Exotic tomatoes have become a permanent fixture in our lives. It's hard to surprise a professional agronomist with an ordinary tomato variety. The American-origin "Wild Blue Cards" variety is among the rarest tomatoes.

Characteristics of the tomato "Wild Blue Cards"

This is a mid-season, tall tomato. Bushes reach 1.2-1.8 m in height. It produces fruit equally well both outdoors and indoors. It is resistant to various weather conditions. The leaves are indistinguishable from those of a regular tomato. The stems are strong, with medium foliage. For a good harvest, it is recommended to train the plant into two stems. Ripe fruits can be harvested 111-125 days after the tomato sprouts emerge.

The fruits are round and rounded, with a flattened appearance. A distinctive feature of this tomato is its color. One side of the fruit is purple, while the other is red or burgundy. The purple color predominates in those parts of the fruit where sunlight directly hits the tomato. The flesh is dark red, and the core is light red. The seeds are yellow and contained in a green husk. The tomato's flavor is sweet with a subtle tartness that is difficult to detect.

The average tomato weight is 80 to 120 grams, but with good nutrition, the fruits increase in weight. The yield from one bush, with 6-8 clusters formed, is 5-6 kg. Each cluster produces 5-6 fruits. The plant is resistant to major tomato diseases. Plant 4 seedlings per square meter. It is used fresh and for canning.

Recommendations for growing and caring for tomatoes

1. Preparation for planting any vegetable in the garden begins in the fall. For tomatoes, the soil also needs to be prepared in advance. In open ground, the soil is plowed and, if possible, fertilized with organic fertilizer.
2. Before sowing, it's recommended to soak the seeds in a growth stimulant to make the plants more resilient. You can use "Epin-Extra." To prepare the solution, you'll need 100 ml of water and 1-2 drops of the solution. Soak the seeds for 4-5 hours. Place the seeds 1 cm deep in the soil. You can sow the seeds with or without pricking them out, depending on your preference. Without pricking, the plants are less disturbed.
3. The air temperature during sowing should be 24-25 degrees Celsius, and after germination, reduce it to 20 degrees Celsius. Before planting outdoors, gradually reduce the temperature in the greenhouse to 13-15 degrees Celsius 8-10 days before. This process is called hardening off the plant. It is necessary to ensure the plant quickly adapts to the outdoor conditions. Water the seedlings only with warm water.
4. Before planting, add a complex fertilizer (a mixture of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus) to the holes at a rate of 30-40 grams per square meter. Tall plants are planted at a 45-degree angle. Stake stakes are placed near the bushes to tie the plants to as they grow.
5. During the foliage growth period, it's important to regularly remove side shoots and tie the plant to the installed support. Water the plant moderately; avoid overwatering. To increase the yield, fertilize the tomato during flowering and fruit formation. You can use "Monophosphate," a water-soluble fertilizer. For 1 m², you'll need 10-15 grams of fertilizer and 10 liters of water.
6. Throughout the entire growth and fruit formation period, loosen the soil. The most common tomato pest is the Colorado potato beetle. Pest control products include "Colorado," "Anti-Zhuk," and "Prestige."

Advantages and disadvantages

The Wild Blue Cards variety has the following advantages:

• excellent presentation;
• good taste;
• disease resistance;
• tolerance to various weather conditions, grows well in both shaded and sunny places;

The disadvantage of tomatoes, like any plant, is that they attract pests that can ruin the harvest.

Reviews:

Raisa Ivanovna:

The "Wild Blue Cards" variety captivated me with its unusual color. We're used to planting red and pink tomatoes, but this unusual purple-red coloring made me want to try it. I bought a packet to try it out. Eight of the ten seeds sprouted. I planted them in peat pots. I cared for them as I would any other tall tomato: loosened the soil, pinched out the side shoots, tied them up, and watered them. The fruits grew medium-sized, although there were a few large ones on a few bushes. The flavor was average; I didn't notice any unusual notes. I was pleased with the color of the tomato. The yield was good, but not high. I'll be ordering this variety again next year.

Marina Alexandrovna:

Rare tomato varieties are my weakness. Every year I buy various unusual tomatoes. This year I bought the "Wild Blue Cards" variety. I was truly amazed by the color range of the fruits. The flavor is wonderful. I used it in various salads. I loved the variety.