Description of the striped pepper-shaped tomato Sherkhan and cultivation techniques

The unusual decorative tomato Sherkhan will appeal to lovers of garden exoticism. Tomatoes can be classified as pepper-shaped., but it's not just the shape of the fruit that amazes. The variety gets its name from the combination of two flowers (bicolor).

Plant characteristics

Sherkhan tomato bushes are compact and small: only 60 cm tall. However, many gardeners still tie them to supports because this allows them to form three stems, increasing the yield per bush. Close planting increases the yield per unit area.

If you have plenty of space, you can skip staking your tomato plants and plant them 50 cm apart. The weight of the fruit will cause the stems to sink to the ground and form additional roots, which should be covered with soil. This will provide the plant with additional nutrition.

The Sherkhan variety is an early-ripening tomato. The first fruits begin to ripen 95-100 days after germination. The yield is uniform, as with all determinate varieties. After 5-6 clusters form on the main stem, its growth stops. Pruning the tomato helps prolong fruiting slightly: fruits on the side shoots set slightly later.

The modern Sherkhan tomato variety is resistant to macrosporiosis and other fungal infections that tend to appear in warm weather. Late blight may only appear on the planting in late summer, after the bushes have finished fruiting. The plant is sensitive to calcium deficiency and may respond with blossom-end rot.

Description of the fruits of the Sherkhan variety

Sherkhan tomatoes should not be confused with the Sherami (cherry) variety. Unlike the latter, Sherkhan produces medium-sized fruits weighing 90-120 g. The tomatoes are borne in clusters of 5-7 tomatoes.

The total yield per bush is approximately 3 kg of marketable produce. With dense planting and staking, 6-8 bushes can be planted per square meter, increasing the yield per plot.

Experienced gardeners describe the tomatoes' flavor as a classic tomato aroma and a sweet-and-sour taste. Those who have grown tomatoes in their own gardens also rave about the shape of the fruit: the smaller ones have the familiar oval shape with ribbing, but the larger tomatoes, which form on the lower clusters, are almost cubic, with a wide base and a similarly wide tip.

The fruit's skin is firm, and the tomatoes are not prone to cracking. They do not split during heat treatment, store well when ripe, and ripen even if picked unripe. The fruit's skin is bright red, with longitudinal orange stripes of varying thickness. Unripe tomatoes have a shading of shades of green.

The flesh is a rich red color; white spots in the center appear due to insufficient sun during cold seasons. The consistency is typical of pepper-shaped tomatoes: firm but quite juicy. An unripe tomato may be dry, but when fully ripe, the flesh takes on a softer texture. The seed chambers are large, with 2-3 of them.

The description of the Sherkhan variety emphasizes its versatility. These beautiful and tasty tomatoes are excellent fresh as one of the earliest vegetables. These striped tomatoes make beautiful salads and elegant appetizers, and they complement both sliced ​​and simple sandwiches.

When vegetables begin to ripen, it's time to harvest tomatoes for the winter. These small, neat tomatoes are attractive in marinades and make a decorative addition to vegetable platters. Their bright flesh makes a delicious, high-quality juice or sauce with a rich tomato flavor. This variety is well suited for drying and making gourmet preserves in olive oil.

Agricultural technology of the Sherkhan variety

It's not advisable to sow this early-ripening variety for seedlings earlier than 50-60 days before planting. Sowing occurs around the end of March. It's easiest to use store-bought seedling soil, but you can also create your own soil mix. To do this, use equal parts garden soil, sand, and humus. You can deacidify the soil for seedlings by adding ground eggshells or chalk.

The substrate for sowing seeds must be calcined in an oven or microwave oven. A good method of disinfection is also considered to be copious watering with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.

Sow seeds by spreading them over the surface of cool, moist soil. Cover them with dry soil or sand, no more than 0.5 cm thick. Tomatoes germinate quickly in a warm place if the container is covered with glass or plastic.

When 1-3 leaves appear on the seedlings, they are pricked out. It's best to transplant Sherkhan tomatoes into individual containers. When the time comes to plant the tomatoes, space the plants in a 30x40 cm (compacted) or 50x50 cm pattern. Further care consists of watering the plants as the soil dries to a depth of 2-3 cm.