore, they can be grown for commercial use. These beautiful tomatoes are the first to sell at market, as consumers know the excellent taste of large-fruited tomatoes. Their price is significantly higher than that of their small- or medium-fruited counterparts.

Agricultural technology

Every experienced vegetable grower knows that to get a good tomato harvest, it's important to follow these key steps: choosing the right sowing dates, selecting high-quality seeds, good soil for seedlings, and following proper agricultural practices.

Sowing dates

Seeds are sown based on the local climate. In most regions, this time is February-March. Seedlings are ready for transplanting into the ground 60-65 days after germination.

Preparation of seed material

Of course, you can sow dry seeds without any pre-treatment. But years of experience in vegetable growing show that plants grown from treated seeds begin to bear fruit 1-2 weeks earlier, are less susceptible to disease, and produce a much larger harvest.

There are many methods for this, we will list the main ones that should not be neglected:

Calibration. In addition to the well-known method of soaking seeds in salt water for 20 minutes and discarding any that float to the surface, it's important to select seeds based on their appearance. From those already treated with salt solution, select seeds of uniform size, with smooth edges, and free of mold.

Etching. This is done to reduce the risk of fungal and viral infections. The seeds are soaked in any antiseptic solution. This can be purchased ready-made or prepared at home. The most common are a pink potassium permanganate solution and a light brown iodine solution. The seeds are soaked in these solutions for 24 hours.

Growth stimulation. Increases seed germination, strengthens vigor, and improves the growth of future plants. A wide variety of ready-made biostimulants are available commercially. They are also easy to prepare at home. For example, soak seeds in a strained ash solution (1 tablespoon per glass of water) that has been steeped for 24 hours. A very popular and effective folk remedy is aloe leaf juice diluted 1:1 with water. Soak the seeds in these solutions for 24 hours; during this time, they will swell and be ready for planting.

 

 

Preparing soil for seedlings

You can prepare the soil for sowing yourself or buy a ready-made mixture. To prepare the soil yourself, you'll need:

• soil from a forest or from an area where nothing has grown for the last 2-3 years;
• peat;
• river sand.

All components are mixed in equal proportions.

The next step is to disinfect the resulting mixture. The simplest and most effective method is to first water the soil with boiling water, and then, after 24 hours, with a crimson solution of potassium permanganate. This treatment will kill pathogenic microflora without affecting beneficial microorganisms. The disinfected soil should be fertilized. To do this, add 2 scans of wood ash, 2 matchboxes of superphosphate, 1 tablespoon of potassium sulfate, and 1 teaspoon of urea to a bucket of soil.

Caring for seedlings

Caring for tomato seedlings requires observing the following conditions:

• maintaining temperature: 18-25°C during the day, 8-10°C at night;
• humidifying air that has become too dry due to heating (using a humidifier or placing a damp towel on the radiator);
• illumination during short daylight hours and regular turning towards the light source for uniform growth;
• watering as the soil dries;
• picking in the phase of 2-3 true leaves.

A week after the tomatoes have been planted, you can fertilize them with an ash infusion. To do this, dissolve one tablespoon of wood ash in one liter of water.

Transplanting into a greenhouse

Seedlings ready for transplanting should be 25-30 cm tall and have 9-10 true leaves. Two to three days before planting, remove the lower leaves. Place the tomatoes vertically in the holes, but avoid burying them too deeply. Overcast weather or evening hours are best for transplanting.

Plants of this variety require sufficient space for normal growth and fruiting. Therefore, no more than three plants should be planted per square meter. It's best to plant the tomatoes in a staggered pattern in two rows.

Features of caring for plants in a greenhouse

In addition to watering, weeding, and loosening the soil, Brutus plants require staking along the entire main shoot. The supports must be sturdy, as a bush with many hefty tomatoes is very heavy. The staking material should be strong, yet soft and wide, to avoid damaging the plant stems.

Another essential agricultural practice is pinching out side shoots throughout the season. Otherwise, instead of a large fruit harvest, you could end up with impenetrable vines. The cultivar's originator recommends training the bushes into one or two trunks. To form a single trunk, immediately after transplanting, begin removing all shoots growing from the leaf axils. With the second method, in addition to the main stem, one side shoot is left for further growth. Typically, this is the side shoot growing under the first flower cluster.

To ensure that the shaping procedure does not damage the tomatoes or cause infection, the following rules must be observed:

• pinch off stepsons only in the morning hours;
• If possible, choose dry and sunny weather;
• when removing a shoot, leave a stump 1-2 cm in size;
• After each bush, disinfect the instrument or gloves with potassium permanganate;
• The procedure should be performed no more than once a week.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive characteristics of the Brutus tomato include:

• high yield;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• large-fruited;
• good transportability of tomatoes;
• fruits are not prone to cracking;
• a strong bush that holds heavy fruits well;
• disease resistance.

The disadvantages of the variety include:

• intended for growing in a greenhouse;
• requires shaping and tying;
• not intended for long-term storage.

These drawbacks aren't significant, as there are plenty of other, less juicy varieties suitable for long-term storage. And the fact that it can only be grown in a greenhouse, trained, and tied up is more of a feature than a drawback.

Diseases and pests

This variety is immune to major tomato diseases and pests. Provided the greenhouse and soil were disinfected in the spring, the recommended planting schedule was followed, and regular loosening and weeding are performed, no additional preventative maintenance is required.

There's a common misconception among gardeners that the larger the tomato, the more difficult it is to grow. The "Brutus" tomato completely refutes this notion. Although the manufacturer recommends growing it in a greenhouse, gardeners report that it grows well outdoors and requires little care. Its yield and flavor are impressive.

Reviews

Lyudmila, Krasnodar Krai

An excellent variety! They grow every year in simple beds, shaded from the scorching sun with a taut net. I always leave only the main stem, but I try to plant them more often. One bush yields over 4 kilograms, which I consider a respectable figure. They don't crack and tolerate heat well. I feed all the tomatoes with a manure and nettle infusion.

Tamara, Kirov Oblast

I liked the variety. It had a very cold summer, and it grew in a greenhouse made from old window frames (not very warm) and produced excellent fruit. From one bush, I got two very large tomatoes, each 800-900 grams, five each around 250-300 grams, and a few smaller ones. Excellent results for these growing conditions. It turned out to be the sweetest and most succulent of all the tomatoes from my greenhouse. My family loved this new variety.

Ekaterina, Moscow region

The bushes are very strong and sturdy, holding the large fruit clusters perfectly. It's easy to grow and very productive. Unlike many large-fruited varieties, it doesn't get soggy, and the flavor is rich and tomato-like, not bland or sour. I give this variety an A+!