Characteristics and description of the tomato "Golden Stream"

Among the wide variety of tomato cultivars, there are some that have remained popular among gardeners for many years. One of them is the "Golden Stream" cultivar. This low-growing variety stands out from the crowd with its high yield, excellent taste, and disease resistance—everything every gardener dreams of.

Characteristics of the variety

Zolotoy Potok was hybridized by Ukrainian breeders. Initially, the variety was grown primarily in Ukraine and Moldova, but was later brought to Russia. Zolotoy Potok quickly gained popularity in our country and has maintained its leading position for the past ten years.

Zolotoy Potok is an ultra-early variety. Its ability to produce a harvest 90 days after planting is one of its main advantages. The variety also stands out for its beautifully-looking fruits, which grow densely, clustering on the flower cluster and drooping down the stem. The tomatoes form evenly and simultaneously on the vine. These qualities are not the only advantages of Zolotoy Potok.

Advantages of the variety:

• high yield;
• immunity to diseases;
• keeps well;
• does not spoil during transportation;
• withstands temperature changes well;
• all fruits grow to the same size;
• The variety is of universal use.

Zolotoy Potok is a determinate variety. This means the plant has limited growth; after setting 5-7 clusters, the bush stops growing and devotes all its energy to fruit formation. This variety grows no more than 70 centimeters in height. This is considered a significant advantage over varieties that do not stop growing. Firstly, Zolotoy Potok produces a very early and abundant harvest. Secondly, it doesn't require extensive time training the bushes or additional staking. Thirdly, the harvest ripens simultaneously.

The bush doesn't have many leaves. The foliage is dark green and slightly rough. One branch (clusters) produces an average of 8 fruits.

The fruits of this variety are oval-shaped, small in size, weighing 70-80 grams. The tomatoes are yellow-orange or golden-yellow in color. The rind is thick and does not crack when ripe.

The flesh is dense and juicy, with few seeds. The sugar content is 4.5%. It has an excellent sweet taste. This variety is excellent for canning.

A clear advantage of Zolotoy Potok is its high yield. Up to 10 kilograms of high-quality tomatoes can be harvested from one square meter (up to 35 tons per hectare). Due to its attractive appearance, good shelf life, and tolerance to physical stress, this variety is grown on an industrial scale for commercial production.

Zolotoy Potok has strong immunity to all known tomato diseases. Its only real problem is the Colorado potato beetle, which requires biological control.

Features of cultivation

Gardeners never encounter problems growing this tomato variety. The seeds generally germinate without exception, and the yield is 97-100 percent. The variety tolerates short-term adverse weather conditions well. However, since the low-growing Zolotoy Potok requires constant warmth, it is recommended to plant it in a greenhouse or provide additional protection when planting outdoors.

Sowing for seedlings

Gardeners often use store-bought seeds. However, experienced gardeners prefer to use their own seeds, collected the previous season. Only healthy and attractive tomatoes are suitable for seedlings. These are usually selected from those grown on the most productive bushes.

Before sowing, seeds need to be carefully selected. This is usually done based on external characteristics. You can also soak tomato seeds in a 5% salt solution. The largest, and therefore fertile, seeds will sink to the bottom. Any empty seeds that float to the surface are discarded; they won't germinate anyway.

Zolotoy Potok seeds germinate very well, so there's no need for any treatments. A simple disinfectant can be used: soak the seeds in a potassium permanganate solution (aloe vera juice and Fitosporin can be added). Rinse the treated seeds in clean water and dry thoroughly.

Seeds are sown approximately 55-60 days before planting outdoors, in late March or early April. The sooner this is done, the sooner you'll get a new harvest. Tomato seedlings are usually grown in large boxes. They are sown so that the growing plants don't shade each other and are well ventilated. Leave 1-2 centimeters between seeds. The seedlings should be placed in a greenhouse. You can create a mini-greenhouse right in the room. To do this, cover the boxes with plastic film and direct light at them (you can use a fluorescent lamp). The room temperature should be at least 23 degrees Celsius. When the first shoots appear, remove the film and let the plants grow on their own, without any additional care (except watering). When two or three leaves appear, the seedlings are pricked out.

Soil preparation

Zolotoy Potok produces its highest yields in light loamy and sandy loam soils, as well as in flood-free floodplain areas. Tomatoes can be planted in areas previously occupied by cucumbers, beans, corn, and cabbage.

If fresh manure was already added to the previous soil, then when digging and preparing the tomato beds, superphosphate and potassium chloride should be added, and then deep digging should be done.

In spring, the soil is harrowed. Another portion of fertilizer—compost soil, garden mix, or ash—is added to the furrows or holes.

Transplanting

Young tomato bushes are initially planted under film covers in mid-May, as soon as warm weather sets in.

The seedlings are planted in two rows, with a separate hole dug for each bush. The bed is arranged in a staggered pattern, with a distance of 30 centimeters between bushes and 40 centimeters between rows (within the bed). This arrangement within the bed ensures uniform light exposure and good ventilation for all bushes. The soil will also distribute the load evenly and provide equal nourishment to the bushes.

