Tomato Ekaterina: variety description, yield, reviews, photos

The Ekaterina F1 tomato is another worthy example of the seed product from the domestic agricultural company SeDeK, which enjoys a deservedly high reputation among local gardeners and farmers. Consistent success in hybrid production has led to demand for the seeds supplied by this producer to the Russian market.

This variety is listed in the Russian State Register as recommended for cultivation in unheated greenhouses and under plastic cover. It is considered a versatile tomato (suitable for fresh consumption, canning, and cooking). Consumer reviews of its taste are consistently positive and favorable.

Its high yield makes it suitable not only for home-grown use but also for commercial cultivation. This is facilitated by its resistance to common tomato diseases and its ability to easily withstand long-distance transportation while maintaining its freshness and excellent marketability.

Characteristics and description of the variety, yield

Ekaterina F1 is a tomato variety obtained through selective breeding (two tomato varieties were crossed to improve their valuable qualities). This variety comes from the domestic breeder SeDeK, renowned among gardeners for the excellent quality and germination of its seeds.

This tall indeterminate plant can reach a height of 2 meters. The bushes are usually supported in a greenhouse using a trellis. Several clusters form on each bush, each bearing fruits weighing 60 to 140 grams. Harvesting is done by separating the clusters from the stem, which is relatively easy. Under greenhouse conditions, with proper cultivation practices, a single bush can yield 15 to 17.5 kg.

Ripe, neat fruits with thin skin have a distinct tomato aroma and taste and, when fully ripe, become a beautiful and dominant scarlet hue.

Each cluster produces 5-6 fruits. The fruit weight of each can be significantly increased by removing inferior ovaries. Seedlings mature in 60-65 days, and if this needs to be accelerated, commercial growth stimulants can be used. From seeding to the first ripe fruits, the variety is considered early maturing in 110-115 days. The fruits are round-oval in shape.

Seeds for seedlings are usually planted in late February-early March, but if growing year-round, they can be planted as needed.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The variety's drawbacks include the need for bush training, careful staking, pinching, and leaf removal to ensure the beneficial components are transferred to fruit buds. However, these are necessary conditions for growing all indeterminate varieties.

It has many more useful qualities:

• thin, delicate skin and juicy flesh with good density and high vitamin content;
• small number of seeds, rich tomato flavor and aroma, which are quite rare in hybrid varieties;
• excellent shelf life: they can be stored in suitable conditions for up to 60 days without spoiling;
• tomatoes picked with the bunch reduce the packing density for transportation, but retain their fresh marketable appearance longer;
• they easily tolerate long-distance transportation, so they can be grown for sale;
• the bush is tall, if you tie it to a trellis, you won’t have to spend extra effort on harvesting;
• the fruits on the bunch ripen at the same time, which eliminates the need to bother with picking from the bush every day;
• the stem is strong and stable, the root system is powerful, it grows quite quickly and practically does not get sick after transplantation;
• tomato is resistant to verticillium wilt and other common diseases;
• seeds with a high germination rate and do not require additional processing;
• the yield is up to 8.5 kg from one bush, but with proper agricultural technology it can be increased to 17.5 (according to some gardeners);
• It is designed for universal use and is easy to care for.

Features of cultivation

The variety has no special requirements, and amateur growers can rely on the general requirements for red-fruited greenhouse hybrids. Ekaterina requires three feedings during seedling growth and three during the ripening period. Pricking out is necessary if the seedlings are planted in a common container, but it also requires pinching, side-shooting, shaping the bush into 1-2 stems, and careful staking to prevent the fruit from lying on the ground.

The bushes continue to grow even after the fruit has formed, so after each harvest, it's necessary to remove excess leaves. This helps increase yield.

Reviews from gardeners

Alena, 23 years old. Kazan:

It's simply a wonderful variety, that's all. I've been growing it for two years now; I stumbled upon this information by chance while chatting on the forum. Don't trust anyone who writes nonsense; there are simply varieties with similar names, and maybe they overlooked it and picked up the wrong packet. This year, I bought seeds in the winter, and the seedlings are already ready. I can't wait for the right time to plant.

Vladimir Petrovich, 56 years old. Kostomuksha:

Last year, I planted this tomato variety at my dacha for the first time. I was skeptical, because they say one thing and the result is something else. But my neighbor said SeDeK always produces good seeds, and that's exactly what happened. They all sprouted, and the harvest was so good that I gave some to my neighbors. We weren't growing them for sale, but for eating and for the winter. My wife ran out of jars for tomatoes. We'll be planting them again this year.

Igor Nikolaevich 62 years old. Permian:

I agree with Vladimir. It's nice that it's our own, Russian, and we don't have to look to Europe and overpay for what they imported. I've heard the Siberians have done a great job with varietal seeds and breeding. Ekaterina is an excellent variety.

Olga Evdokimovna, 70 years old. Moscow region:

The tomatoes are beautiful, and they look good canned. I'm not so happy with the taste, though, for a hybrid, it's not bad. I grow other varieties for salads, like Bull's Heart or orange ones, but I planted this one for canning, and overall, I was pleased.

The Ekaterina F1 tomato variety can be confidently recommended for any region of the Russian Federation. It's a successful hybrid of Russian selection, listed in the Russian State Register as a versatile tomato variety developed for unheated greenhouses and under plastic shelter. This hybrid boasts excellent flavor, high yields, and relative ease of care—exactly what Russian gardeners demand from their varieties.