Tomato Apricot f1 - description and characteristics of a large-fruited variety

Description

Hybrid tomato can be cultivated in different conditions depending on the region:

• in the south of the country - right in the garden;
• in the middle zone - under the film (in greenhouses);
• in colder areas - in winter greenhouses.

This is due to the fact that during the growing season temperature changes, which are often found in the central European part and more northern latitudes, are extremely undesirable for this crop.

The ripening period for tomatoes is 100–105 days. They have fleshy flesh, a sugary structure and a sweet taste with a slight sourness. Excellent appearance, excellent shelf life and safety during transportation, as well as other commercial qualities have made the Apricot hybrid in demand among farmers who grow large quantities of vegetables for sale. In addition, the planted bushes do not require special care and are very unpretentious in terms of environmental conditions.

Related article:

Tomato Chio-chio-san F1 – description of the popular variety, characteristics and reviews

Characteristics and description of the Apricot tomato

Most gardeners traditionally grow red tomatoes from year to year, and perceive yellow ones as an experiment. However, they also deserve attention, because... they are superior in taste and benefits to their red counterparts. Growing tomatoes is considered a labor-intensive process. Lovers of delicious fruits are ready to tinker with capricious plants day and night.

Such tireless people will be interested in the Apricot tomato, which is distinguished not only by its generous harvest, but also by its unusual fruits.

Description and characteristics of the variety

The southern regions are more suitable for growing Apricot tomatoes in unprotected soil conditions. And in the northern regions it is recommended to use heated greenhouses, because... plants do not tolerate sudden changes in temperature.

Main characteristics

As a hybrid plant, Apricot has the following characteristics:

• indeterminate, tall (140–180cm);
• standard, compact (not spreading)
• shoots and leaves are bluish-green.

The fruits are characterized by the following properties:

• round form;
• large size and average weight in the range of 350–500 g;
• dense juicy pulp with sugar content at the break;
• 4 or 5 seed chambers;
• 5–6% dry matter.

On tomatoes that have just set, whitish hairs are clearly visible. Over time, they become less noticeable, but a small fluff on the skin remains. Fully ripened fruits have a light or deep pink color.

Varieties

The “apricot” group of tomatoes is represented by two more varieties:

1. Summer apricot is mid-season, grown in open and closed ground, semi-determinate (grows up to 150–160 cm). Needs shaping - to increase productivity it is necessary to leave 2-3 shoots on the bush. The fruits are orange in color, round-flat and very large (average weight 400–800 g, and some specimens reach a weight of 1 kg). The pulp is juicy, with a delicate taste. Not many seeds.
2. Yellow apricot is early ripening, cultivated in open and closed ground, determinate (height is no more than 40 cm). Requires support and molding with removal of part of the shoots. The fruits are round, yellow, small (average weight 50–80 g). It is characterized by abundant fruiting, during which the bushes are completely covered with bunches of tomatoes. The variety is resistant to nightshade diseases.

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  Summer apricot

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  Apricot yellow

Reviews about the Apricot F1 variety

Zinaida:

This is a tasty, meaty variety, the skin doesn’t come off on its own, though... I don’t have an early one, but I missed it and it went into the “hundred barrels”... I liked it! Indeed, the new varieties are very tasty. I will now plant again.

Marina:

I was also lucky enough to grow this variety for 2 years in a row (2014, 2015). I fell for the exotic “fur” appearance of the fruit. Before tasting, I didn’t expect anything special from the taste. However, the taste was more than pleasant, a little dessert-like, the flesh was juicy but not watery, the skin was thin and absolutely not sensitive. The yield is average towards good, the fruits in the cluster are not numerous, 2-3-4, without small things. Fruiting is long lasting. I grew it in one trunk, saving greenhouse space. But based on the growing experience I have gained, I will continue to grow this variety in two trunks. I think this way the yield will increase, and you won’t have to stop the tomato from growing prematurely.

I also really liked the seedlings of this variety, as well as the young upper leaves. They had white pubescence and were especially decorative.

Productivity

The Apricot hybrid stands out among all other types of pubescent tomatoes due to its largest fruits. Their weight can reach 500 g, therefore, under good weather conditions and proper agricultural practices, at least 3.5–5 kg of crop is usually harvested from one bush. Since the recommended planting density is 4 bushes per 1 sq. m, then from this area you can collect at least 18–20 kg, which is considered a very high yield.

