Characteristics and description of the tomato "Darenka"

Darenka is a mid-season tomato suitable for greenhouse cultivation. The bush is medium-sized, reaching a height of 1.2 m. The fruits are oval, similar to plums. The flesh is fleshy and contains few seeds. The average ripe tomato weighs 150-200 g, but some specimens can reach 300 g.

The fruits have a fairly thick skin, making them ideal for pickling. They are also used in fresh salads thanks to their fragrant and delicious pulp. The yield is approximately 3.5 kg per bush.

How to grow seedlings

Tomatoes are planted in special containers. These can include plastic containers or boxes, trays, and more.

Any container used for growing seedlings should have drainage holes. This is essential to prevent blackleg.

For seedlings, you can use special soil, which is sold in specialty stores. You can also use a mixture of peat and sand in equal quantities.

Before sowing, the soil should be thoroughly moistened. Also, don't forget to prepare the seeds: treat them with a weak solution of potassium permanganate and let them dry.

Immediately after sowing, the containers should be covered with plastic wrap and stored in a warm room. The temperature during this period should be 23 degrees Celsius.

After the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the temperature is reduced to +8-+9 degrees, and +10-+15 at night. Supplementary lighting with a lamp is also required.

Then, when the first true leaves appear, they are transplanted into more spacious containers.

How to prepare a greenhouse

To be able to plant seedlings in the soil in May, you should stretch an additional layer of film over the greenhouse.

Tip! To increase the temperature in the greenhouse, leave a layer of air between the two layers of film.

To improve ventilation, it's necessary to install vents at all edges. Also, to protect the bushes from diseases, remove a layer of soil approximately 10-12 cm deep. Treat the remaining soil with a copper sulfate solution to prevent disease.

Important! Avoid planting tomatoes in the same greenhouse two years in a row. This is because the infection can persist in the soil and infect new plants.

The beds should be prepared 10 days before planting. To do this, loosen them, remove any remaining weeds, and add compost.

Peculiarities of planting tomatoes

When planting plants in a permanent location, you need to remember some rules.

1. The soil for planting should be well-warmed. This is necessary to prevent root rot, which can lead to the loss of the bushes. To warm the soil, you can cover it with black plastic.
2. Avoid planting seedlings too deeply. This can lead to the formation of additional roots, which can stunt tomato growth.
3. Avoid using too much nitrogen. This can lead to excessively large foliage and a complete lack of fruit set.
4. Before planting, carefully inspect the bushes. Remove any yellowed leaves, as well as the cotyledon leaves located at the very bottom.
5. Tomatoes should be planted on dark days, or in the evening after the sun has already set.

How to care for tomatoes in a greenhouse

Watering

Experienced gardeners recommend not watering tomatoes for the first 10 days after planting. The water should be warm—20-22 degrees Celsius.

During the active growth period, water tomatoes every 4-5 days, using approximately 4-5 liters per square meter. During flowering, the watering rate should be increased to 10-13 liters.

Ventilation

Optimal humidity and temperature are essential for growing tomatoes. Plants thrive in drafts, so ventilation is essential. This is especially important after watering.

Garter

Darenka grows up to 1.2 meters and requires support. Linear or frame trellises are suitable for greenhouses.

Pinching out stepsons

It is extremely important to remove side shoots from tomatoes in a timely manner, because side shoots can shade the bush, which significantly increases the ripening time of tomatoes.

Top dressing

10-15 days after planting tomatoes, apply the first fertilizer. For this, you can use the following solution: 10 liters of water, 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska, and 0.5 liters of liquid mullein. One liter of solution is needed per plant.

The next feeding is done 10 days after the first. For this, use 10 liters of water, 1 teaspoon of potassium sulfate, and 1 tablespoon of "Fertility" fertilizer. Three to four such feedings are needed throughout the season.

How to tell if a plant is lacking something

1. Nitrogen deficiency is characterized by discoloration of the stem, leaves, and fruit. The leaves become smaller and take on a yellowish tint, and the fruit becomes much harder and smaller.
2. When there is a lack of phosphorus in the soil, the leaves curl.
3. A potassium deficiency is characterized by curly leaves.
4. When there is a lack of calcium in the soil, the leaves become covered with yellow spots.
5. Sulfur deficiency manifests itself primarily in young leaves. They turn light green, then yellow. The stems also become excessively brittle.
6. Boron deficiency is characterized by blackening of the stem at the growing point, and the fruits may become covered with brown spots.

Advantages of the variety:

• good yield;
• thanks to their convenient shape and small size, they look great in a jar;
• Thanks to their fairly dense skin, they do not crack during canning.

Reviews

Olga, 52 years old

The tomato lives up to its description. I grew it from seedlings in a plastic greenhouse. Overall, I liked the variety. The tomatoes are very beautiful, tasty, and look great in a jar. I also really liked the canned ones; the thick skin prevented them from cracking.

Valentina, 42 years old

This year I met Darenka. Excellent tomatoes. The color of the unripe ones was too dark, in my opinion. But when ripe, they turned a rich red. They're delicious. I'll be planting more.