Characteristics and description of the tomato "Donald"

Seeds from the Dutch company Nunhems® are well-known among gardeners in many countries, and Russia is no exception. The quality of the seeds and the consistency of their vegetable characteristics with real-world results have been proven in practice.

The Donald F1 tomato hybrid is distinguished by its early ripening time and good yield. It is recommended for cultivation on farms, as it is suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Description of the Donald tomato hybrid

This hybrid belongs not just to the early but to the ultra-early group of tomatoes, making it suitable for growing in regions with challenging farming practices. In the south, the hybrid grows well in open ground, while in the central part of the country, as well as in the Urals, Siberia, and the Northwest, it is recommended to grow the tomato under cover.

The bush is compact and has medium foliage. The plant typically reaches a height of no more than half a meter. The leaves are regular in shape and rich green. The fruits are round-oval, formed in clusters. The tomatoes average about 50 grams in weight, with up to 5-6 fruits per cluster.

The skin, like the flesh, is firm but not tough. Inside, there are several chambers and few seeds. The fruits have a good taste and a pleasant aroma. The tomato is suitable for both whole canning and fresh consumption. It can be used to make juices, pastes, lecho, and ketchups.

This hybrid retains all its flavor even after heat treatment. This tomato is delicious when pickled or marinated. It looks beautiful when preserved in assorted dishes, and the fruits do not crack in jars with brine or marinade.

Donald is a shelf-stable tomato, also suitable for long-distance transportation. It retains its marketable qualities and flavor for a long time. This makes it particularly attractive for commercial cultivation by various farms.

Tomato Donald F1: advantages

Tomatoes from Dutch producers are quite popular among Russian gardeners and farmers. Donald is a new-generation hybrid that combines high yield, disease resistance, and ease of cultivation.

It should also be noted:

• ultra-early ripening of tomatoes;
• compact size of bushes, which allows you to place the required number of plants in limited areas;
• versatility of fruit use;
• friendly return of the harvest;
• excellent taste.

Important qualities for commercial tomatoes include fruit uniformity, rich color, and suitability for harvesting with machinery. The Donald hybrid fully meets these requirements, which is why it is increasingly being chosen for cultivation in large farms. This tomato will also delight regular gardeners who enjoy growing cluster tomatoes.

One drawback is that Donald is a hybrid, and, as is well known, seeds are not harvested for sowing. If you want to grow this tomato, you'll need to purchase seeds before each season.

Agricultural technology: what you should pay attention to

This heat-loving crop is grown using seedlings; direct sowing from seeds is practiced only in the south of the country. This hybrid is characterized by its very early ripening period, making it suitable for northern regions as well.

Growing seedlings

Planting in beds or a greenhouse occurs when the seedlings are approximately 45 days old. Consider the following:

• local climate;
• growing conditions (planting in beds is done later, in greenhouses – earlier);
• weather conditions.

Spring can be early and prolonged, but this is taken into account when growing seedlings. It's optimal to plant tomatoes in the ground when the soil warms to 14ºC…16ºC.

Based on this, the sowing time for the seeds is determined, adding approximately 5-7 days for germination. Tomatoes are usually sown in late March, having prepared the seedling containers and soil in advance.

The seeds of this Dutch hybrid are pre-treated by the manufacturer, so Donald F1 doesn't require any additional pre-planting preparation. You can use either ready-made commercial soil mixes or prepare all the necessary components in the fall and make your own in the spring.

The soil should be loose, nutritious, and free of weeds and other impurities. It is warmed, disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, left to stand for about two to three days, and then fertilizer is added:

• wood ash (one spoon per bucket of mixture will be enough);
• superphosphate (one teaspoon).

Wooden or plastic boxes, containers, and cups (plastic, peat, or paper) are all suitable for growing tomatoes. Seeds can be sown in large containers first, then transplanted into larger pots. This crop tolerates transplanting well, and pricking out the seedlings can also help delay the seedlings' growth.

Sow the seeds in furrows, covering them lightly with soil. Place the containers in a warm place (24ºC…25ºC) and check for germination. As soon as the first sprouts appear, expose the seedlings to light.

It's recommended to lower the temperature to 18ºC for 5-6 days to prevent the thin shoots from stretching and to strengthen them. Then, establish a stable temperature of 22ºC to 24ºC. At night, the temperature may be slightly lower. Water sparingly, applying only soil. A sprinkler can be used for watering.

Have your tomato plants developed 2-3 true leaves? This means it's time to transplant the seedlings into pots and then shade them from the sun for a couple of days. Water regularly, as the soil dries out, avoiding overwatering.

If the soil in the pots was well-fertilized, there's no need to fertilize the tomato seedlings. If growth isn't good enough, add a complex fertilizer or water the seedlings with Kemira.

