A find for gourmets - the Moscow Delicacy tomato: advantages over other varieties of tomatoes

The Moscow delicacy tomato is a favorite of many gardeners. It occupies a leading position among salad varieties not only due to its excellent taste, but also due to its simple cultivation techniques.

Fruits of amazing shape and unusual taste will not leave the most demanding gourmet indifferent. The high sugar content in ripe vegetables makes it possible to prepare sweet, fortified puree from them, which children love so much. The tomato crop takes root in any climate, which makes it possible to grow it in all regions of our country.

Characteristics and description of the variety

From the name it follows that the tomato is a gourmet variety with attractive fruits of unusual shape. It takes root well both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions.

Distinctive features

Indeterminate type, definitely needs to be pinched at the top, otherwise it will reach a height of 2.5 m. The foliage is dense, the leaves are large, dark green, the stem is powerful. The first brush is laid after the 9th leaf, the subsequent ones - every 3 leaves. The inflorescences are simple.

The ripening period is average, from the moment of sowing the seeds to full ripening, 115-120 days pass. Fruiting is extended, until frost.

The yield is excellent, up to 5 kg of fruit is harvested from 1 seedling, provided that 4 plants are placed per 1 sq. m. m.

The culture is characterized by increased immunity to the main diseases of the nightshade family.Needs thinning, mandatory stepsoning And garter tall plants.

Reference. Do not confuse the Moscow delicacy tomato with the hybrid Moscow delicacy creamy f1. These are different varieties that differ significantly from each other.

Fruit characteristics

The average weight of one fruit is 100-120 g, the shape is not typical for tomatoes, it is pepper-shaped. The color is bright red, the flesh is not watery, juicy, the taste is excellent, with a high sugar content, vaguely reminiscent of the taste of bell pepper. The peel is dense and not prone to cracking.

Reference. The first ripe vegetables are smaller compared to subsequent ones, which distinguishes the crop from other varieties.

Ripe vegetables can be stored for a long time, perfectly maintaining their presentation, and can withstand transportation over any distance. For these reasons, entrepreneurs breed the crop for commercial purposes. Due to their taste and unusual appearance, tomatoes are in great demand in markets.

The photo shows Moscow delicacy tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

Sowing seeds for seedlings begins 2 months before planting in the ground. Before sowing, planting material undergoes mandatory preparation.

Seed preparation

Seeds are carefully checked for visible defects: damage, distortion. The dark color of a seed indicates its non-viability; only light-colored seeds are suitable. Next, the seed is checked for emptiness inside. To do this, dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 1 glass of water and place the grains in it. Those suitable for sowing remain at the bottom of the glass.

After this, the grains are disinfected in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then rinse with running water and dry.After disinfection, only viable specimens remain that are capable of producing strong shoots.

To improve germination, seeds are soaked for 12 hours in a growth stimulator or in melt water and aloe juice.

Reference. The most used growth stimulants are Epin, Zircon, and Kornevin.

Container and soil

The soil is prepared from garden soil, peat, river sand and wood ash. All components are thoroughly mixed, after which the resulting mixture is disinfected by steaming in the oven for 15 minutes at a temperature of 50-60°C.

For disinfection purposes, the prepared soil can be spilled with a hot solution of dark potassium permanganate. This procedure is necessary to destroy pathogenic flora, which ensures further healthy growth of seedlings.

Reference. River sand is added to the soil for looseness. Tomatoes love loose and fertile soil.

Fill the planting containers halfway with the prepared soil, after making small drainage holes at the bottom. The remaining soil is poured into containers as the seedlings grow. This technique ensures additional receipt of useful substances during the seedling period.

Place in a common wooden box or individual container. Sowing in separate containers further reduces seedling care to a minimum.

Sowing

Seed material is sown to a depth of 1.5-2 cm with a distance of 2-3 cm from each other. Sprinkle the top with earth, level it, lightly moisten it with warm, settled water and cover the containers with film or glass to create a greenhouse effect.

The planting container is left in a bright and warm room at a temperature of at least 25°C. Before germination, the film is periodically removed and the top layer of soil is moistened as it dries out.

Further care of seedlings

When seedlings appear, the containers are moved to the windowsill, but not to direct sunlight. Daylight hours for seedlings are 15-16 hours, so there is a need for additional illumination with phytolamps. With insufficient lighting, seedlings are stunted in growth.

Water moderately, without flooding the sprouts, with warm, settled water using a shallow watering can. After watering, the soil is carefully loosened, thereby ensuring better penetration of oxygen to the young roots.

When 3-4 true leaves appear, the seedlings dive and are planted in separate containers. If the seeds are sown in individual containers, picking is not required. The picking procedure involves removing the main root by one third. This technique leads to the growth of lateral roots, resulting in the formation of a powerful root system.

2-3 weeks before transplanting, seedlings begin to harden by taking the seedlings out into the open air for 1 hour at a temperature of 16-17°C. Gradually the time interval is increased to 12-13 hours. Simultaneously with daytime hardening, the night temperature is reduced to 12°C.

Reference. Hardening helps young plants quickly adapt to outdoor conditions.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months, the seedlings are ready to be transplanted to a permanent location. Tall tomatoes usually overgrow during the seedling period, reaching 40-45 cm in height. This important feature does not allow the bushes to be planted vertically, so they are placed in a reclining hole.

Landing

Planting pattern: 50 cm – distance between seedlings, 70 cm – row spacing. For 1 sq. m place 3-4 plants.

