Characteristics of the variety
Now we will try to consider the main characteristics and description of the tomato variety Alyosha Popovich, and also find out what vegetable growers think about the crop. Although there are not many reviews about the tomato. The variety is new, plus its growing conditions are limited. The tomato bears fruit before the onset of frost, and in the middle zone they begin early. We're not even talking about Siberia. In these regions, the crop will yield its entire harvest only in a greenhouse. In the south, tomatoes can be grown outdoors without any problems. The cold comes late here, and before this time the crop manages to bear all its fruits.
Advice! In the middle zone, the tomato variety Alyosha Popovich is best grown as seedlings. Plants are planted in a greenhouse when they already have a strong stem and full leaves.
Alyosha Popovich belongs to the indeterminate group of tomatoes. The bushes grow up to 1.8 m high. The shape of the leaves is normal, as for most tomatoes. Mature plants are secured to a support, otherwise the weight of the fruit will overwhelm them to the ground. Removal of stepchildren is mandatory. According to reviews from vegetable growers, greater tomato yields are observed when the bush is formed into two or three stems.
In terms of ripening time, Alyosha Popovich belongs to the mid-season tomatoes. After sowing the seeds, you can taste the first ripe tomatoes three months later. The fruits are spherical in shape with a slightly flattened top and base near the stalk. The tomatoes are medium size. Typically, the weight of the fruit varies from 160 to 200 g, but larger tomatoes weighing up to 300 g also grow. The tomato pulp is fleshy, juicy, and acquires a uniform red color when ripe. Sometimes the fruit may have a pink tint. The walls of the tomato are smooth, only weak convolutions are observed near the stalk.
Tomato is more suitable for fresh consumption. The fruits are used to prepare salads, juice, and for decorating dishes. Thanks to the fleshy pulp, tomatoes make a thick paste and tasty adjika. Tomatoes are rarely used in canning, but you can choose small fruits for packing in jars.
Reviews about the Alyosha Popovich tomato are most often positive. Although, there is a category of vegetable growers who want to get a huge harvest without investing labor and, moreover, quite quickly. Naturally, this variety of tomatoes will not suit such gardeners. The crop will bring a good harvest only with painstaking care. The tomato throws out its inflorescences until late autumn. The fruits ripen gradually, unevenly.
Important! Despite the capriciousness, the variety is characterized by strong immunity. When growing large tomato plantations, a sufficient number of ripe fruits can be harvested at one time for sale.
The video provides an overview of tomatoes, among which is the Alyosha Popovich variety:
Transplantation into the ground
The formed seedlings are moved into open ground at the appointed time. By this time, the sprouts should already have real leaves. The soil is prepared in advance for planting - manure, sand, and fertilizer are mixed.
It is recommended to plant tomatoes at a distance of sixty centimeters from each other. To provide tomatoes with fresh air and light, it is recommended to form bushes into one or two stems. Growing tomatoes, of course, is a labor-intensive process, but the result of the work can be seen in just three months.
Positive and negative traits of the variety
Taking the reviews and photo of the tomato Alyosha Popovich as a basis, let's try to better characterize this variety. As usual, let's start with the positive qualities:
- Good immunity allows tomatoes to fight common diseases. In particular, the plant is resistant to tobacco mosaic, as well as fusarium.
- The variety is high-yielding. A maximum of 15 kg of ripe tomatoes can be harvested from a plot of 1 m2.
- Fruiting lasts until late autumn, until the first frost hits.
In addition to its good qualities, the tomato has negative traits, and there are many of them:
- The Alyosha Popovich variety loves a lot of sunlight. You don’t even have to try to grow this tomato in a shaded area.
- The crop is sensitive to weather. A bad summer, cold, rain, and a long spring will affect fruiting. Under such conditions, the tomato will not yield even half of its harvest.
- The plant instantly reacts to a mistake made by the vegetable grower. Violation of the watering regime, improper feeding or shaping of the bush will affect the wilting of the tomato. The inflorescences may partially fall off or fruit set may stop.
Such serious shortcomings indicate that the Alyosha Popovich variety is not intended for lazy vegetable growers.
Advantages
The advantages include:
- resistance to many dangerous diseases (tobacco mosaic, fusarium);
- high yield with the ability to harvest about 15 kg of tomatoes from each square meter;
- fruiting over a long period.
Flaws
Gardeners note the following negative points:
- the variety is very light-loving, so artificial lighting is used to grow seedlings;
- good yield only if all conditions are met (otherwise the variety will not show half its capabilities).
