Tomato Cardio: variety description, yield, reviews (photos)

Some, relying on the variety's unique characteristics, claim they can grow the Cardio tomato and get an early harvest if they plant seedlings in early spring. However, they forget that it requires proper growing conditions—light, warmth, and moderate humidity. Before growing this tomato, it's important to read reviews from those who have been growing it for a long time. It's important to know how to increase the variety's yield, and the variety description will explain all this.

Many gardeners grow the Cardio tomato in their plots. To ensure a good harvest, it's important to understand the variety's characteristics. If temperatures rise slightly and there's insufficient light, the seedlings will immediately stretch upward, becoming thin and weak, and eventually dying. Planting tomato seeds in February is often the cause of seedling death. Reviews and descriptions of the variety indicate that seedlings planted in late winter begin to bloom as early as 71 days, and in early April, as early as 41 days!

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Cardio tomato, brought to Russia, was bred in Italy. Therefore, it is commonly referred to as an Italian variety. More recently, the large, mid-late-ripening Cardio tomato has become popular in Russia. The plant is heavily foliated, reaching a height of up to 180 cm. It produces heart-shaped, raspberry-colored fruits (each weighing 200–400 g). The tomatoes are fleshy, sweet, and very tasty. They ripen evenly in the clusters, and the fruiting period is extended.

Tomatoes are eaten fresh and used in cooking to make vegetable salads, stews, tomato juice, and assorted dishes. The variety grows well both indoors and outdoors. According to gardeners, this tomato is not just productive, but super-productive, yielding up to 6-7 kg per plant.

Cardio is a tall bush (over 2 meters). This is a productive, mid-season tomato variety. The fruits are large, heart-shaped (some are flattened and round), and pink. They are very tasty. They can be grown in two stems. The variety is resistant to major tomato diseases.

Features of growing and caring for the variety

In each region, gardeners begin the planting season based on their climate. This period typically begins in early April. In some areas, seeds are planted directly into the soil of an unheated greenhouse. Heating is only beneficial if there is no frost and the temperature does not drop significantly below freezing.

It is important to know the basic rules before planting:

1. Before sowing, the seeds are soaked until they swell.
2. Afterwards they are etched for 20–30 minutes with a strong solution of potassium permanganate.
3. The seeds should be stirred periodically while they're in the solution, and then thoroughly rinsed with tap water. After this process, they're dried and stored in a greenhouse or hotbed.
4. A place for the seeds is prepared in the greenhouse and they are planted on level, soft soil.
5. The holes are made shallow (1 cm deep) with a distance of 10 cm from each other. Ready-to-plant seeds are planted in each hole.
6. After the hole is carefully filled with a thin layer of soil, 5 mm thick, which helps to not plant the seed too deep.

For the first watering, use a spray bottle, as regular watering can dislodge the seeds or wash them off the surface, causing them to die. After the soil has settled, water with a watering can. During the initial period, water daily until the first shoots emerge, as the soil dries out quickly without retaining moisture. This causes a dense crust to form on the surface, which inhibits sprouting.

As soon as the seedlings begin to grow, add a 3-5 cm layer of soil between the rows 2-3 times. This will inhibit the seedlings' growth and stimulate the formation of additional roots. This process strengthens the stems and they take root well after transplanting.

Don't overdo it with fertilizing when the seedlings are already vigorous, but if the sprouts haven't yet established themselves and reached the desired size by the time of transplanting, fertilizing is necessary. It's important to remember that when growing in hotbeds or greenhouses, the soil should be better than in the nursery. This is essential for good growth and flowering.

What you need to know when planting seedlings

Certain rules must be followed:

• Planting in prepared soil should only be done if there is no risk of frost, which can occur in mid-May. Planting is usually done around the 20th. Tomato rows are marked out with a stick according to a special pattern.
• In each row, shorter bushes are planted at intervals of 30–40 cm, while taller ones are planted at intervals of 40–50 cm. Trellis are stretched on stakes in 2–3 tiers for support.
• This planting pattern allows for adequate ventilation of the bushes, which is a good preventative measure against many diseases. This helps develop increased disease resistance.
• Tomatoes don't particularly like cold, hot, or dry conditions. In these conditions, they quickly weaken and die.

Resistance to negative impacts of various factors

It's important to know that this type of tomato quickly develops resistance to any treatments. Therefore, the treatments used should be changed periodically. Within five days of planting the seedlings, spray the area with a fungicide (Quadris or Fitosporin).

The pole is carried using the same tools and clothing used for tilling the soil. By taking timely measures to cultivate the crop, there is a chance of preserving the harvest.

To combat tomato diseases, you need to follow several rules:

1. Tomatoes should be planted further away from outbuildings where cattle and other domestic animals live.
2. Fight insect pests.
3. Weeds attract cicadas, which carry the virus. They need to be weeded regularly.
4. Eight to 12 days after transplanting the seedlings into the ground, it's essential to thoroughly combat cicadas and aphids during the growing season. Spray the tomato areas with a non-toxic plant protection product such as Fas, which is effective against agricultural pests. This product maintains mild sanitary, hygienic, and environmental conditions without harming the plant.
5. It is recommended to plant fragrant plants that insects do not tolerate, such as marigolds, next to tomatoes.

Reviews from gardeners and those who planted

Ilya, 55 years old. Moscow region:

"I'm gardening at my dacha. I recently tried growing a tomato variety called Cardio. It's interesting in its own right. I wanted to find one that would be productive and profitable. Last summer, the results of my efforts exceeded all expectations. This variety can also be grown outdoors. It has a slightly tart flavor, but it's perfect for juice. I liked it."

Mikhail Vasilievich, 49 years old. Ufa:

"I've had my eye on this tomato variety for a while now and decided to experiment a bit at my dacha. I was pleased with the results. The fruits are very fleshy, with a slight hint of acidity. They vary in size and are round in shape. The yield is very good: I've harvested about 5 kg from a single branch, although, according to friends, it can be more, up to 7 kg. It's a shame, though, that it's a bit susceptible to certain diseases, but it's not that serious. Otherwise, it's an excellent variety."

Larisa Aleksandrovna Usova, 61 years old. Novosibirsk:

"I decided to plant the Cardio tomato in our climate. At first, I was worried it wouldn't thrive, but I needn't have. Our climate is cold, with late spring and short summers. The tomato grows well in a greenhouse. A single plant can reach up to 2 meters, and the harvest has been impressive. My family also loves it for its sweet flavor. It goes well in salads and assorted dishes."

Anastasia, 30 years old. Rostov region:

"I had raspberry-colored tomatoes, and a single bush yielded a lot of fruit. I decided to stock up on the seeds myself and am planning another planting next year. I really liked the variety for its productivity."

https://youtu.be/YXN7ADPWeRM

Galina, 49 years old. Listvyanka:

"A neighbor recommended this tomato variety to me. She has gorgeous bushes of this plant. I really liked it, and last year I started growing it myself. They taste good, although the flesh, while meaty, is a bit firm. But that's a good thing, because the fruit doesn't crack. I'll be planting Cardio again this year."