Characteristics and description of the Bull's Eye tomato

Anyone who grows the "Bull's Eye" variety even once will become a lifelong fan of this cherry-shaped tomato. Its fruits, reminiscent of the "Bull's Eye" cherry, will delight you with their superb flavor and decorate any garden.

General description of the variety

First, it's worth noting that most cherry tomatoes are hybrids, but "Bull's Eye" is not one of them. This variety was developed by specialist breeders at the reliable Novosibirsk agricultural firm "Sibirsky Sad." It was added to the Russian state register in 2016 as a variety suitable for cultivation in open ground and under plastic shelters in private farms.

Ripening times and growing regions

This tomato ripens early (90-95 days), making it particularly prized in regions with long springs and late summers. However, it is also successfully cultivated throughout Russia. The variety has a long fruiting period, making it best grown indoors. In glass and plastic greenhouses in temperate latitudes, "Bull's Eye" will produce until the first frost, while in heated and illuminated greenhouses, the growing season can extend for more than a year. In regions with long, warm summers, this tomato will also produce a good harvest in open ground.

Characteristics of the plant and characteristics of the fruits

This indeterminate variety grows up to 2 meters tall outdoors, but can grow indefinitely in a greenhouse. The plant branches extensively without any training. Side shoots form in the leaf axils, and flower stalks form on shoots outside the axils. The stems of young plants are soft and light green, but as they grow, they become woody and, if left unsupported, will fall over.

The cluster that will produce the first tomatoes begins above the 7th or 8th leaf, and the second cluster begins two leaves later. The first two clusters are simple, bearing 10-12 fruits; subsequent clusters form after one or two leaves and bear 30-40 tomatoes. The flowers are large, and they bloom one after another in the inflorescences, ensuring that the tomatoes in a single cluster ripen almost simultaneously.

The fruits are uniform in size, round in shape, and weigh no more than 30 grams on average. Fully ripened tomatoes are juicy red with a smooth, glossy surface. The flesh is two-chambered, sweet, and juicy. The skin is very tender and soft. The fruits are distinguished by their high lycopene and sugar content (over 4.5%).

The variety produces a high yield. In greenhouse conditions, it yields 10-12 kg per square meter, and in open ground, 7-8 kg.

Variety designation

Cherry tomatoes are used whole or halved to garnish meat dishes, salads, and appetizers. Their sweet, dessert-like flavor makes them suitable not only for traditional vegetable salads but also for fruit and berry salads.

The characteristics of the "bull's eye" tomato make it ideal for drying. Savvy homeowners have learned to dry tomatoes at home using electric dehydrators, ovens, and convection ovens. This winter preparation will add a unique flavor and aroma to any dish.

Using these small, firm tomatoes, you can make preserves that are not only delicious but also beautiful. Cherry tomato preserves "on the vine" look especially impressive.

Both adults and children enjoy eating "Bull's Eye" tomatoes raw. Even children who don't like vegetables enjoy them.

Growing this variety commercially is also profitable. Its long growing season and high yields allow for substantial profits. Furthermore, the price of this tomato variety is consistently higher, and demand remains consistently high year-round.

Recommendations for planting and caring for the variety

Timing of sowing seeds

Sowing times vary by region and depend not only on the regional climate but also on the growing method: greenhouse or open ground. In any case, breeders recommend sowing 45-50 days before transplanting. In unheated greenhouses, tomatoes are planted when the average daily temperature reaches at least 12°C. In open ground, they are planted when the threat of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures do not drop below 10°C.

Soil preparation

The "Bull's Eye" variety, like most tomatoes, is demanding of soil composition and nutritional qualities. It grows best in light and medium loamy soils with high fertility. Therefore, preparation for planting is carried out in advance, based on the soil conditions. To improve the structure of heavy soil, sand, sawdust, and humus are added. Excessively sandy and poor soils are fertilized with generous amounts of good humus or compost.

Planting procedure and scheme

For proper growth, development, and fruiting, it's important to follow a planting pattern. To prevent plants from interfering with each other, plant no more than three bushes per square meter.

The prepared holes are watered with a pink solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkled with ash. The seedlings are carefully removed from the pots, being careful to preserve the root ball. The plants are placed shallowly in the center of the holes, covered with soil, and compacted. Then, they are watered thoroughly in several stages.

Important agricultural practices:

Forming and tying up the bush

Shaping and tying the "Bull's Eye" variety are essential and important procedures. Without them, the bushes will quickly become overgrown and turn into impenetrable thickets, creeping along the ground or reaching up to the greenhouse ceiling. In this case, the harvest will be minimal.

