Tomato Konigsberg

For gardeners from regions with cool and short summers, planting tomatoes is a difficult task, since you need to carefully select the variety that matches the growing conditions. One of the most suitable is the unique nightshade culture - Konigsberg, which attracts with light agricultural technology and good yield indicators.

This variety appeared thanks to the efforts of a group of Siberian breeders headed by V.N.Dederko in 2003. The culture was entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia in 2005. In the same period, the variety was approved for use. Königsberg tomatoes are recommended for growing throughout the country. The non-hybrid cultivar does well in open field cultivation, and much less often in greenhouses.

The Konigsberg plant is a tall shrub of an indeterminate type of growth. The plant reaches a height of 150-180 cm. Externally, tomato bushes resemble a well-groomed mini-tree. The bush is characterized by a beautiful thickening of large, light green leaves, a strong root system immersed deep in the soil, powerful stems and branches covered with a light edge, and simple inflorescences with bright yellow flowers. Berries appear on bushes high from the ground - the first inflorescence is located above the 12th leaf. Up to 5-6 tomatoes are tied in each brush.

Due to its tallness, the plant needs to be formed into 2 stems, pinching the top, obligatory garter to the support and regular removal of new stepsons. In addition, experienced gardeners recommend picking off the lower leaves.

Tomato Konigsberg represents a class of large-fruited varieties. On average, the berry gains a weight of 155-230 grams. The largest tomatoes grow in the lower part of the bush. The fruits have a non-standard shape - cylindrical (plum-shaped, pepper-shaped), a bit like eggplant. A ripe tomato is evenly colored bright red, and an unripe tomato has a light green color without a dark spot at the base. The tomato skin is smooth, slightly shiny, very durable, which provides protection against cracking, and also guarantees transportability and long-term storage of tomatoes, which is unusual for large-fruited berries.

Tomatoes have excellent taste. Their flesh is sweet, with a slightly noticeable sourness. In structure, the pulp is dense, fleshy and very juicy, but not watery, with a small number of seeds. The aroma of the berries is intensely spicy, close to the classic. This species belongs to universal varieties, therefore it is eaten fresh, canned, processed into juices, dressings and mashed potatoes. Only the smallest tomatoes are suitable for whole-fruit canning. Tomatoes have excellent pickling qualities.

In addition, tomatoes are characterized by a high content of useful microelements.

The variety is mid-season. From the moment of full germination to the ripening of the first fruits, it takes 115 days. The fruiting period is slightly extended, which allows you to remove fresh tomatoes until the very frost. Tomatoes can be tasted from the second half of July, but the active fruiting phase occurs at the end of summer.The fruits ripen gradually, so it is not always possible to remove them with whole brushes.

The yield indicator of the variety is quite high. Observing all the basic rules of agricultural technology, you can get an excellent harvest. On average, from 4.6 to 20 kg of tomatoes are removed from 1 m2 per season. If you measure the yield in buckets, which is more usual for summer residents, then one bush gives 2-3 full buckets.

Sowing seeds is carried out 55-60 days before planting the bushes in the garden. Seed material is pre-sorted and disinfected in a light solution of potassium permanganate. Seedlings appear 5-8 days after sowing. Bushes grow well in a warm and lighted room. At the stage of appearance of 2-3 leaves, a dive can be carried out (planting bushes in separate cups). A week before planting in a permanent place of growth, it is recommended to harden the plants, which will facilitate the process of adaptation to new conditions.

It is possible to plant in open ground in the second half of May, when the air and soil are warmed up, and the night frosts are already behind. A bush is considered optimal for transplanting, the growth of which reaches 25-30 cm.

The recommended planting density is 3 bushes per 1 m2. Any landing pattern can be used, it does not really matter.

The culture is grown by planting seedlings. The variety is absolutely undemanding to the soil, but agricultural technology must be followed in full. The site must be cleared of weeds, dug up, which improves soil respiration, fed with phosphorus. The main thing is that there are no gusty winds and drafts.

Comprehensive care of the nightshade crop includes: watering, loosening and mulching the soil, feeding, shaping, pinching and tying the bush, as well as preventive measures to protect against the invasion of pests and viruses.

This species has a high resistance to many diseases of nightshade crops (late blight, apical and root rot). As a prophylaxis and prevention of the invasion of aphids, a bear or a beetle, spraying with special preparations can be carried out.

The plant is endowed with high resistance to various weather disasters. He is not afraid of prolonged drought, excessive heat, a sharp drop in temperature, as well as heavy rains. The only natural factor that negatively affects the tomato is strong wind.

Due to its high stress resistance, this tomato variety can be successfully grown in any climatic zone of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. In remote northern regions, tomatoes are grown in film greenhouses.

Königsberg tomatoes are grown with pleasure by both experienced gardeners and beginners. This is due to the fact that the variety is easy to care for, incredibly quickly adapts to growing conditions, and gives abundant and stable yields. In addition, tomatoes are versatile in use, characterized by a pronounced aroma and excellent taste both fresh and canned. Farmers who grow vegetables for commercial purposes are captivated by the aesthetic presentation of the fruits, long-term keeping quality and transportability without losses.

Among the shortcomings, one can note the prolonged ripening of berries, as well as the inability to preserve whole tomatoes - the fruits are large.