The most important conditions when choosing a tomato variety are high yield and pleasant taste of the fruit. The Ekaterina tomato combines all these qualities. A good variety for growing in open and closed ground.
Characteristics of the tomato hybrid Ekaterina
It is never a bad idea to study the description of nightshade crops before purchasing planting material.
The tomato is included in the Russian state register as suitable for cultivation in unheated greenhouses and spring greenhouses.
Tomato Ekaterina F1 belongs to the first generation hybrids. The variety is early ripening; from the moment the seeds are planted in the ground until the first vegetables turn red, it takes from 85 to 95 days.
Tomatoes are low-growing, determinate hybrids. The bush does not grow more than 70 cm in height.
The richest harvest can be obtained if you form a bush with 2 or 3 stems. Constant stepsoning is required. The leaves of the plant are small and rich green in color. Tomato inflorescence is intermediate. The very first inflorescence is formed above the 7th - 8th leaf.
The plant tolerates unfavorable climates well.
One of the main advantages of the Ekaterina F1 tomato is its immunity to many diseases that most often affect nightshade crops. These are late blight, brown and gray rot, fusarium wilt of bushes.
You can cultivate plants both in vegetable gardens and in greenhouses. Moderate feeding is required.
Description of tomato fruits Ekaterina
Ekaterina F1 tomatoes ripen at the same time. High yield. From one adult bush you can harvest from 7 to 12 kg of vegetables. When cultivating crops in a greenhouse - up to 15 kg.
Description of fruits:
Oval-shaped vegetables;
- Ripe fruits of a scarlet hue;
- The weight of one tomato can reach up to 140 g;
- The pulp is dense, juicy;
- The skin is thin;
- After harvesting, tomatoes can be stored without spoiling for up to 2 months:
- Universal use in cooking;
- Many gardeners note that for an early variety, the Katya tomato has a rich taste and a strong “tomato aroma”;
- The skin does not crack during transportation;
- Ideal for whole canning.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid
Almost all farmers who have ever grown a hybrid on their plot were satisfied with the results obtained.Reviews are generally positive.
Description of the advantages of tomato Katya F1:
- Simultaneous ripening of the crop;
- High yield;
- Taste of ripe vegetables;
- Duration of storage after fruit collection;
- Versatility in use;
- During canning, the skin as a whole does not crack;
- Immunity to diseases;
- Unpretentiousness in cultivation;
- You can grow seedlings in open and closed ground.
No shortcomings have been identified in the Katya F1 hybrid.
How to care for a tomato in open and closed ground
Growing seedlings is one of the most important stages of growing tomatoes at home.
The optimal time for sowing seeds is the second half of March.
Description of growing planting material:
- Soak the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes;
- Pour substrate into the boxes. The soil temperature should be more than +15 degrees;
- Make furrows in the ground and sow seeds. Water;
- Cover the containers with clear glass. When sprouts appear, remove the glass;
- When the bushes grow, plant them in separate containers;
- 2 weeks before planting in a permanent place, seedlings should begin to be hardened off. The seedlings are taken outside for half an hour every day. This is how seedlings quickly adapt to new conditions;
- Bushes are planted in beds at the end of May.
Hybrid Ekaterina is recommended to be planted in open sunny areas. The bushes do not tolerate stagnant rainwater and shade. It is preferable to choose fertile soils. If the soil does not have enough nutrients, you can add organic or mineral fertilizers before planting the bushes.
During the growing season, it is necessary to apply mineral fertilizers without nitrogen.
A month after planting the seedlings, they need to be hilled up.This will allow the root system to grow better. After 14 days, hilling must be repeated again.
Another effective way to increase yield is to tap the stems with a wooden stick. Tapping is necessary so that the bushes are better pollinated. Thanks to this action, tomatoes ripen 8 days earlier.
About three times a week, the bushes are tapped with a light wooden stick. If the weather is sunny, then one tap will be enough. If it's cloudy, then 2-3.
Quick and sudden movements can cause all the pollen to fall off. When the ovaries form on the first three inflorescences, the procedure can be stopped. You can also spray the bushes with a solution of boric acid. Spraying is carried out during the period of active formation of ovaries and fruits.