Yellow Apricot is characterized by ultra-fast ripening and also an abundant harvest. But its yield is slightly lower than that of the pink pubescent tomato, since the fruits themselves are much smaller (up to 80 g each). Therefore, with proper care and suitable weather, from 1 sq. m you can collect 12–15 kg of yellow tomatoes.

Area of ​​application of fruits

The large and dense fruits of the Apricot hybrid are ideal for salads, slices, sandwiches, burgers and other snacks. They are also used for making juice, sauce, tomato paste and barrel pickles. Due to their large size, these tomatoes are not used only in whole-fruit canning.

Small, sweet and juicy yellow tomatoes of the Summer Apricot variety with thick, non-cracking skin have a wider range of uses. Along with preparing various snacks, dishes and preparations, they can be preserved entirely.

Diseases and pests

The “Apricot” series of tomatoes is resistant to fungi and viruses that cause diseases of nightshade crops. But if the soil on the site is contaminated or diseased plants grow nearby, the hybrid may be affected by certain infections, the active spread of which is facilitated by wind, heat and humidity.

The most common:

1. Late blight. When the first signs appear, the plants should be treated with Barrier. At the deep stage, the stronger drug Zaslon is used.
2. Fomoz. Diseased tomatoes are removed from the garden, and the rest are treated with the fungicide Hom.

Among the pests that can attack Apricot tomatoes:

• nightshade miner;
• rusty tick.

In both cases, the insecticidal preparation Zubr is used.

Why summer residents like Apricot tomatoes

The southern regions of Russia are most favorable for growing these tomatoes on unprotected soil. To get a harvest of Apricot tomatoes in the northern regions or in the middle zone, you will need a greenhouse, because they do not tolerate coolness well.

According to the characteristics of the variety, it is a low plant, without side shoots, the fruits are round, with a smooth, even surface. As the fruits ripen, they become bright yellow. The elastic skin does not allow these tomatoes to crack, the flesh is juicy, and they attract attention with a wonderful yellow color, as you already understood from the photo.

Apricot F1 is an extremely early hybrid. In hot weather, the fruits in the garden beds will ripen at the same speed as greenhouse tomatoes. The first harvest is harvested approximately ninety days after germination. With proper agricultural technology, the variety produces up to 15 kg of yield per square meter.

Ask and receive useful advice from professional gardeners and experienced summer residents.>>

Advantages and disadvantages

1. Excellent taste.
2. Rich vitamin set.
3. Low risk of exposure to various types of diseases.
4. High yield.
5. Fast maturation.

There are some disadvantages; gardeners write about this in reviews. But the disadvantages are so insignificant that they do not allow summer residents to refuse to grow Apricot f1.

The only thing that gardeners don’t like is weak boles. When the fruits ripen, the stem may break under their weight. Therefore, the Apricot tomato needs to be tied up.

Tomato varieties with similar names

If you decide to buy seeds, then be prepared for the fact that there will also be Apricot tomatoes of other varieties, this is what they look like in the photographs.

– Summer apricot is a medium-sized variety with orange fruits, the taste has fruity notes, the pulp melts in the mouth. These tomatoes are grown in open areas in warm latitudes or in greenhouses.

– Fluffy dark pink apricot is one of the largest “hairy” tomatoes. The pubescence is gentle and resembles a peach to the touch. Imagine what a miracle! The plant itself is tall. The fruits are soft, sweet, and have slight ribbing.

– Velvet peach – the skin of the fruit is covered with a thin velvety coating. The tomatoes are large, with a golden, red or pink hue, collected on a branch in groups of four or five. The pulp is burgundy in color, with a small amount of seeds. This variety of delicious tomato can rightfully be called a miracle of selection. This tomato has an average yield. Suitable for real gourmets.

– Apricot jam is famous for its large fruits. High maintenance requirements. The bush is powerful, medium-sized.

– The fruits of the Apricot bast variety are small, pubescent, deep pink in color. The plant itself looks beautiful, it’s like velvet.

Tomato care

To harvest more crops from a bush, you need high-quality planting material. It is necessary to create good conditions for tomatoes to develop. The Apricot variety is not very different in care from red tomatoes, so it is necessary to water, fertilize and weed them on time.

To get good seedlings, sow the seeds in mid-spring. Do not forget about regular watering of young plants, keep them in a warm, bright place. In order to plant strong plants in the beds, they need a hardening procedure. This is done to bring young tomatoes as close as possible to the conditions in which they will grow in the garden.

