Unpretentious tomato “Marusya” with excellent taste: we grow it ourselves and enjoy the harvest

We present to your attention a variety of tomatoes with the original Russian name Marusya. The culture is unpretentious in care - even a lazy person will get a decent harvest. But the most important advantage lies in the unusual fruits in the form of cream. They are not only universal in cooking, but also have won primacy in sales markets. Also, ripe tomatoes are high in fiber, vitamin C and many micro- and macroelements that help improve intestinal motility.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The Marusya tomato variety was bred by Russian breeders and entered into the State Register in 2007. Recommended for cultivation in open ground and in closed structures. Easily tolerates lack of moisture and heat.

Distinctive features

Type determinant, standard, compact, height 50-75 cm. The foliage is dense, the leaves are bright green. The variety is distinguished by its ability to set fruit even in the most unfavorable conditions, such as a sharp drop in temperature or drought.

Reference! In determinate plants, growth stops after the formation of the main stem.

Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m harvest 6-7.5 kg, provided that 4-5 seedlings are planted per 1 sq. m. m.

The variety is mid-early, from the moment of sowing the seeds to full ripening, 105 - 110 days pass.

It is highly resistant to dangerous diseases, such as verticillium and fusarium. Resistance to late blight is average.

The crop requires mandatory pinching, since this procedure affects the quantitative indicator of fruiting. With moderate and systematic removal of stepsons, it is possible to increase the yield to maximum levels.

Fruit characteristics

Average weight 80-100 g, elongated shape, similar to cream, bright red color. A bunch of ripe tomatoes resembles a large bunch of grapes. The taste is excellent, sweet with a barely noticeable sourness, characteristic of tomatoes. There are 2-3 seed chambers, a lot of seeds. The skin is dense, but not thick, but nevertheless perfectly protects ripe vegetables from cracking.

The purpose is universal: consumed fresh for preparing various dishes and for winter preparations. Vegetables are processed into tomato products for the preparation of juices, pastes, ketchups, and adjika.

Ripe vegetables retain their presentation during long-term storage and can withstand transportation over various distances. This variety can often be found on sale not only in the market, but also in large chain stores.

The photo shows Marusya tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

Sowing seeds for seedlings begins 60-65 days before planting in the ground. The timing of sowing depends on subsequent growing conditions. Tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse 2 weeks earlier than in open beds.

Seed preparation

Before sowing the grain, it is necessary to prepare it for further growth. Viable specimens are first selected by careful inspection for damage. They are then immersed in a saline solution for 10 minutes, thereby determining whether they are hollow inside or not.

Those that float to the surface are not suitable for landing. After selecting viable seeds, they are disinfected in a violet potassium permanganate solution.

To do this, the grains are placed in a gauze bag and dipped in a glass with potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. After disinfection, the seed is washed with running water and dried.

To improve germination, grains are soaked in a growth stimulator for 10-12 hours. The swollen seeds can be sown in the ground.

Reference! Aloe juice is used as a growth stimulator. It not only improves germination, but also protects the seed from fungal infections.

Container and soil

The soil is prepared from garden soil, compost and river sand in a ratio of 2:2:1, thoroughly mixing all components. The prepared mixture for disinfection is poured with a hot solution of potassium permanganate or steamed in the oven for 15 minutes at a temperature of 60 degrees.

The cooled soil is laid out in planting containers, filling them halfway. Subsequently, as the seedlings grow, the remaining soil is added to the container, thereby providing additional nutrients.

Reference! Instead of river sand, coconut fibers are added to the soil, which, like sand, act as a leavening agent.

Sow seeds in a common wooden box or in individual containers, for example, plastic and peat cups. It is much more convenient to plant in a separate container, since many difficulties in care can be avoided in the future.

Sowing

Planting material is placed in grooves 2 cm deep and at a distance of 3 cm from each other. Sprinkle the soil on top, level it and lightly moisten it with warm, settled water using a spray bottle.