Soil requirement
This variety of tomatoes is recommended to be grown as seedlings. Store-bought seeds are usually disinfected and completely ready for sowing. If there are no corresponding marks on the package, it would be a good idea to dip the tomato grains in a 1% manganese solution. This tomato variety is very sensitive to the composition of the soil. To grow strong seedlings, it is not enough to simply mix garden soil with humus. Micronutrient supplements are needed. It is very difficult to accurately maintain all the proportions at home, so it is easier to go to the store and buy a soil mixture.
An adult tomato also reacts to the composition of the soil, which can be seen in the yield. The Alyosha Popovich variety will yield maximum fruit if it grows on loamy or sandy loam soil. Before planting tomato seedlings, the soil in the garden bed needs to be fertilized.
Opinions and recommendations of vegetable growers
Only those who have grown it can appreciate this wonderful variety; reviews most often prove that high yields are guaranteed with good care.
Georgy Valentinovich, vegetable grower, Rostov region:
Tomatoes in our area grow well in open beds. But this variety turned out to be so capricious that my experience was not enough to grow it outside. And those bushes that I planted in the greenhouse pleased me with the harvest.
Tamara Ignatievna, Belgorod:
Last season, Alyosha Popovich grew tomatoes in the greenhouse. The troubles began already with sowing the seeds (suitable soil is prepared in advance), then attention is needed for seedlings (the soil in the boxes is enriched, disinfected).
While they are growing, one must constantly pay attention to the level of light and the composition of the soil, but the yield proved that all the efforts were not in vain. Until the very cold weather, we enjoyed eating tomatoes ourselves and treating our neighbors.
Sowing seeds
The gardener determines the time for sowing tomato seeds for seedlings individually, taking into account the climatic conditions of his region. It is necessary to calculate that by the time the plants are planted in a permanent place, the earth should warm up well. Every conscientious tomato seed producer indicates the sowing date on the package. It usually falls at the end of February - beginning of March.
Before sowing, the soil mixture in containers is moistened. Tomato seeds are laid out in grooves in increments of 2–3 cm. The grains are covered with loose soil 1–1.5 cm thick on top. The soil is watered from above again with a sprayer, after which the container is covered with film or glass. In this state they stand at an air temperature of +25°C until sprouts appear.
After the emergence of seedlings, the shelter is disposed of. The container is placed on the windowsill, plus artificial lighting is provided. When the tomatoes grow two full leaves, the plants are planted in separate cups.
Important! When growing tomato seedlings, it is important to water and fertilize in a timely manner.
Growing rules
A good harvest of this variety largely depends on how correctly the place for planting it was chosen. Alyosha Popovich tomatoes are very picky about the type of soil - they will bear fruit well only on loamy and sandy loam soil. In addition, the selected area must be sufficiently illuminated.
Planting seedlings
Before planting seeds for seedlings, it is necessary to disinfect the seeds. To do this, they are treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate). If desired, treatment with growth stimulants can be included in the preparation of seeds for planting.
The next stage is preparing the soil for planting seedlings. It is prepared from topsoil, wood ash and compost.
Advice! It is recommended to disinfect the soil from pathogenic bacteria before sowing seeds. To do this, the soil mixture is calcined in the oven.
Seeds are usually planted in late May. Containers with seedlings are covered with film and placed in a warm room.
As soon as the first shoots appear, the seedlings are moved to the windowsill to provide the seedlings with enough sunlight. When there is a lack of light, artificial lighting is used.
Water the seedlings moderately. High soil moisture levels can encourage blackleg infection.
Plants are picked when 2-3 leaves appear.
Tomato transplant
The seedlings are moved to a permanent place 1-2 months after the first shoots. Tomatoes are planted after the threat of late frost has passed and consistently warm weather has established.
Holes for planting should be located at a distance of 60 cm from each other, preferably more. In greenhouses where tomatoes are grown in 4 stems, the plants are spaced even less often - the distance between the holes in this case should be at least 80 cm. This way the tomato bushes will be properly illuminated, and access to them will not be difficult.
Important! It is better to plant seedlings in the evening. This will make it easier for plants to adapt to direct sunlight.
Subsequent care for tomatoes
Alyosha Popovich places high demands on personal care. In order for it to bear fruit well and not get sick, the beds must be regularly cleared of weeds, treated against pests and infections, and also fertilized. In addition, the soil must be mulched with hay or mowed grass for better moisture retention.
The first feeding is done 7-8 days after planting the seedlings. The soil is enriched, first of all, with potassium and nitrogen fertilizers. You can also use green fertilizers that contain rotted grass.
Alyosha Popovich is a tall species, so soon after the bushes begin to grow, they should be secured on supports or trellises.
The frost resistance of the variety is at an average level, so even when grown in a greenhouse, tomatoes can suffer from low temperatures. For the winter, it is better to cover tomatoes with film.
