Characteristics and description of the tomato "Novice"

Gardeners often allocate a spot in their plots for this time-tested variety. The tomatoes have a traditional scarlet color, a creamy shape, a sweet taste, and are very uniform in size and shape.

They are easy to transport because they have very thick skin.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Novichok tomato was developed by Russian breeders L. N. Popova and N. I. Chulkov at the Volgograd Breeding Station. The variety was added to the State Register of Breeding Achievements in 1986.

The bushes are determinate, meaning the plant stops growing during flowering. As a result, the bushes are compact but not standard, with medium-sized foliage. The leaves are medium-sized and a normal green hue. Buds appear above 5-7 leaves. Subsequently, clusters form every 1-2 leaves. Each cluster contains 6-7 tomatoes, all nearly identical in size. Fruit usually sets on almost all the flowers, with very few barren flowers.

Productivity

The bushes are low, so 6-7 bushes are planted per square meter. Each bush yields approximately 2-2.2 kg, and 1 square meter yields 12-15 kg.

Feedback from those who planted

Svetlana, Klin

I soaked the seeds in a cloth, and all the seeds sprouted. I planted the seedlings in the greenhouse and in the garden. Before planting, I mixed humus, manure, and sand in the garden. There were a lot of flowers, and they all set beautifully.

I harvested 40 tomatoes from each bush in the greenhouse and 25 in the open ground. The tomatoes taste very sweet, not fleshy.

Tatyana, Mikhailovka village, Volgograd region

I grew the bushes in an open area. The fruits look great when preserved. I also made a dressing for shchi from tomatoes: I juiced them, then added herbs, onions, and bell peppers. Those who tried my shchi highly praised it.

 

Rakhimova, Bugulma, Tatarstan

They're great for canning. Tomatoes are very easy to peel.

Height, plant weight, color, fruit shape

The tomatoes are scarlet, oval, and slightly egg-shaped. Each fruit weighs 85-105 g. The skin is firm, the flesh is not fleshy, sweet, and slightly tart. Each tomato has 3-5 seed chambers, which are easily torn from the stem.

Features of growing and caring for the variety

Before planting, select the best seeds. To do this, add 1 teaspoon of salt to a glass of clean water. Next, pour in the seeds and mix thoroughly. After 15 minutes, remove any seeds floating on the surface of the water and leave those that have sunk to the bottom. Rinse and dry the seeds. Then, treat them by soaking them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 25 minutes.

You can germinate the seeds by placing them in moistened cheesecloth. You can also harden the seeds by first soaking them and then placing them in a refrigerator at 18-22°C for 12 hours.

Fill the containers with soil and water with Epin, a growth stimulant. Sprinkle the seeds on top and cover them with 1 cm of soil. Cover the containers with glass. Then place the containers in a warm (23-25°C) and well-lit area. Ventilate the plants daily, remove the glass, and monitor the soil moisture. When you see the first shoots, remove the glass.

When 2-3 leaves emerge, transplant the seedlings. It's best to fertilize them at the same time as watering. Water the seedlings thoroughly four times: when sowing the seeds, when the seedlings emerge, when the first true leaf emerges, and before transplanting.

Once the soil in the greenhouse warms to 15-17°C, transplant the seedlings into the greenhouse. Dig holes, leaving 40 cm between plants and 50 cm between rows. Place the seedlings in the holes and cover with soil. Tamp the soil lightly, tie the plants in place, and water them.

Tomatoes should be watered regularly, the soil should be loosened shallowly after watering, and weeds should be removed. Don't forget to remove side shoots promptly.

Advantages of the variety

Advantages:

1. The fruits ripen almost simultaneously.
2. The variety is resistant to diseases.
3. Tomatoes are easy to transport because they are resistant to overheating and cracking.
4. They can be planted both in the garden and in a greenhouse.

Ripening speed

This variety is considered mid-early. From seedling planting to harvest, it takes approximately 53-56 days, and from germination to tomato harvest, it takes 110-127 days.

The main purpose of the variety

The fruits have an excellent marketable appearance and are sweet, so they are eaten fresh and added to salads. They are also used to make sauces and juice. The fruits are almost uniform in size, so they are canned whole, salted, and pickled.

In which regions is it grown?

When developing this variety, breeders aimed to make the bushes suitable for planting in various regions. In southern Russia, seedlings are planted in open ground. In central and northern Russia, the variety is grown in greenhouses and hotbeds.

Resistance to diseases and insect attacks

To prevent fungal diseases, treat tomatoes with a Trichopol solution by adding 5-6 tablets to a ten-liter bucket of water. Then, add a glass of milk to the bucket and spray the plants.

If you see dark spots on the tomatoes, it means they've contracted late blight, the most common disease affecting these plants. Treat the plants with "Tattu."

If your plants are infested with mole crickets, finely chop dried marigolds and sprinkle them on the soil around the bushes. To combat mites and aphids, use elderberry infusion, tobacco powder, garlic infusion, or chamomile infusion.

To combat cutworms and slugs, make an infusion of hot pepper flakes and spray it on your plants. You can also make an infusion of burdock or wild garlic.

If you plant parsley or dill around the perimeter of your beds, Colorado potato beetles will not be able to reach them.

Timing of planting seedlings

If you plan to plant seedlings outdoors, sow the seeds between March 10th and 20th. If you're planting in an unheated greenhouse, sow them in late February.