Important! If the grains are sown shallow, they will germinate along with the shell, which will subsequently cause slower growth.

The seeded containers are covered with film to create a greenhouse effect and left in a bright and warm room at a temperature of 24-26 degrees. If the room temperature is less than +16, there will be no seedlings: the seeds will disappear in the ground.

Further care of seedlings

When shoots appear, the film is removed and the containers are moved to a more illuminated place, on the windowsill. The duration of daylight should be at least 13 hours. If there is a lack of natural light, add fluorescent lamps.

At this moment, it is necessary to control the condition of the soil, preventing it from drying out. Young roots are so weak that lack of moisture will destroy the seedlings. Water moderately, without flooding the sprouts, with warm, settled water along the edge of the nursery using a shallow watering can. After watering, the soil is loosened superficially with a wooden stick or an ordinary fork.

When 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked and placed in separate containers. The picking procedure involves removing the main root by one third. Picking helps strengthen the root system and build up lateral roots. During this procedure, I leave the stronger plants and the weak ones are disposed of.

Reference! Growing seedlings in individual containers eliminates picking.

2 weeks before planting, seedlings begin to harden. This procedure is mandatory for tomatoes. Otherwise, it will not take a long time to grow in open ground. For hardening, seedlings are taken outside for 1 hour in the daytime at a temperature of at least 16-17 degrees, gradually increasing the time spent outdoors to 12 hours. At the same time, the night temperature in the room is reduced to 13-12 degrees.

1 week before transplanting, the seedlings are fed with a complete complex fertilizer, which contains potassium and phosphorus for better development, since during the seedling period the bushes do not show active growth.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months at home, the seedlings are ready to be planted in the ground. At the time of transplantation, the bushes have at least 6-7 true leaves, a strong stem and a developed root system.

Landing

The soil is prepared 10 days before transplantation. They dig it up, loosen it and add a bucket of compost and 1 cup of wood ash per 1 square meter. m.

Seedlings are planted in shallow holes in the morning or evening. Planting pattern: 40 cm – distance between seedlings, 60 cm – between rows. For 1 sq. m place 5 – 6 plants. If the bed is in a very sunny place, the seedlings will be shaded for the first few days. This way they will grow faster and will not get burned.

Further care for the Marusya tomato

Regular watering is established as the seedlings adapt to new conditions. Water once a week under the root with warm, settled water. Since culture is susceptible late blight, add the fungicide “Fitosporin” to the irrigation (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water). The drug additionally protects young plants from fungal spores.

After watering, the soil is loosened, removing weeds with roots. To retain moisture in the beds, they are mulched with peat or straw. Until the plants have become stronger, it is important not to flood the soil, as waterlogging will negatively affect the root system and there is a risk of developing diseases. Do not forget that tomatoes tolerate drought very well, much better than high humidity.

2 weeks after transplantation, the seedlings are fed with fertilizer containing mainly potassium and phosphorus.This feeding is carried out once every 2 weeks. 2 weeks before the start of fruiting, the plants are fed with organic matter, for example, bird droppings in a ratio of 1:15.

Features of care and possible difficulties

Stepsons crop is mandatory: the development of unnecessary shoots threatens to reduce yields. All stepsons are removed under the first flower brush. If the tomato crown is thick and lush, thin it out. The pinching procedure is carried out in the morning, treating the cut sites with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to prevent infection.

Despite their small growth, the bushes need timely garter. The fruits ripen in whole clusters, like bunches of grapes, and the bushes cannot support the weight of the ripe fruits.

A wooden or metal support is installed next to each plant, to which the stem and fruit-bearing branches are fixed. Another fixation option is a garter on a trellis. Supports are installed on different sides of the beds and wire is pulled between them. Tomato branches are tied to a horizontally stretched wire with soft fabric ribbons.

Diseases and pests

The crop is characterized by increased resistance to Verticillium and Fusarium leaf wilt, but it cannot independently resist late blight. Therefore, it is initially necessary to carry out preventive measures to prevent the development of fungal infection.

