Bright, extremely useful and adored by children tomato “Duckling” for growing in greenhouses and open ground

The medicinal properties of the Duckling tomato became known only a few years ago. The vegetable is rich in minerals necessary for the normal functioning of the body, is actively used in dietary nutrition, and effectively resists the development of cancer.

In addition to its benefits, Duckling is also extremely tasty. The sweetish fruits are suitable for juice, preservation and fresh consumption. Where and how to properly grow a “home healer”, what features the variety has, read our article.

Characteristics and description of the variety

The duckling was bred by Russian breeders and entered into the State Register as a variety intended for cultivation in open ground, greenhouses and greenhouses. These tomatoes are not picky about temperature and can grow even in regions with cold climates.

The shape of the fruit is oval with a small nose. From a distance, the outline of the tomato resembles a heart-shaped shape. The average weight of one vegetable is 60-90 g. Tomatoes are well preserved during transportation even over long distances, without losing their presentation. Tomatoes also store well for a long time.

The only disadvantage of the variety is its low yield. From 1 sq. m, no more than 2-3 kg of fruits are collected.

Distinctive features

The low-growing bush has a standard shape. The plant reaches 60-70 cm in height. When grown in a greenhouse or under film cover, some bushes grow up to 1 m. There are few leaves on the plant, they have a rich green color. The plants do not need staking or shaping.

The variety has stable immunity to late blight and other diseases to which tomatoes are exposed. To raise a Duckling, choose highly fertile soil.

How to grow seedlings

To grow seedlings, seeds are sown in March-April. Grains are planted in open ground in May-June. Direct sowing is possible when the soil warms up to at least 15 degrees.

Seed preparation

If on the package with seed material it is not indicated that the processing has already been carried out; the grains are disinfected independently. To do this, they are placed in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate and kept there for no more than 30 minutes; then rinse with clean water and lightly dry.

On a note! For easy removal from the solution, the seeds are wrapped in gauze before soaking.

If the planting material has already been disinfected by the manufacturer, it is simply kept under running clean water at room temperature, since swollen seeds germinate better.

In order for the seedlings to germinate quickly, the grains are pre-germinated. To do this, they are wrapped in dampened cotton cloth, gauze or paper napkin, placed in a plastic bag and placed on the battery. The seeds are periodically checked and, if necessary, moistened to prevent them from drying out.

When the seeds hatch (usually it takes 3-5 days), they begin sowing. Those that do not sprout are discarded because they are hollow.

Container and soil

Cups or tablets made of sphagnum peat are the most popular container for growing tomato seedlings (sphagnum acts as a reliable protection for the roots from rotting).When transplanting, tomato seedlings are placed in a prepared hole in an open bed along with a peat glass.

They also use containers made by themselves. The most suitable ones are plastic glasses or cut plastic bottles. They also cut cardboard juice boxes to the required level, and use packaging for dairy products. The optimal volume of the available container is 0.5 liters, this allows you to avoid diving the seedlings. If 100 ml cups are used, the seedlings are grown until 2-3 true leaves appear.

In homemade containers, drainage holes are made at the bottom so that excess liquid does not accumulate after watering.

For your information. When seedlings transplanted to a permanent place of growth, it is taken out of a plastic cup along with the soil.

Sowing

Sow seeds to obtain seedlings in late March - early April. The grains are buried to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. Then the container is covered with film or glass and left in this form until the first shoots appear. After this, the seedlings are transferred to the brightest windowsill or illuminated using phytolamps.

Important! Even the slightest drafts can destroy young shoots, as the soil in the containers quickly cools.

Growing and care

Seedlings should not be over-watered. Even if the top layer of soil has dried out, the soil inside the container remains moist for some time. If the sun is shining brightly, the seedlings should also not be over-watered. This is because by the evening the sun will hide, and the young plants will remain in the cold and moisture all night. The seedlings are watered for the first time about a week after sowing.

Important! Young plants should be watered only with settled and warm water.

When the first 2-3 true leaves appear on the sprout, a dive is performed. The tomatoes are transplanted into a separate, larger container. This way the plants will get stronger and gain strength faster.

The first fertilizer is applied 2-3 weeks after the sprouts appear, and subsequent fertilizers are applied every seven days.

For fertilizer mix:

• 3 g potassium sulfate;
• 1 g urea;
• 8 g superphosphate;
• 2 liters of water.

You can also prepare a yeast infusion at home:

• 5 g of bread yeast are diluted in 5 liters of water;
• stir thoroughly;
• insist for 24 hours.

Yeast solution cannot be stored. It is used immediately after preparation.

An ash infusion is also prepared as a top dressing:

• 1 tbsp. spoon of wood ash;
• 2 liters of water.

The solution is mixed well and allowed to brew for 24 hours, after which it is filtered.

For your information. An alternative option is peat tablets, in which seeds are planted for seedlings instead of artificial containers. They enrich the soil with nutrients and provide additional breathability of the soil, which has a positive effect on the formation of the root system.

With proper care of seedlings, by the end of the second week the plants become strong, stocky and acquire a bright green color.

How to grow tomatoes

Proper cultivation of the Duckling tomato involves timely watering, loosening the soil and regularly weeding the beds to remove small weeds. The crop has good resistance to most diseases, but it is better to play it safe and treat the soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Landing

Plants are transplanted to a permanent place of growth in mid-June.

