Description of the determinate tomato Otradny and cultivation of the variety using seedlings

The Otradny tomato was developed by Russian breeders at the All-Russian Research Institute for Vegetable Crops Selection and Seed Production in 1984. The variety is a hybrid, and scientists succeeded in producing plants that grow well in open ground and greenhouses.

What is the Otradny tomato?

Reviews from gardeners and horticulturists indicate that this variety has excellent characteristics, taste, and is characterized by high yields and early maturity. The tomato plants are easy to grow and tolerate fluctuations in weather and temperature. A high yield depends on proper care and regular watering.

Below are the characteristics and description of the variety. Gardeners who have already planted tomatoes don't need to be told about its advantages. However, beginners will find it useful to learn about the characteristics of the Otradny tomato.

The advantages of this variety include:

1. Determinative character of plants.
2. The bushes do not grow very tall and wide.
3. The average height is 35 to 45 cm, so plants don't need staking. There's no need to remove side shoots either.
4. Breeders have managed to make tomatoes resistant to diseases, microbes, and bacteria that parasitize nightshade crops.
5. The variety has high immunity, so it is not susceptible to late blight, which often affects tomatoes.

The first harvest can be obtained 92 days after sowing the seeds for seedlings. This is why this variety is called ultra-early, as other varieties do not have this characteristic.

The Otradny variety produces simple inflorescences with medium-sized, corrugated, and moderately dissected leaves. The foliage is green. The bushes are moderately leafy. The branches are sparse. Each cluster produces 5 to 7 flowers.

The first inflorescence appears immediately above the sixth leaf, and the next ones appear after 1 leaf.

Thus, caring for these tomato bushes is effortless and simple. This is greatly appreciated by gardeners who have repeatedly planted this tomato variety in their gardens and homesteads. The tomatoes, due to their growth, resemble ornamental plants; 5-6 of them can be planted in a 1 m² area.

Special attention should be paid to the characteristics of the fruits that grow on the Otradny variety of tomatoes. The characteristics of these tomatoes include:

1. Light weight. The weight of one fruit varies from 50 to 70 g.
2. The fruits are round or slightly oval in shape.
3. Tomatoes are covered with a glossy skin that does not crack during ripening and transportation.
4. The color of the fruit is bright red.
5. The taste is characteristically tomato-like, slightly sour and sweet at the same time.
6. There is no green spot on the stalk.
7. From a plot of 1 m² you can harvest 7 to 8 kg of tomatoes.

Gardeners grow the Otradny variety for personal and commercial purposes. The resulting harvest can be used for various preserves, pickles, and fresh consumption. These tomatoes are a perfect addition to any holiday table. The fruits are also used to make delicious salads, tomato juice, purees, and sauces. If Otradny tomatoes are to be sold, they should be packed in crates. They have a long shelf life and withstand transportation to retail outlets well.

How to grow tomatoes?

Seeds should be purchased only from a specialized store to ensure high-quality seedlings for subsequent planting in the ground. Before planting, the seeds should be soaked in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Next, the peat in the containers is fertilized with organic or mineral substances. The seeds are buried 1-2 cm into the soil, watered, and then the containers are covered with ordinary plastic film. This will create a greenhouse effect and speed up the emergence of seedlings.

As soon as the second true leaf appears, transplant the seedlings. Before transplanting them into the ground, feed them several times with a complex fertilizer.

A week or two before planting in a greenhouse or open ground, plants need to be hardened off. Planting occurs when the soil is no longer at risk of frost and the seedlings are 50 days old. Before planting, the soil in the area should be treated with potassium permanganate to eliminate pests and fungi.

The seedlings are transferred to the greenhouse in April, to temporary plastic shelters in May, and to the open ground when the threat of frost and sudden temperature drops has passed. The seedlings should be watered in the evening with warm water. During the growing season, the bushes need to be fed, watered regularly, and the soil around them should be carefully loosened.

Gardeners' reviews of this variety are positive. As one summer resident writes: "I used to plant different tomato varieties in my garden, but after trying the Otradny variety, I now grow only it. Because it's easy to care for, it has excellent flavor and the highest yield."