Plant the seedlings in their place when they are about one and a half months old. This should happen in favorable weather, when it is warm outside. It is advisable that the garden bed be located in a well-lit area of ​​the garden. Prepare the ground in advance.

Water young tomatoes about once a week. On the surface of the soil, to improve its quality, create a covering of old leaves and small sawdust. It is not at all necessary to do multi-layer mulching; a maximum thickness of five centimeters is enough.

Thanks to this, you can water the beds less often, and weed control will not be so difficult. For earthworms, such a surface is an excellent place to live, so loosening the soil will be ensured.

Disease and pest control

Apricot tomatoes are resistant to tobacco mosaic and late blight. But, if such a nuisance occurs, then the “Barrier” remedy will come to the aid of the gardener, and in severe cases – “Barrier”. To avoid such misfortunes, you can treat the bushes with copper sulfate.

For what reasons do fungal and other diseases occur?

• young plants were planted too often;
• the air is over-humidified;
• tomatoes were watered little, although they do not require much moisture;
• it is too cold at night and very warm during the day;
• the earth is oversaturated with nitrogen, but low in calcium.

The pests that affect Apricot tomatoes are codling moths, whiteflies, and sawflies. In modern plant growing, Lepidocide is used against them. The new generation product “Zubr” helps to get rid of nightshade miner and rust mite.

Use of fruits

Yellow Apricot tomatoes contain niacin, a substance that strengthens blood vessels, as well as the natural antioxidant lycopene. The presence of these microelements in the diet helps cleanse the body, reduces the possibility of oncology, even allergy sufferers who cannot eat red vegetables eat them.

These tomatoes are healthy fresh and canned. A jar of red and yellow tomatoes looks appetizing - housewives willingly serve such assortments. Ripe Apricot fruits have a long shelf life, they are easily transported without losing their consumer appearance. The fruits are salted, pickled, used in various salads, juices, and a delicious, beautiful lecho is prepared from them.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the hybrid include the following properties:

• excellent taste;
• high productivity;
• duration of fruiting;
• resistance to fruit cracking;
• early ripeness (simultaneous ripening both in the beds and in greenhouse conditions);
• hypoallergenic (can be used if you are allergic to other tomatoes).

The disadvantage is the weakness of the stems and branches, which, without being tied to a support, easily break off under the weight of the fruit.

Features of cultivation

Among the features of this hybrid, it is worth highlighting its large fruit size and duration of fruiting. You can also talk about its resistance to temperature changes and resistance to diseases.

The trunk and branches of the bush, due to their high growth, need garters and supports. The bush is most often formed into two or three stems, but three is better. At the stage of development and growth, it is in great need of complex feeding.

Planting and care

To propagate hybrid tomatoes, the seedling method is used. The period of growing seedlings is 55–60 days from the moment of sowing the seeds, after which they can be transplanted to a permanent place.

The sowing and care algorithm should be as follows:

• seedling containers are disinfected, a drainage layer of fine charcoal is poured onto the bottom, then a soil mixture or soil is added;
• the seed is soaked for 2 hours in a solution of Kornevin, Kornerost or another stimulating drug, then the liquid is drained and slightly dried;
• sow to a depth of 1 cm, water with slightly warmed water by spraying;
• cover with a glass lid or film and leave until sprouts appear;
• then the cover is removed and the soil is periodically sprayed with water, preventing it from drying out.

When the first pair of true leaves begins to form on the sprouts, the seedlings are planted in separate containers. Peat cups are best suited for this, in which seedlings can be planted in a permanent place. The planting process is performed in the following order:

• a little crushed coal is poured onto the bottom to ensure drainage, and a mineral complex based on phosphorus, potassium and boron is placed on it;
• the cup is filled to a third of its height with soil mixture, a seedling is planted and then soil is added;
• watered with a solution of calcium nitrate;
• place the cups on pallets and provide about 15 hours of daylight using phytolamps or fluorescent lamps;
• throughout the entire growing period, mineral complexes are added according to the instructions;
• during the last week before transplanting to a permanent place, the seedlings are hardened - taken outside or into a greenhouse, gradually increasing the residence time;
• Stop watering 2-3 days before.

The seedlings are planted in prepared holes arranged according to a 40x40cm pattern. Compost and wood ash are first added to each, and immediately before planting, they are filled with warm water. If the seedlings are planted in peat cups, then they are simply dug in.

Saplings with an open root system are placed in holes at an angle of 45º with their roots facing south so that the top is located slightly higher. Cover the root system with soil and compact it gently but thoroughly, preventing the formation of air space. Water with a solution of calcium nitrate (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of warm water). Sprinkle with dry soil and mulch with straw or sawdust.

