The large-fruited tomato, Novikov's Giant, is a beefsteak tomato. Each plant has its own characteristics. Proper care is essential for a good harvest.
General characteristics of the plant
The Novikov Giant variety is mid-season, so you won't see the first ripe tomatoes until mid-summer. The average time for fruiting is 110-120 days after the seeds have sprouted. However, during cold and rainy seasons, which are unfavorable for tomato growing, ripening can be delayed until mid-August. In central Russia, the Novikov Giant can be grown both in a greenhouse and in the open ground, given the average ripening time for tomatoes.
The bush is indeterminate and grows indefinitely. In 1990, the cultivar's creator, A. Novikov, managed to grow 3-4 meter-tall vines in a heated greenhouse and harvest up to 30 kg of marketable fruit per plant. Gardeners won't be able to replicate this record indoors or in a polycarbonate greenhouse: the Novikov Giant tomato variety reaches a height of 2 m in protected ground and up to 1.5 m in open ground. The average yield is 10-12 kg per plant. To maximize the yield, growers train the plants into 2-3 stems.
Characteristics and descriptions of the variety, provided by those who have grown tomatoes for several years, note the sensitivity of tomatoes to environmental conditions. In cold weather, tomatoes in open ground can produce very little fruit, while excessive heat and dry air cause the loss of flowers and ovaries.
Sensitivity to high temperatures must also be taken into account when growing in a greenhouse, not allowing the room to overheat above +30°C.
Giant Tomatoes Novikov varieties are not resistant to late blight. As a hobby variety, Novikov Giant has not been tested for resistance to other fungal infections. Reviews from gardeners note its resistance to diseases only in relatively favorable years, when the incidence of Alternaria or Fusarium is low.
Characteristics of the Novikov Giant fruit
Tomatoes form in simple clusters, each with 3-5 ovaries. The largest berries grow in the lower one or two tiers, becoming smaller as they mature. The largest tomatoes reach 700-900 g in weight, but even the smallest fruits rarely weigh less than 350 g. The shape is round, the fruit is flattened vertically, and can sometimes have uneven sides.
The skin is thin, but the tomatoes are not prone to cracking during ripening. Large, ripe tomatoes only last a few days, but slightly unripe tomatoes are easy to transport over long distances. When harvested at technical ripeness, the tomatoes ripen slowly, allowing gardeners to have fresh vegetables until late fall. Ripe tomatoes are raspberry-pink in color, with a beautiful sheen. Unripe tomatoes are pale green, with a spot at the base.
The flesh is intensely colored, dark pink, without a light core. When cut, Giant Novikov beef tomatoes have numerous small seed chambers, some of which are seedless. Gardeners themselves describe the flavor of the Giant Novikov tomato, agreeing that it's very tasty, although quite demanding in terms of growing conditions.
Giant tomatoes contain over 10% sugar. They have a distinctly sweet flavor and a slight tangy acidity. At low temperatures and high humidity, the flavor deteriorates, becoming more acidic. A sugar deficiency also occurs with artificial ripening: the tomatoes won't become sour, but the flavor will be less pronounced than those ripened on the vine.
The Novikov Giant variety is best eaten fresh. Its sweet tomatoes are a favorite among many, and they're often included in salads and appetizers. One large tomato can make a salad for 3-4 servings. Sliced into wedges, these tomatoes can be used as a garnish for platters or as the base for a gourmet appetizer. They're also a delightful addition to hamburger fillings or sandwiches. The chopped pulp can be used to make gazpacho and sauces, and can be added to vegetable caviar and soup sautés.
Excess tomatoes can only be used for juice and sauces. Tomatoes are too large for canning. But the tender and juicy flesh of ripe tomatoes produces a rich, thick pulp that can be easily boiled down to the desired consistency without losing vitamins. The juice will be intensely colored and rich and sweet in flavor. This filling is great for lecho, appetizers, and tomatoes in their own juice. By boiling down the pulp thoroughly, a vegetable grower can create a tomato paste with an excellent flavor, comparable to Italian varieties.
Agricultural technology of the variety
When sowing seedlings, aim for 80-90-day-old seedlings by the time they're planted in a greenhouse or garden beds. In this case, you can expect a harvest in just 1-1.5 months. To ensure large tomatoes grow even in the upper tiers, follow these simple feeding guidelines:
- Apply nitrogen fertilizer only once before the first flower cluster opens. Apply nitrogen mixtures or organic fertilizer 7-10 days after transplanting the plants to their permanent location.
- When the bushes begin to bloom, superphosphate, potassium monophosphate, and special mixtures are added tomatoes (Signor Tomato (or others) according to the fertilizer manufacturer's instructions. The mineral mixture can be replaced with sifted wood ash (500 g per 10 liters, 1 liter per bush). The same feeding can be repeated after 2 weeks.
- During fruiting, avoid adding organic matter (compost, cow manure, bird droppings) or nitrogen-containing mineral fertilizers (nitrophoska, etc.). This reduces the tomato yield and forces the plants to grow foliage.
With proper fertilizing and timely watering, gardeners will be able to achieve a good tomato harvest from Novikov's Giant.
To increase the number of tomatoes, tomato shaping is also used. When side shoots appear, they are pruned until a single flower cluster emerges. One lateral shoot can be left above this cluster if two stems are desired. To form three branches, one more side shoot is left above the second unfolded flower cluster on the main stem. The remaining shoots are regularly removed.
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I want to plant this variety at my dacha this year. I tried it last year at my neighbor's—it's delicious, the flesh is sweet and tasty, perfect for salads. I'll find your tips helpful when growing it!