Prevention includes:

• monitoring the soil moisture level: do not forget that tomatoes do not tolerate waterlogging;
• regular loosening;
• systematic ventilation of closed structures;
• removing the lower leaves;
• spraying with “Fitosporin” once every 2 weeks;
• treating the land with copper sulfate.

When affected by fungus, plants are treated with the preparation “Hom” containing copper oxychloride. The solution is prepared by dissolving 40 g of the drug in 10 liters of water.

Important! Late blight can destroy up to 75% of the crop.

To combat the Colorado potato beetle, the “Prestige” product is used. After treatment with an insecticide, the plants must be carefully inspected for any remaining pests. The beetle and its larvae are collected by hand.

To prevent slugs, the stems of the bushes are treated with a soap solution. The solution is prepared from 1 piece of laundry soap dissolved in 1 bucket of water.

Tomatoes are saved from flying insect pests by strong-smelling plants planted nearby.

The nuances of breeding in open ground and in a greenhouse

In the greenhouse, the growth of plants exceeds those planted outside and reaches up to 1 m. The bush grows itself, there is no need to pinch the top.

Reference! It comes to an end - it means it ends in a flower brush and stops growing.

There is no need to hill up the tomato; the stem will become more powerful, but the fruiting period will be delayed.

This variety of tomato is so able to adapt to unfavorable conditions that it is even able to survive without watering, fertilizing and pinching. However, the quantitative indicator of fruiting will be significantly reduced compared to favorable conditions.

With abundant watering Tomato fruits crack when ripe and acquire a watery taste. In addition, excess moisture provokes many diseases.

Harvesting and application

Harvesting begins in July. Vegetables ripen together, in whole clusters, so they are easy to collect.

The use of tomatoes is universal. They are great for preparing fresh dishes, a variety of snacks, pizza, and sandwiches.Marusya is considered an excellent pickling variety. Small tomatoes are also used for whole-fruit canning and marinades.

Ripe tomatoes are processed for further preparation of ketchup, juices, adjika and pasta.

The species is distinguished by long-term storage without loss of presentation and can withstand transportation over any distance. Entrepreneurs are happy to breed the variety for sale, since there is an increased demand for tomatoes in the sales markets.

Advantages and disadvantages

The positive characteristics of tomato include:

• ease of care;
• ability to set fruit in unfavorable conditions;
• adaptation to any climate;
• high yield;
• resistance to certain diseases;
• excellent taste of fruits;
• universal purpose;
• possibility of breeding for sale;
• high demand for ripe vegetables;
• long-term storage;
• long transportations.

Disadvantages of the species are the need for a garter and moderate pinching. But these procedures are quite simple and do not take much time.

Farmer reviews

Feedback about culture is eloquent and convincing. The tomato is loved for its ease of care and very decent yields. In addition, many gardeners are pleased with the opportunity to collect seeds themselves. Here are the opinions of gardeners:

Natalya, Syzran: “I plant the Marusya variety in open beds. I don’t water it often, but there’s always a lot of fruit. I really like the taste, sweet and sour. I like to bake them with scrambled eggs and use them for winter preparations. The pickles are simply excellent.”

Mikhail, Nizhny Novgorod: “An excellent variety for open ground. The tomatoes are delicious, beautiful, and creamy. There are always a lot of ovaries. The bushes are not tall, and I usually don’t get sick with anything.But I carry out prevention against late blight regularly. Fruiting is high, even despite the hot summer.”

Conclusion

The Marusya tomato is an excellent option for gardeners who do not want to devote a lot of time to their summer cottages. Despite its short existence in the vegetable world, it managed to win a leading position as an amateur and industrial species.

In cooking it is used as widely as imagination allows. In addition, the culture is characterized by resistance to diseases, high rates of fruiting and the ability to adapt to any, even the most unfavorable conditions. And the delicious photos of plum tomatoes make you want to see them on your table.