The bushes are trained into one or two stems. The remaining shoots are regularly and carefully removed, leaving a 1-2 cm stump. Also, periodically remove the leaves under the clusters that have begun to ripen. The thin, vine-like stem is tied up two weeks after planting. In open ground and plastic greenhouses, the top of the stem is pinched a month before the onset of cool weather. This will allow all the tomatoes to fully develop and ripen.

Watering, loosening, mulching

Cherry tomato watering techniques differ from those for regular tomatoes. Plants of this subspecies are drought-intolerant and do not tolerate excess moisture. Therefore, they should be watered every 2-3 days, but not too heavily. The water should be settled and warm. To prevent crusting after watering, the soil around the plants should be mulched or regularly loosened.

The mulching layer can be made of natural or artificial materials.

Straw, young seedless weeds, sawdust, compost, and newspapers are good natural or organic mulches. Apply straw and newspapers in a 15-20 cm layer, young grass in a 5 cm layer, and compost in a 3 cm layer. As these materials gradually decompose, they turn into humus and further fertilize the soil.

Artificial material is usually laid on the beds before planting the tomatoes. Then, according to the planting pattern, cross-shaped cuts are made into which the plants are planted. In open ground, black film or spunbond can be used. Film is not recommended for greenhouses, as it can lead to overheating of the soil.

Top dressing

Fertilize tomatoes every two weeks, starting 10-15 days after transplanting. You can use a wide variety of commercially available complex fertilizers or resort to traditional remedies. Alternating these methods is a good option. It's important to remember that plants need nitrogen for vigorous growth, potassium for stem formation and flowering, and phosphorus for root development and fruit ripening.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Treating tomato diseases is very difficult, and sometimes impossible. It's much easier to follow these simple maintenance guidelines:

• disinfect the soil before planting;
• water plants only at the roots, and not by sprinkling;
• avoid high humidity in shelters;
• do not plant other crops in the greenhouse;
• avoid crowding of plants (follow the planting pattern, remove side shoots and leaves);
• immediately remove plants with signs of fungal diseases from the garden bed;
• Regularly carry out preventative treatment against diseases and pests, alternating folk remedies with professional ones.

Harvesting

Bull's Eye tomatoes can be harvested by bunch. This is easy because the fruits ripen simultaneously. It's important to remember that cherry tomatoes will only be tasty and nutritious when fully ripened on the vine. Ripening them at home will negate any nutritional benefits and flavor.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Bull's Eye variety

The disadvantages, or rather the characteristics of the variety, include:

• requires regular pinching and tying;
• does not tolerate drought;
• thermophilic.

All this is more than compensated for by a number of advantages:

• early ripening period;
• long fruiting period;
• high yield;
• beautiful appearance of bushes;
• does not require complex agronomic techniques;
• versatility of fruit use;
• excellent gastronomic qualities;
• increased content of nutrients.

The "Bull's Eye" variety is a wonderful representative of the cherry tomato subspecies. By planting a few of these tomato plants and giving them a little attention and care, you'll reap a bountiful harvest of delicious and nutritious fruits.

Reviews

Natalia Vadimovna, 55 years old

I decided to try this new variety from my favorite Siberian Garden. It grew in a greenhouse, and the bush is very vigorous, reaching over 2 meters. It ripened very early. The yield was excellent, and the entire plant was covered with long clusters of tomatoes. The taste was excellent, very sweet. I especially liked how the skin was so tender you couldn't even feel it when eating.

Ekaterina, 33 years old

A true indent, very tall and very branched. Early maturing, easy to care for, disease-resistant, and productive. The tomatoes were still producing until the last moment, until the bushes were harvested. The fruits are bright red and have a very sweet dessert flavor. They were eaten quickly, like candy. Not a single tomato cracked. This variety has become a permanent fixture in our greenhouse.

Evgeniya, 54 years old

The first year I planted "Bull's Eye" in open ground, the second in a greenhouse. Both times I trained it into a single stem, and the results were equally excellent. It produces very long clusters, each holding 25-30 tomatoes. In the open ground, it stood like a fountain, a very beautiful bush. However, in the garden bed, the bushes were eventually attacked by late blight, but by then we were experiencing very cold nights and constant dew. The greenhouse ones certainly weren't as tasty as those grown in the sun. The garden ones were sweeter and more aromatic. Overall, I was very pleased with the variety and will be planting more.