For full growth and fruiting, the following substances must be present in the soil:

• nitrogen;
• potassium;
• phosphorus.

Important! The crop is planted in open ground according to a 40x60 cm pattern.

Care

Tomatoes are fertilized at least three times:

1. First fertilizer Apply two weeks after planting the plant in its permanent location. For this, mullein or bird droppings are used (700 g per 10 liters of water). They also use purchased ready-made preparations “Gumisol” or “Vermisil”.
2. When flowers appear on the second cluster, fertilizing is applied a second time. Tomatoes are fertilized with a superphosphate solution (a glass per bucket of water).
3. Third feeding carried out when the first fruits begin to ripen. Apply a solution of mullein with the addition of complex fertilizer (75 g per bucket). At least 2 liters of solution is poured under each bush.

Tomatoes are watered every 3-4 days. In dry weather, the crop is moistened more often. The recommended watering rate is approximately 15 liters per 1 square meter. meter.

After moistening the soil, when the water is well absorbed, loosening is carried out and weeds are removed at the same time. Since an adult plant grows small, it does not need a garter. Also, culture does not need to be formed.

Important! To ensure that the bush is well ventilated and receives the maximum amount of sunlight, it is carried out once a week. stepsoning.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Although the plant has strong immunity, some difficulties when growing tomatoes cannot be ruled out. Each vegetable grower plants a crop in his own way; the soil structure is different everywhere, which leads to certain problems.

When a plant's flowers and ovaries fall off, this means the bushes are running out of food and moisture. If tomatoes grow in a greenhouse, the cause is sometimes a lack of ventilation or fruit rot. To eliminate the problem, carry out regular watering with water at room temperature.Depending on weather conditions the volume glaze needs to be regulated.

If flowers and ovaries fall off due to rot on the upper part of the bush, then control the ventilation and systematic watering.

Diseases and pests

The Utenok variety is resistant to diseases that are characteristic of tomatoes, as well as fusarium, late blight, blossom end and root rot. For prevention purposes, the bushes are treated with a solution of boric acid.

The following pests are dangerous for tomatoes:

• spider mite;
• thrips;
• slugs;
• Colorado beetle.

Chemicals destroy pests immediately after spraying the bushes, but with this treatment the fruits cannot be eaten for a long time - from 10 to 21 days.

Biological products act more slowly, the death of insects and larvae occurs 3-5 days after spraying. But vegetables can be eaten 5-7 days after processing.

You can also get rid of pests using folk remedies:

1. To eliminate insects, use a soap-ash solution. It is prepared from 1 kg of product and 10 liters of water. First, the ash is boiled for 15 minutes, then it is allowed to brew for two days and filtered. Dilute the resulting solution in another 10 liters of water. As an “adhesive”, add 50 g of soap per 10 liters of solution.
2. Garlic infusion is effective. Add 200 g of crushed garlic or onion to 10 liters of water and let it brew for a day. The strong, pungent odor repels pests.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

The Utenok tomato variety is grown in almost all regions of Russia. In the southern regions, tomatoes are planted immediately in open ground, in areas with temperate and average climates - in greenhouses and greenhouses, and only then in beds.

Harvesting and application

The harvest is harvested in July-August.Duckling tomatoes are a unique variety of tomatoes that are known for their beneficial qualities. Dietary food is made from the fruits; they are suitable for consumption by diabetics. Tomatoes are used to prevent cancer.

In cooking, tomatoes are used to prepare various snacks, salads, and added to first courses. The fruits are suitable for canning and pickling in their entirety. Tomatoes are also used to make delicious, healthy juice.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

After repeatedly growing the Duckling tomato, vegetable growers identified the following advantages:

• the variety has strong immunity and is resistant to rotting of the upper and lower parts of the plant;
• the crop ripens in approximately one period;
• early ripening tomatoes;
• the bushes are compact, which simplifies care;
• tomatoes have medicinal properties;
• the bushes do not need shaping, staking or pinching.

Culture has virtually no downsides. The only negative feature is that the variety does not produce a bountiful harvest.

Farmer reviews

Gardeners respond mostly positively to the Duckling tomato. Let's consider some of the opinions of gardeners.

Natalya Malinovskaya: “I planted this tomato for the first time in 2010. I cultivated it in open ground. The plant was covered with film. During the day I opened the bushes. One day in mid-May, on a cold night, my greenhouse opened due to the wind, and some bushes froze. But despite this, the plant produced stepsons and pleased with fruiting. In general, I liked the Duckling variety.”

Olga Mitkevich: “I have been growing this variety for five years in a row. I plant a lot of bushes at once. Plants feel great in open ground. The fruits are stored well. Tomatoes look very beautiful in the garden, just like in the photo.I make preserves from them and prepare salads.”

Ekaterina Ivanova: “I’ll say right away about this variety that growing these tomatoes is not difficult. We have many who grow them. Tomatoes have proven themselves to be excellent. My children love to eat them, and most importantly, tomatoes are healthy. I also liked how they looked in the jar. I treat my relatives with canned food. Everyone likes it, everyone praises me, I will continue to grow them.”

Conclusion

The Duckling variety has proven itself well on the positive side. The duckling is unpretentious in raising, which is a big plus. The plant has strong immunity to pests and diseases, and the fruits ripen quickly. The fruits are liked by both children and adults. Thanks to its yellow color, excellent taste and beautiful preservation, you will pleasantly surprise your guests and neighbors.