Characteristics and description of the tomato "Buratino"

To make delicious canned tomatoes, you need to choose the right varieties. Among the most popular varieties is the Buratino tomato, which produces beautiful plum-shaped fruits.

Description of the variety

This tomato was bred in Crimea in the 1990s and was included in the State Register of Russian Cultivars in 1999. This mid-season variety is resistant to drought and a number of diseases.

The fruits are elongated, cylindrical, and have a pointed tip. They are bright red, and up to 6-8 fruits form in a cluster.

The variety was bred for cultivation in open ground, but in regions with cold climates it is still preferable to grow it in shelters.

Main characteristics

The plant is compact and stocky, reaching a height of approximately 80 cm (in greenhouses). In raised beds, it typically reaches no more than 60 cm. The leaves are medium-sized, dark green, and the blades are heavily serrated.

The first brush is placed above the 6th leaf, all subsequent ones go through the leaf.

The fruits form evenly, and the first tomatoes can be harvested around the 120th day. Each tomato weighs no more than 90 grams, typically 70-80 grams. The fruit's size and weight, along with its thick skin, make this variety suitable for whole-fruit canning.

The flesh is tasty, juicy, and very dense. It typically contains no more than three chambers, with few seeds. The fruits are initially green, then, as they ripen, the skin turns a beautiful red. The resemblance to the nose of the famous fairytale character is not only due to the elongated shape of the fruit, but also to the pointed tip at the top.

The fruits are primarily used for preserving, pickling, and marinating. Buratino tomatoes are also delicious fresh and can be used as a garnish.

Thanks to their thick skin, tomatoes don't crack when canned and retain their shape well. These fruits also store well and are suitable for long-distance transportation.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Experienced gardeners know that it's essential to grow different varieties of tomatoes in a plot to ensure a family has delicious fruit all season long. Both the timing and intended use of the fruit are important. Salad varieties are not suitable for canning, while firm "fingers" or "cream" varieties are not as tasty fresh or sliced.

Therefore, the main advantage of the Buratino variety is its versatility. The tasty fruits can be pickled or preserved, and they are also suitable for salads. Other advantages of this tomato include the following:

• mid-season;
• resistance to adverse weather conditions;
• excellent taste (usually, fresh “cream” is inferior to its large-fruited counterparts, but the Buratino variety is good even as is);
• resistance to diseases and drought.

Tomatoes produce abundant fruit in greenhouses and open-air beds. In hot summers, the fruits ripen well on the bushes even in regions such as the Northwest and the Urals, although protection (non-woven materials) should be provided in case of sudden weather changes and cold snaps.

This variety is very tasty when preserved (and this is noted by all gardeners), and the fruits themselves look beautiful in jars. Another advantage is the Buratino's good yield, up to 6 kg per square meter. Considering that no more than three plants are typically grown in such an area, this tomato deserves the attention of not only private growers but also private farmers.

The fruits are easy to store and retain their attractive appearance during transportation. However, the Buratino tomato does have a few drawbacks:

• If not properly cared for, the fruits (irregular watering, non-compliance with temperature conditions, violation of lighting conditions) may have a deformed shape;
• the need to form a bush.

The variety is often grown on an industrial scale for sale.

Features of agricultural technology for the Buratino tomato

Tomatoes are best grown in open-ground beds, but also grow well in greenhouses. Choose a sunny location, preferably with an east-west orientation.

The seedling method is used to grow tomatoes indoors until they are 55-60 days old. When transplanting into beds, maintain spacing between plants, planting no more than three Buratino bushes per square meter. Fertilize the soil in the fall with humus, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers.

You can grow a low-growing variety without supports, but during the fruiting period, you can tie them up to prevent the clusters from breaking off the branches.

When growing in a greenhouse or tunnel, ventilation of the shelters is mandatory: during hot weather and after each watering. The soil is also loosened after watering.

Water tomatoes infrequently, but make sure each plant receives sufficient water. The first watering is done 5-6 days after transplanting the seedlings to their permanent location. Then, water the tomatoes twice a week, depending on weather conditions. Avoid letting water splash onto the plants themselves, so it's best to make furrows or holes in the soil and pour the water directly into them.

If regular watering isn't possible, mulching is recommended. Hay, sawdust, grass clippings, and compost will protect the soil from drying out and weeds, and will also retain the required moisture.

Buratino is fertilized at least three times during the summer, and if necessary, 4-5 times. Fertilizer is applied initially approximately 14-18 days after transplanting, then every 10-14 days. Phosphorus and potassium are essential for good tomato growth and fruit formation, but caution should be exercised with nitrogen supplements. Nitrogen (mineral or organic fertilizers) is needed during the first half of the growing season, then phosphorus and potassium are preferred. Micronutrient supplements are also applied, including boric acid and iodine.

Buratino is a variety that's rarely susceptible to disease. However, this doesn't preclude the use of all preventative measures, as they say prevention is better than cure. These include:

• mandatory disinfection of seeds before sowing;
• maintaining crop rotation on the site;
• mandatory ventilation of greenhouses;
• proper watering;
• compliance with fertilizer application standards.

Harvesting begins as the fruit ripens, although many people pick tomatoes when they're blanched (brown). This can increase the overall yield, and the harvested fruit will keep well indoors.

Reviews of growing Buratino tomatoes

Inna, Vologda

In my village (I live there every summer), I grow several varieties of tomatoes right in the beds, which I use for pickling. Among them is Buratino, which my grandchildren often pester. Usually, as soon as these beautiful tomatoes begin to ripen, they pick them straight from the bush.

The variety is easy to grow and produces well in any year. I don't buy seeds anymore; I always grow my own, and the results are pleasing.

Nadezhda, Novopolotsk

I appreciate Buratino because you'll always have a harvest. Our weather can be capricious, but this variety always produces clusters quickly. I only grow tomatoes in the garden; there's no room for greenhouses, but I'm happy with it. I don't grow large tomatoes, but these small, plum-shaped ones are a hit with us. We make salads with them and preserve them for the winter.