Golden Tomato: Variety Characteristics, Growing Technology, Reviews

Domestic breeders delight us with original and delicious tomato varieties. The Zolotoy tomato, produced by Sedek, has been delighting us with its flavor and unusual color for years. Therefore, you should familiarize yourself with its description and cultivation technology.

Characteristics of the Golden tomato

This mid-early variety ripens in 90 to 100 days. The bushes reach 70-75 cm in height and are determinate. The leaves are standard-sized and dark green. The bushes require staking and pinching.

The tomato fruit is a distinctive golden-lemon color, true to its name. It is quite large, weighing between 100 and 200 grams. It is rich in plant sugars, vitamins, and fiber. The flesh is firm, juicy, and meaty, with a distinct tomato flavor, yet slightly sweet. With proper care, you can harvest approximately 10 kg of tomatoes per square meter.

This variety was added to the State Register of Vegetable Varieties of the Russian Federation back in 2008. It is suitable for both open and closed cultivation, making it popular in virtually all regions of Russia. It is primarily marketed as a salad variety, but is also suitable for other culinary preparations, juicing, and canning. It is hypoallergenic.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of the "Golden" variety include:

• mid-early ripening period;
• original and attractive presentation of fruits;
• the fruits are rich in vitamins, plant sugars and fiber;
• has excellent taste and gastronomic qualities;
• resistant to adverse conditions.

According to consumer and gardener reviews, this variety has no significant drawbacks; in fact, many note its ease of care. Perhaps the only complex and labor-intensive care steps for "Golden" are the need for moderate pruning and staking.

Technology of growing tomato "Golden"

Even cold-hardy tomato varieties in Russia are grown using seedlings, as the plants require optimal temperatures especially during the germination stage and before they become small seedlings. However, overall, the cultivation techniques for this variety are not complicated and are accessible even to beginners.

Site preparation

First of all, you need to choose the right site for your future tomato plantation. First, determine which previous crops you shouldn't plant tomatoes after—peppers, potatoes, and eggplants. You also shouldn't plant tomatoes in the same spot for a second year in a row. This is because, firstly, the nightshades have already used up the nutrients they need, and secondly, they could have been infected and left behind pathogens. Therefore, the risk of disease in a new planting increases significantly.

The selected plot must be generously fertilized with humus and ploughed to kill pathogens and weed seedlings over the winter. In the spring, the soil is thoroughly loosened to ensure gentle growth for future plantings.

What to do with the seeds

First of all, it's important to understand that purchased factory-produced seeds are sold already processed, so the vegetable grower won't have to go through the preparation steps again.

However, if you've collected your own planting material, the first step is to sort it: discard any damaged or obviously spoiled seeds. The seeds are also calibrated using a 5% salt solution, into which the seeds are placed: good ones sink, bad ones float.

It's advisable to treat home-collected seeds in a wood ash solution, which provides them with additional nutrients for germination and growth. A similar treatment is using growth stimulant solutions, in which the seeds are soaked for about 5-6 hours. After this treatment, they shouldn't be washed; it's better to simply let them dry.

The collected seeds should also be treated with a 2% solution of potassium permanganate, which has good disinfectant properties. Fungicides designed for seed treatment can be used instead of potassium permanganate.

The final stage of pre-sowing preparation is seed hardening, which involves gradually increasing the time of exposure to cold. Plants grown from treated seeds have been found to be stronger and their fruits to be tastier.

Preparing soil for seedlings

Tomatoes grow poorly in regular garden soil, so it's recommended to create your own substrate. To do this, mix equal parts leaf or sod soil, humus, sand, and peat. The prepared soil, like the seeds, is disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or a fungicide, or baked in an oven at a low temperature.

Containers for seedlings

Cut-off plastic bottles, disposable cups, and plastic or ceramic pots are all suitable containers for future seedlings. The key is to ensure they have a drainage hole. Before use, the containers should also be thoroughly washed and treated with a potassium permanganate solution. Ceramic pots can be baked in the oven.

Planting seeds for seedlings and further care

Seeds of the "Golden" variety are sown for seedlings around mid-March, so they will be ready for planting outdoors by the end of May. The soil should be watered with warm water and the seeds should be planted in a shallow hole or trench. The pots are then covered with glass or plastic.

After the first sprouts appear, remove the film and glass. At the same time, remember to maintain the correct temperature. Sprouted seedlings are pricked out when they develop one or two true leaves. The plants are either replanted in a deeper container or replanted deeper in the one they're already in.

After 2-3 weeks, fertilize the seedlings with complex mineral fertilizers. Periodically moisten the seedlings with warm water and remember to loosen the soil.

Transplanting

"Golden" tomato seedlings are planted in open ground towards the end of May, when the last spring frosts are certain to have passed. The planting pattern is 70 cm between rows and 40 cm between plants. It is recommended to stagger the holes. Before planting, water the seedlings with warm water and fertilize with a cup of compost. After planting, mulch the soil around the seedlings with straw or sawdust.

Caring for Golden Tomato Bushes

The cultivation instructions for this variety indicate that it requires staking. Therefore, it's best, if possible, to plant wooden stakes for staking at the same time as the seedlings. You can also use twine stretched along the rows to secure the staking.

Side-sonning should be done sparingly, leaving 2-3 strong stems and removing side-son leaves from the bottom of the bush before the first fruit sets. In hot regions, side-sonning should be minimal or avoided altogether, as these side-sons protect the fruit from sunburn.

During the growing season, fertilizing is necessary approximately three times. Before and during flowering, it's best to use solutions of complex mineral fertilizers, and during fruiting, infusions of cow manure, litter, or weeds.

Water the bushes at least twice a week, reducing the amount during periods of precipitation. Between waterings, the soil should be loosened and weeded regularly. Since tomatoes are self-pollinating, shake the bushes every three days to promote fruit formation.

Resistance to adverse conditions and diseases

The "Golden" tomato is easy to grow, resistant to temperature fluctuations, and susceptible to many tomato diseases, such as late blight, fusarium wilt, leaf wilt, and many others. As a preventative measure, tomatoes should be treated with fungicides and insecticides 2-3 times before fruit set. In addition, strict watering and weeding guidelines should be followed.

Thus, the "Zolotoy" variety is an excellent example of Russian breeding, possessing a wide range of agronomic and culinary qualities. This makes it popular among vegetable growers.

Reviews

Yana, Ryazan

The "Golden" variety is one of my favorites because it produces delicious and juicy fruits. It's also quite productive and easy to care for. I recommend regular fertilizing during the growing season, as I've noticed it significantly increases the yield. However, I don't recommend planting it near other tomatoes, as they will pollinate each other and lose their unique qualities.

Alexandra, Perm

For variety, I grow the Zolotoy variety at my garden plot, as the red varieties are mostly found at markets and stores. Zolotoy also has an excellent flavor, especially when used in salads. I'm an amateur gardener, so this variety's low maintenance is a plus for me.