Aftercare consists of the following activities:

• timely watering (the best option is to use a drip system that provides moisture directly to the root);
• loosening the soil after each moistening (rain or watering) with simultaneous hilling of the bushes;
• adding organic matter or mineral complexes - 3 times per season (2 weeks after planting, then during budding and during fruiting);
• regular removal of stepsons, fixation on a support.

By strictly following all the rules of agricultural technology, you can prevent the development of diseases and guarantee a rich harvest.

Important! Why do seedlings rot and what to do?

Yellow and fluffy tomatoes of the “Apricot” series

We are used to red tomatoes. Black and yellow are still rare in Russia. Yellow tomatoes are already found on store shelves, but in the gardens of those who love to tend to their plots, dig in the ground and grow everything new and unusual, multi-colored fruits can be seen quite often. One of these favorite varieties is called “Apricot”, because it resembles this fruit with its golden color and sweetness.

Pros and cons of the variety

Yellow tomatoes have more advantages than disadvantages. Despite the fact that they grow better in the southern regions in open ground, in the middle zone they can be grown in greenhouses. According to reviews, Apricot tomatoes are afraid of temperature changes and bear fruit better in warm conditions.

The advantages of this variety:

• Excellent taste.
• High yield.
• Disease resistance.
• Early ripeness. This vegetable ripens in the open ground at the same time as other varieties that live in the greenhouse, and gives its first harvest at exactly the same time.
• High resistance to diseases: fungi and viruses.
• Suitable for people allergic to regular tomatoes.

This plant variety has its disadvantages, but they are fewer than the advantages. The disadvantages include a weak trunk and weak branches that break off under the weight of the fruit. Experienced gardeners always make supports, to which they tie thin branches with ropes.

Varieties with similar names

Amateur gardeners not only grow what is well known, but also regularly plant new types of plants. Among the tomatoes there are not only “Apricot”, but also its hybrids, as well as those that have similar names.

1. “Fluffy apricot” is a dark pink tomato, not smooth (as we are used to), with a velvety skin that feels reminiscent of a peach. He is jokingly called hairy. Tomatoes of this variety grow large, up to 700 grams, have an interesting taste, are good in salads and in processed form (juice, lecho). Productivity is high, fruiting begins late.
2. “Peach” is very similar to the “apricot” representatives, it is distinguished by its unpretentiousness and average yield. The taste is interesting, children like it because it resembles a fruit, not a vegetable.
3. “Apricot bast shoe” is a rare variety. The fruits ripen red-pink, they are also covered with fluff.
4. “Apricot f1” is a hybrid variety, the fruits are fleshy, ripe, dark pink in color, “hairy”, i.e. covered with delicate fluff. It was bred specifically for growing in beds in open ground or in ordinary greenhouses that do not require heating or burning.

Tomato care

To ensure that growing Apricot tomatoes does not cause much trouble, take into account the following features:

• Before planting, the seeds must be treated with a pink manganese solution.
• Cultivation begins with seedlings. Each plant is planted in a separate container.
• Tomatoes are afraid of temperature changes and cold, so they are kept warm under film. The temperature should be at least 20 degrees.
• Before moving seedlings to the beds, they need to be hardened off. Firstly, the tomatoes will become denser and, secondly, they will be sweeter.
• The bushes are weak, so it is worth removing the stepsons and tying the plant to pegs or trellises.

Caring for such tomatoes is standard: regularly loosen the soil around the bushes, water with warm water, weed and monitor for weeds. During the season you need to carry out several fertilizing with fertilizers.

Tomatoes need to be watered at least once every seven to ten days so that the moisture does not evaporate too much; it is recommended to lay a 3-5 centimeter thick layer of sawdust, last year’s leaves or straw on the soil between the plants. The moist soil under the milch layer attracts beneficial earthworms, they begin to actively reproduce and improve the fertility of the soil.

Tomatoes require feeding. You can use complex fertilizers and manure for it. The solution, which is made from mullein and chicken droppings, is poured strictly at the root of the bush, because the substances contained in it can burn the tender leaves.

Diseases and pests

Bushes of this variety hardly get sick; diseases occur due to improper care, when the tomato is not ventilated, poorly or very abundantly watered. In order for “Apricot” to grow strong, it is necessary to maintain the temperature regime in the greenhouse, loosen the soil and monitor the lighting.