In the first days after planting, water abundantly. Then the beds are watered once a week, but in general you should focus on the weather. During hot periods, the frequency of watering increases.
Important! Water tomatoes at the root to reduce the risk of sunburn on the foliage.
The next condition for a good harvest is uniform air circulation. High humidity negatively affects the development of this variety, so the greenhouse is periodically ventilated. On the other hand, drafts are also dangerous for him.
Tomatoes are formed into 4 stems, but only if they receive enough light. When thickening the plantings, leave 1-2 stems.
Planting tomatoes in a permanent place of growth
At the time of planting, tomatoes have fully formed leaves under the first cluster. By this time, the seedlings should undergo a hardening procedure. Tomatoes are planted in prepared soil. The procedure involves the introduction of humus and fertilizers. If the soil is heavy, sand is added to loosen it.
For the Alyosha Popovich variety, a planting pattern of 60x70 cm is recommended. The tomato bushes grow tall, but not spreading. Thanks to the maintained distance, the grower has access to every tomato. Plus, good ventilation is provided, reducing the risk of late blight affecting plants.
Reviews from gardeners
Homestead owner Dmitry Shevchenko notes the tendency of tomatoes to crack. He used his harvest exclusively for sauces and juices.
Agricultural blogger Tatyana from Slavyansk (Ukraine) showed Alyoshka bushes in her greenhouse. Their height is about 1 m. The conditions for the development of culture were not too favorable. The weather was bad and the seedlings got into the soil ahead of schedule. At the time of photography, the fruits were still green. They started in large numbers, in tassels of 6-8 pieces. Therefore, the gardener called the hybrid fruitful. The woman cites rain as the cause of cracks in the skin of tomatoes. Dosed watering corrects the situation.
Tomato Alyoshka F1 has been on the seed market for quite some time. However, there are few reviews about it. The originator himself inactively advertises and promotes his product. Perhaps this explains the low demand for the hybrid among gardeners. The tomato has quality characteristics, but without field testing among the people it is difficult to confirm them.
Rules of care
To get a good harvest from a tomato, the vegetable grower will have to devote a lot of time to the crop. Cultivation errors will lead to plant disease. The fruits will grow small, sour and semi-dry.
If you decide to grow the Alyosha Popovich variety, you should adhere to the following rules:
- Tomato is very light-loving. Growing seedlings cannot be done without artificial lighting. Even shade has a negative effect on plants.
- The soil under seedlings and adult tomatoes must be constantly loosened. Mulching gives good results. This gives the tomato roots more oxygen.
- The culture is susceptible to frequent feeding. Store-bought fertilizers containing potassium and nitrogen, as well as organic matter in the form of humus, are suitable. You can use manure.
- Preventive measures must be taken, especially against fungus. The solutions are not only sprayed on the above-ground part, but also the roots of the tomatoes are watered.
- A tall tomato requires a stepson. This is a prerequisite for obtaining a good harvest. To increase fruiting, it is optimal to form a plant with two or three stems, but this number of branches increases the density of the foliage. The green mass pulls a lot of nutrients from the plant. Here you need to approach the formation individually. You can reduce foliage by removing it or growing tomatoes with one or two stems.
- Weeds are the first enemy of the tomato variety. They shouldn't be in the garden.
- In cold regions, even when growing tomatoes in greenhouses, the plants are covered with agrofibre or film at night.
- Regular watering is beneficial for tomatoes, but you should not add too much water to prevent silting of the soil.
Compliance with the rules of crop care will enable the vegetable grower to grow the Alyosha Popovich variety in almost any region.
Pest control and disease prevention
The strong immunity of the tomato does not give the vegetable grower the right to relax. There are diseases and pests that can destroy a plant:
- Store-bought preparations serve as prevention against late blight. The most common is a solution of Bordeaux mixture. It is also necessary to ensure optimal ventilation of the plantings and constantly loosen the soil.
- The Colorado potato beetle not only eats potatoes and eggplants, but also loves tomatoes. Moreover, leaves and fruits are used. You can fight the beetle by spraying the bushes with drugs or manually collecting the enemy. The deposited larvae are crushed along with the leaf.
- Whitefly causes considerable damage to tomato leaves. Sprinkling the bushes with tobacco dust or ash will help get rid of the pest. There are also store-bought preparations for spraying.
- Aphids suck juice from leaves and young stems. The control method is the same as with whitefly. You can also spray tomato bushes with a solution of washing soap.
If a tomato bush is severely affected by a viral disease during an epidemic, it is almost impossible to cure it. It is better to remove such a plant, and fill the place where it grew with a disinfectant solution.
