Tomato velvet streaked (shaggy) will definitely appeal to lovers of a tomato with an unusual color. The variety was bred in France, the year is unknown. The original name is Velue Striee. Judging by the reviews, in Russia it has been grown since 2015.
We learn in more detail what this rare variety is. We single out all its features and deal with the important nuances of growing.
Content
Description of tomato Velvet Streaked
Fist variety of medium maturity, the period from sowing to harvesting takes about 115 days. Immunity to diseases and pests is high, but resistance to drought, heat, and also to sharp changes in day and night temperatures is relatively weak.
Streaked velvet is best grown in temperate cities or in greenhouses. But it is worth noting that even in cool regions with unstable weather, the variety can be planted in open ground, but only under certain conditions. The site should be closed from winds and drafts. In the heat and in periods when there is a threat of a sharp decrease in night temperature, the bushes should be hidden under film shelters.
Plant characteristics
The bush is indeterminate, in open ground it grows up to 180 cm, and in a greenhouse up to 2 meters and above. The variety has a very interesting feature, not unique, but noticeable! The whole plant is densely covered with small silvery hairs. From the side, the branches and leaves look velvety. Green fruits are also covered with a thick fluff; as it ripens, its intensity becomes less.
Oblivion in unprotected soil is average, and in greenhouses weaker. The leaves are ordinary in shape. The first brush is formed over a 7 or 9 leaf. On the whole, the tomato-velvet streaked bushes are very decorative, resembling a plant of sheep’s ears.
Fruits are heart-oval with a small rounded nose, sweet, there is a slight acid and a rich tomato flavor. The average weight of tomatoes is 50–70 grams. The skin is dense, the flesh is red-pink juicy, slightly sugary. There are no more than 4 seed chambers, few seeds. The color of the tomato is variegated, the main color is red. Uneven yellow and orange strokes extend from the stalk and spread throughout the tomato.
Grade purpose and yield
The variety is widely used in home cooking and preservation. The fruits are not large, so you can roll them whole, they look very good in a jar and do not crack. Bright tomato flavor allows you to harvest from tomato Velvet streaked various juices, adjika, ketchups and pastes. Of course, this tomato is very good fresh, in summer salads and vegetable slices.
On one brush, up to 4 fruits are formed. On average, with the correct formation of the plant from one bush for the whole season, you can remove up to 5 kilograms of tomatoes. Indoors or in warm regions, yield is slightly higher.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Tomato velvet streaked is not afraid of anything but adverse weather conditions (heat and cold). If this moment is not taken into account, the plant will lose its immunity to diseases, the yield indicator will decrease, and the fruits will become tasteless. Now we note the main advantages of the variety:
- good yield;
- the fruits are not prone to cracking;
- universality in use;
- high taste and marketability of tomato;
- resistance to dangerous viruses and fungi.
I would also like to note that Velvet Streaked is a rather rare, collectible tomato, it is rarely found in stores and catalogs. However, having bought the coveted seeds, in the future they can be harvested independently. The seeds are distinguished by remarkable germination, and the offspring that they give retains all the varietal characters of the original plant.
The secrets of growing tomato Velvet highlighted
Information on the correct calculation of the timing of sowing and planting tomatoes in a permanent place is always relevant. It should be remembered that for each region the dates are very different. In order not to be mistaken, you should rely on weather factors and features of a certain grade:
- sowing seeds of tomato Velvet reclaimed is carried out 60 or 65 days before the intended planting of seedlings;
- when growing in open ground, you should wait for the last spring frosts and plant bushes when the positive temperature is established day and night;
- if tomatoes grow in a greenhouse, planting dates can be shifted 5-10 days ago.
When there is no full confidence in the correctness of all calculations, it is better for beginners to ask for advice from more experienced gardeners from their region. Overgrown or underdeveloped seedlings will get used to new conditions for a long time, this can lead to a decrease in yield and the development of diseases.
Seedling preparation
Seeds are sown in wide crates at a distance of 2–2.5 cm from each other to a depth of not more than 1 cm. The soil is well moistened, covered with a transparent film and placed in a warm place, it can be on a cabinet or a high shelf. As soon as the tomatoes hatch, the shelter is removed and the seedlings are moved to a well-lit window sill.
At the stage of one real leaf, seedlings can be dived into individual containers. The strongest and most beautiful seedlings should be transplanted, mainly those that hatch first. The procedure is carried out very carefully, it is important not to damage the weak roots. Plants transship with a lump of earth so that it does not crumble, a couple of hours before a dive, the soil in the box is abundantly watered.
Seedlings are fed 2 weeks after transplantation, subsequent sessions are carried out with an interval of 14-20 days. You can use light, diluted in water organic fertilizers or special complexes for seedlings. 2 weeks before planting on a permanent place, the tomatoes begin to accustom to new conditions, hardening is carried out in any convenient way.
Landing and care
Soil condition must be taken care of well in advance; tomatoes grow very poorly in poor, heavy and acidic land. Loosening the soil can be done by adding coarse sand, and enrich it with organic matter. What to plant before a tomato, the selection of neighbors:
- of siderates, preference is given to phacelia, alfalfa and white mustard;
- the most successful predecessors are cucumbers and cabbage;
- carrots, corn, beets, beans, garlic and onions can be planted in the neighborhood;
- next to the beds you need to find a place for repellent plants - marigolds, calendula and nasturtium.
On one square meter, no more than 4 tomato seedlings are placed Velvet Streaked. The plant is recommended to form in 2 or 3 stems. Extra stepchildren and leaves from the bottom of the bush are cleaned. As soon as the tomato grows to 150 cm, you need to pinch the growth point. Watering and top dressing are carried out in standard mode, as for other varieties. Weeding can be combined with loosening the soil.
Often, inexperienced gardeners think that unusual tomatoes require special care. Perhaps some hybrids and varieties may have a moody disposition, but in most cases this opinion is erroneous. Tomato velvet highlighted is decorative, but it does not require any particular attention to itself.
Reviews
Tamara I bought tomato seeds. Velvet, highlighted. As soon as it appeared in Russia, I was in search of unusual and unpretentious varieties. At that time, I did not find information about how to grow it, planted all the seedlings in the open ground in the Leningrad Region. The bushes did not hurt, they developed well, but the yield was weak. The next year I tried to plant in a greenhouse, and the result exceeded all my expectations. I will grow further.
Yulia. I really like the variety, the tomatoes are tasty and beautiful, and the bushes are just a sight for sore eyes! As for me, the yield is average, however, I’m not going to abandon the cultivation of Velvet Streaked. It does not require painstaking care, I do it only on weekends, while there were no diseases in 2 years. The cottage is located in Chekhov, planting a variety in a polycarbonate greenhouse and under film shelters.
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