Planting and care of tomatoes

When warmer weather arrives (May or early June), transplant the seedlings to their permanent location. It is recommended to harden off the tomatoes by placing them outdoors for 10 days beforehand.

Tomatoes prefer sunny locations; for open ground, avoid drafts. The best predecessors are:

• cabbage;
• legumes;
• beet.

It is advisable not to grow tomatoes in the same place every year, but if this is not possible, then it is necessary to use green manure sowing to cultivate the soil and disinfect it.

Prepare the soil in the fall by adding rotted manure, and in the spring, apply phosphorus and potassium fertilizers. The soil pH should be neutral; tomatoes grow poorly in acidic and alkaline soils.

Planting pattern: 3-4 plants per square meter. Tomatoes are planted in holes, watered and ashed. Initially, the seedlings are covered with non-woven material to protect them from cold snaps and sun rays. This cover applies to both tomatoes in the garden bed and those planted in the greenhouse.

Don't water the plants for approximately 4-6 days after planting. Mulching with peat, humus, hay, or straw is an option. Low-growing Donald's clumps don't require support, but during the fruit ripening period, you can stake and tie up some of the larger clusters.

Watering

When growing in raised beds, water according to rainfall. Tomatoes prefer abundant but infrequent watering, and this should be taken into account. The water should be warm (+20ºC), settled.

During the fruiting period, watering is reduced, and stopped completely three weeks before harvest. Excessive soil moisture during tomato ripening leads to watery pulp. Excessive moisture is also a common cause of various infections.

Fertilizing the hybrid

Any hybrid requires good, balanced nutrition. Gardeners often complain that their tomato plants haven't lived up to their expectations, and the characteristics stated in the variety or hybrid description haven't been confirmed. It's important to remember that hybrid tomatoes are special, and their nutrition requires careful attention. During the first growing season, plants are fed with organic matter (bird droppings or diluted cow manure are suitable). Before flowering, tomatoes require phosphorus, and during fruiting, potassium.

Don't overdo it with nitrogen, otherwise your tomatoes will become overweight. Compact plants will have vigorous foliage, but few ovaries. If this occurs, urgently apply superphosphate to the foliage (use two tablespoons per bucket).

The first feeding is done approximately three weeks after planting, followed by fertilization every two weeks. The hybrid responds well to a green "lunch"—an herbal infusion. To do this, place chopped nettle leaves (other weeds can be used) in a barrel or container, fill the container to the top with warm water, seal tightly, and let steep for 5-6 days. After this, use the infusion when watering, diluting it with water (one liter of infusion per bucket of water).

Many gardeners also use ash as a fertilizer, making infusions and watering them at the roots, spraying the leaves, and dusting the soil with dry ash. This helps combat both tomato pests and various diseases.

Formation of tomatoes

The compact bushes of the Donald hybrid don't require pinching or shaping. If necessary, the lower leaves of greenhouse-grown tomatoes can be removed down to the first cluster.

Harvesting tomatoes

The fruits are harvested when they reach technical maturity (the first bunches), then, provided the weather is warm and favorable, the tomatoes can be left to ripen on the vine. Harvesting green tomatoes allows the plant to focus its energy and nutrition on fruit formation in subsequent bunches, thereby increasing the overall yield.

Donald F1 stores well for up to several weeks (if harvested at the technical maturity stage) and is suitable for transportation. The fruits are placed in crates or boxes for ripening.

Reviews from gardeners

Alena, Belgorod

I decided to try growing a hybrid tomato from Holland. Donald caught my eye with its description, especially since it's suitable for whole-plant canning. I grew it in open ground, growing it to 60 cm tall. The fruits are very firm, oval, and have a typical tomato-like flavor. My yield wasn't great, but overall, I'd give it a solid 4.

Sofia, Moscow region

I've been growing tomatoes for a long time. I prefer varieties for my family (they taste better, after all), but for commercial use, I choose hybrids. Dutch tomatoes grow exceptionally well, always producing fruit with uniform consistency. They differ in marketability, keeping better; I can keep them in the refrigerator for several weeks without any problems. But the taste is average, normal, while varieties have more variety in this regard. Donald is my favorite; I get good harvests from it, along with two other Dutch hybrids. The early produce sells well at market, covering the costs and making a small profit.

Ivan, Arkhangelsk region

A friend recommended the Donald hybrid, saying it's easy-to-grow and productive. We planted six plants in the greenhouse, and the fruit ripened early. The plants were about 50 cm tall, with few leaves. The taste wasn't anything special, but we rarely ate these tomatoes fresh. My wife canned them, which is convenient because you can use both large and half-liter jars. They're delicious marinated, but not particularly tasty when pickled.