The crop is replanted in the evening or early morning, when the sun is not at full strength.Only planted tomatoes do not like direct sunlight, so it will be difficult for them to adapt to new conditions under unfavorable factors.

The holes are made in advance with a depth of 20 cm, first watered generously with warm water. After transplantation, the young bushes are watered again with warm water, the soil is compacted and left to get used to constant conditions for at least 8 days.

Care

Regular watering installed as the seedlings adapt. Water no more than 2 times a week, but during flowering and fruit formation, the crop requires more moisture. Watering is also increased during hot and dry days. Water only with warm, settled water, at the roots of the plants, without getting on the leaves.

Attention! Cold water has a detrimental effect on tomatoes. They stop growing and developing.

After watering, the beds are loosened, removing all weeds with roots. Many insect pests breed in weeds, so it is necessary to clear the beds of unnecessary plants. Weeds can be used as mulch; when rotting, they enrich the soil with many useful substances. Straw or peat is also used for mulch. Mulching retains moisture in the beds longer.

The stem of the bush is so powerful that the culture does not require mandatory feeding. A developed root system is quite capable of feeding plants with the substances necessary for full development. But experienced gardeners add wood ash, which not only feeds the plant, but also protects it from fungal diseases.

Features of care and possible difficulties

The quantitative indicator of fruiting depends on the formation of the bush. To increase productivity, experts advise growing the crop in 2 stems, avoiding dense plantings. To do this, remove all the stepsons, leaving only one shoot under the first flower cluster. Pruning is carried out periodically, as unnecessary shoots grow.

To limit growth, it is necessary to pinch the crown, otherwise, without determining the growth point, the plant will grow to 2.5 m. Limiting growth prevents the development of unnecessary branches, which will take the necessary nutrients for their development.

Plants need staking immediately after transplantation. To do this, install trellises - this is the best option for solving the problem. As they develop, the fruit-bearing branches are fixed to the support without fail. A lot of fruits are set, and the branches cannot support their weight.

Diseases and pests

Strong immunity distinguishes the culture from other salad varieties, which are susceptible to many diseases. However, prevention against late blight is necessary, since extended fruiting can cause a fungal infection.

Preventive measures include: systematic loosening, moderate watering with control of the level of humidity in the beds, removal of weeds and ventilation of closed structures if the tomato is planted in a greenhouse. Also, before planting, the ground is treated with copper sulfate, which destroys fungal spores.

The most dangerous pests for tomatoes are aphids and whitefly butterflies. For aphids, use a soap solution, which is used to treat the stems of plants. The solution is prepared from 1 piece of laundry soap dissolved in 1 bucket of water. If there are a lot of aphids, the whole plant is treated.

Advice. Strong-smelling herbs planted next to tomatoes - calendula, marigolds - protect the crop from many ground and flying pests, including whiteflies. Also, to combat the parasite, pheromone traps installed near the bushes are used.

The nuances of breeding in open ground and in greenhouse conditions

Indeterminate types do not have a growth limit point. It is for this reason that the tops are pinched, otherwise the bushes, with further growth, will spend nutrients on unnecessary green mass, and not on the formation of fruits.

Removing the lower leaves helps to ventilate the plants and soil in the holes. This important factor prevents the development of fungal spores.

Watering with cold water is detrimental to the crop. The water must be warm and settled. To do this, barrels are installed in the garden plot, which are filled 2-3 days before watering. During this time, the water has time to warm up in the sun.

Water in the evening or in the morning to prevent the leaves from getting sunburned. Moderate watering, proper plant formation and soil fertility have a positive effect on fruiting.

Harvesting and application

The culture has a special feature: the first fruits are much smaller than the subsequent ones. For this reason, the first tomatoes are left for whole-fruit canning, which, thanks to their elongated shape, easily fit into jars.

The variety belongs to the salad variety, so ripe vegetables are excellent for fresh use. Due to their high sugar content, they are ideal for baby purees. Tomatoes are processed into tomato products: adjika, lecho, ketchup, juices.During heat treatment, the peel does not crack, so the tomatoes are stuffed and frozen.

Tomatoes tolerate long-term storage and long-term transportation well, while perfectly maintaining their presentation.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of vegetable crops include:

• ease of care;
• ability to settle down in any region;
• high yield;
• stable immunity to diseases;
• possibility of independent seed selection;
• excellent taste;
• unusual shape;
• transportability of fruits;
• long storage;
• universal application.

Negative characteristics include the obligatory staking of tall bushes and regular pinching. This also includes the need to pinch and thin out densely leafed plants.

Farmer reviews

Reviews about the Moscow Delicacy tomato variety are only positive. For many lovers of salad varieties, these tomatoes are their priority.

Maxim, Taganrog: «For a long time I chose a variety that does not require special care. I decided to opt for Delicatessen. The result was interesting. Tomato bushes are really unpretentious. They grow well, the fruits have an unusual taste, reminiscent of the taste of bell pepper. Overall, I liked it."

Nikolay, Vologda: “If you don’t want to take a lot of care, but want to get a good and unusual harvest, your choice is the Moscow delicacy. I planted it and forgot. By the way, an interesting fact is that each subsequent fruit is larger. Thus, small tomatoes grow first, and then quite large vegetables.”

Conclusion

Fans of unusual tomatoes can treat themselves to another development of Russian selection.The Moscow delicacy tomato looks great not only in photographs, but also on any table.

Bright pepper-shaped vegetables with a characteristic taste will surprise any gourmet. The culture is unpretentious in care, resistant to disease and high-yielding, which serves as an excellent addition to its excellent taste characteristics.