Growing Kosovo tomatoes and preventing tomato diseases

The Kosovo tomato is a mid-late, productive variety. Its pink fruits are large and fleshy. The flesh is soft, juicy, and sweet, with few seeds. Even in hot weather, good fruit set is observed. Growing this variety is not difficult with effort and patience.

Description of Kosovo tomatoes:

1. This variety of tomatoes has its homeland, Serbia.
2. The fruits ripen in 120-130 days after planting.
3. The type of tomato bush of this variety is indeterminate.
4. The height of each bush: from 180 to 200 cm.
5. The plant produces large, heart-shaped, pink fruits weighing from 300 to 500 g.
6. The plant forms 2-3 stems.

Pests and diseases

This tomato variety tolerates even conditions unfavorable for farming. Therefore, the Kosovo variety easily withstands temperature fluctuations, is easy to care for, and is resistant to pests.

But to be on the safe side, the plant is treated with special solutions as a preventative measure. For example, these can include phytosporin and copper-containing solutions. The following insects are dangerous for this tomato variety:

1. Colorado beetles.
2. Whiteflies.
3. Slugs.
4. Khrushchevs.

If a massive pest infestation has begun, purchase insecticides to treat the plant.

Preparing the soil and material for planting

Prepare the soil for growing Kosovo tomatoes in the fall. Dig it over and add manure. Alternatively, mix the soil with compost. Do the same in the spring, adding 1 tablespoon of potassium chloride and 5 tablespoons of superphosphate.

Kosovo tomatoes are tall-growing varieties, so seedlings should be sown 2.5-3 months before transplanting them outdoors. This is usually done in late February or early March. Purchase Kosovo tomato seeds only from specialty stores.

If you have already grown this variety, you can collect the seeds yourself.

How to sow plant seeds

Despite this variety's ease of growth and care, it's still worth creating the most favorable conditions for tomatoes to ensure a good harvest.

Kosovo tomatoes are a heat-loving variety, so the seeds require hardening. This will accelerate ripening by 3-7 days, and the yield will increase by 30-40%.

Hardening of seeds is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. The sprouted seeds are disinfected in a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin for 20 minutes, after which they are washed in clean water.
2. After this, the seeds are placed in a solution of microelements or stimulants for 6 hours.
3. Over the course of a week, the seeds are placed in a cold place where the temperature is 0°C for 12 hours.

Here are some tips for properly preparing seeds at home:

1. Take seeds from healthy and large fruits that had a large number of ovaries.
2. The tomatoes don't have to be ripe all the way to the base; fruits that have already ripened at home will do.

Soil preparation has already been discussed. The planting and care sequence is as follows:

1. The seeds are planted 1.5-2 cm deep in moist soil. They should be immediately covered with plastic wrap, and the air temperature should be between 23-25°C above zero.
2. Once the sprouts emerge, increase the air temperature to 15-18°C during the day. At night, it can be reduced to 8-12°C.
3. After two leaves appear, you can pick out the seedlings.
4. Seedlings are fed once every 3 weeks.

Add the necessary fertilizers to the soil in advance, these can be:

1. Phosphorus.
2. Potassium.
3. Humus.
4. Peat compost.

Recommendations and tips for caring for seedlings

The seedlings need to be properly cared for. Here are some tips that, if followed, will help the plant get stronger and grow well:

1. Temperature control must be observed.
2. Adequate lighting. If the seedlings are currently on your windowsill, ensure they have access to sunlight.
3. Water moderately. It's best to water thoroughly only when the soil becomes dry.
4. Prick out the seedlings.
5. Fertilize regularly.

If you prepare the seeds properly, carefully care for the seedlings, and follow tomato growing practices, you will achieve not only a better but also an early harvest of Kosovo tomatoes.

If you listen to the reviews of experienced gardeners and summer residents, they will claim that the Kosovo tomato variety is very easy to grow, and the fruits are juicy, sweet, and fleshy.