Plant the seedlings in well-moistened soil. If the bushes are too elongated, plant them at an angle. Don't bury the roots too deeply, as the soil may still be cold at depth and could damage the immature root system. After all the bushes are planted, water them generously (at the roots) and then cover them with dry soil.

Care

Growing tomatoes isn't easy. They require constant monitoring, care, and nurturing. However, even a novice gardener can grow the Zolotoy Potok tomato variety, as it, like all dwarf tomato varieties, doesn't require pinching, making care significantly easier. There's also no need to shape the bush, as it grows compactly, stopping its growth once it reaches the required number of clusters.

Because this variety is low-growing, it's ideal for growing in small greenhouses. It doesn't take up much space. If you're growing tomatoes outdoors, be sure to keep the plants warm at first.

To ensure better ventilation of the soil under the bush, you can regularly tear off the lower leaves of the stem.

Like any other crop, tomatoes require weeding, loosening the soil, and tying. Even though the bushes are short, it's still best to attach a sturdy stake to each plant and tie it to it. This will help the plant support the heavy load of fruit and prevent it from falling to the ground in wind or rain.

When growing tomatoes under plastic, it's essential to constantly monitor the greenhouse environment: avoid excessive humidity and temperatures. Excessive humidity is especially dangerous for plants, as it can lead to the spread of various diseases. Therefore, regular ventilation is essential. Until outdoor conditions allow the covering material to be completely removed, the plastic should be removed only in warm, sunny weather. Fold the plastic only on the leeward side. At night, the tomatoes are tightly covered again.

Watering

Tomatoes require constant watering. Although the Zolotoy Potok variety is resilient to various climate changes and temperature fluctuations, it cannot tolerate a lack of moisture in the soil. Watering should be generous and regular, on average once every three days. However, overdoing it is also important, as this can cause stem rot.

Top dressing

To ensure optimal plant growth, fertilize the tomatoes at least three times during the growing season. The first fertilization is done two weeks after planting the seedlings in the garden. The second is during fruit set; the third is during ripening. Feed the tomatoes with mineral and organic fertilizers. To disinfect the soil, you can add a small amount of potassium permanganate to the water when watering.

Fertilizer application tips:

When fertilizing, it's important not to overdo it. Organic fertilizers should be applied sparingly. It's best not to use fresh material, as this will affect the taste and quality of the fruit. Organic fertilizers should be applied no more than once a year. If organic fertilizers were applied to previous plants, there's no need to apply them again.

Using mineral fertilizers promotes vigorous tomato growth. Minerals can be applied only after the seedlings have been planted. Initially, plants require a large amount of nitrogen, along with potassium and magnesium. During fruit formation, it's best to feed tomatoes with ammonium nitrate.

Harvesting

The first golden tomatoes appear as early as the beginning of July. By mid-July, all the clusters will be covered with small fruits. One of the characteristics of this early-ripening variety is that it bears fruit simultaneously. This short fruiting period, on the one hand, makes harvesting and canning easier. However, the development and ripening time of tomatoes can be extended by picking them at the technical ripeness stage. This will relieve the bush of unnecessary stress, and it will begin its work anew, setting new fruits.

Many people believe that unripe tomatoes are inferior in quality to those ripened on the vine. However, this is a misconception: green tomatoes ripen quickly in the sun, preserving both their appearance and flavor. They store just as well as those picked at the biologically ripe stage.

By the end of August, when temperatures drop significantly below midsummer, tomato plants begin to die back. This is a crucial moment to harvest the entire crop, otherwise some tomatoes may spoil.

Reviews

Valeria

I always plant Zolotoy Potok tomatoes. They're excellent: very productive, with perfectly matched fruits that have a beautiful yellow-orange hue. Twenty to twenty-five tomatoes grow on a single plant. You just have to see it—every plant is covered from top to bottom with those tiny yellow tomatoes. During my first season, I counted the kilograms I harvested, and you wouldn't believe it—almost 8 kilograms per square meter. The fruits are medium-sized and thick-skinned—perfect for pickling.

Valentina

We planted Zolotoy Potok for the first time last year. It's truly a worthy variety. The bushes grow to an average height of 70 centimeters, and the stems are strong, so the plant holds its weight well without breaking. However, staking is still essential. The fruit is perfect in appearance. All the tomatoes grow to be uniform in size. They are very tasty, with a slight tartness. We eat them plain and pickle them—they're always delicious.

Xenia

I've been planting this variety in my garden for a while now. I love how early it ripens; we're already harvesting and eating tomatoes in July. The fruits are smooth, beautiful, and the color is uniform. It ripens both in the open ground and in a greenhouse, but we always plant it outside—it grows beautifully. It rarely gets sick and is easy to care for. Overall, it's a great variety! I highly recommend it!

Zinaida

The Ukrainian Zolotoy Potok variety is very resistant to temperature fluctuations, which is typical for our region. It's rarely susceptible to diseases. Growing it is a pleasure. And even more so is harvesting a bountiful crop. We carry buckets of golden tomatoes from the garden, and then enjoy their taste.