Description of the tomato variety Cosmonaut Volkov, its characteristics and cultivation

The Cosmonaut Volkov tomato is a Russian tomato with large fruits. It was bred by space engineer I.N. Maslov, who, after retiring from his primary career, devoted himself to tomato cultivation. The variety was named as a tribute to his fellow engineer. Thanks to his method, a single plant can grow Cosmonaut Volkov tomatoes weighing over 60 kilograms.

Description of the variety

The Cosmonaut Volkov tomato is a variety that requires considerable effort to grow. Cosmonaut Volkov tomatoes can be planted either indoors or in a garden bed. They are resistant to all common diseases. Caring for this variety as a bush plant becomes challenging once it reaches a height of 2 meters.

It's worth noting that the stem can grow several meters longer—the variety has no limit to its length. When grown outdoors, a trellis should be installed to secure the bush planting—this will prevent the stem from breaking in strong winds when heavy tomatoes ripen.

Note: To prevent the impact of bad weather on tomato plants, it is recommended to plant the bushes in greenhouse conditions.

The Cosmonaut Volkov tomato variety belongs to the indeterminate subspecies. This standard-type bush is classified as mid-early. The first tomato harvest begins after 111 days. The Cosmonaut Volkov variety is widely known among Russian gardeners. Under favorable growing conditions, one tomato plant can produce a 7-kilogram harvest.² An area planted with such varietal tomatoes guarantees an 18-kilogram harvest.

Description of fruits

The average weight of a ripe Kosmonavt Volkov tomato is approximately 620 grams. The lower tier of bush tomato plants produces larger fruits, sometimes weighing almost 1 kilogram. The tomato is round, with the part near the stalk area being strongly flattened. The top of the tomato is slightly flattened or rounded.

The flesh is sweet and turns red as it ripens. There are seven evenly spaced seed chambers. The seeds of this varietal tomato are medium-sized. Dry matter content does not exceed 6%.

Useful information: the pulp of the Cosmonaut Volkov tomato contains an even balance of acid and sugar.

How to plant varietal tomatoes

Carrying out planting activities:

1. To grow varietal tomatoes in greenhouse conditions, it's necessary to construct a trellis. Bushes planted in a bed can be secured to wooden stakes.
2. Provide ample lighting in the greenhouse.
3. Prepare seedlings.

Important: tomato bushes, when planted in open areas, grow smaller in size than those grown in greenhouses.

How to get seedlings of varietal tomatoes?

You can grow tomato seedlings by sowing Cosmonaut Volkov tomato seeds or purchasing ready-made ones from other gardeners. Don't sow tomato seeds earlier than two months before planting.

Seeds extracted from ripe tomatoes must be disinfected with a potassium permanganate solution and hardened before they are ready for germination. Tomato plants are usually placed in boxes and covered with plastic wrap after preliminary watering. Once two leaves have formed, the seedlings should be transplanted into small containers.

Important: To check the suitability of seeds for germination, place them in a container of water for 15 minutes. Seeds that float to the surface should be discarded as they are unsuitable for planting.

Note: for store-bought seeds, there is no need to carry out disinfection and hardening procedures.

At the end of March, you can plant varietal seedlings in the greenhouse. Prepared seedlings can be planted in the garden bed when the soil is fully warmed, maintaining a minimum distance of approximately 64 centimeters.

Rules for caring for shrub plantings

The Kosmonavt Volkov tomato variety requires infrequent but abundant watering, especially before flowering and until ripening. Increase the dose as fruit sets. Freshly watered soil should be loosened. Subsequently, loosen the soil as needed. The area around the bush planting should be regularly cleared of weeds.

Side-sonning of the Kosmonavt Volkov planting material is accomplished by removing 7-centimeter shoots, leaving a 2-centimeter fragment at the base to prevent re-sprouting of side-sons. All side-sons must be removed in the same manner.

List of positive and negative qualities

Positive qualities of the vegetable fruits Cosmonaut Volkov:

• at least 5 kilogram yield from each bush;
• sweet, aromatic tomatoes with a slightly sour taste;
• resistance to painful lesions;
• mid-early variety;
• large fruit size;
• the possibility of growing both in greenhouse conditions and in the garden;
• undemanding to soil composition;
• 8 fruits on each inflorescence;
• versatility of use of plant products;
• Thiamine content in fruits.

Negative characteristics:

• need for a garter;
• mandatory pinching;
• abundant lighting in greenhouse growing conditions;
• short-term storage of ripe fruits.

Methods of combating diseases and harmful insects

1. Branches affected by tobacco mosaic should be removed and burned. To treat the wound on the plant, prepare a concentrated potassium permanganate solution.
2. If your plantings are affected by brown spot, treat the plant with chemicals or remove the affected bush.
3. To get rid of whiteflies, treat with Confidor. Mix the spray solution at a rate of 1 ml per 10-liter container of water.
4. If the plantings are affected by spider mites, they are sprayed with a soap solution.
5. You can get rid of slugs by sprinkling the soil around the bush with ash or hot ground pepper.

Use of ripened tomato crops

Tomato harvesting can begin before they reach full ripeness, at the milky-brown stage. Further ripening increases the sugar content and sweetens the tomatoes. Harvested varietal tomatoes are suitable for transportation. The flesh, characterized by its distinct fleshiness, makes it suitable for making thick pastes, ketchups, and juices. Small tomatoes can be placed in a barrel for pickling.

Gardeners' reviews

Ildar, an amateur gardener

I saw "Cosmonaut Volkov" while watching a TV show. I read reviews online from people who had planted it. The variety intrigued me and I decided to give it a try. The results were excellent. The tomatoes were large and tasty. I trained the planting into a single, two-meter-tall stem.

Oksana, a summer resident

I asked my neighbors at the dacha to share some new seeds. The harvest was good, with large tomatoes. But they don't keep for more than a week.