Danko tomatoes: variety description, photos, reviews

History of the variety's creation

This tomato variety was bred by Siberian breeders who strive to develop varieties of vegetable crops to grow specifically in the harsh Siberian climate.

Work on breeding this variety of tomatoes was carried out at the end of the last century. After the tests, this tomato was included in the Russian State Register in 2000. It was named after the main character from the story of Maxim Gorky, who walks with a flaming heart in his hands and illuminates the path for other people.

This tomato is zoned for cultivation in Siberia, the Urals, in the middle zone and can very well tolerate low temperatures during the growing season, lack of sunlight, does not require a special soil composition, and can easily withstand any weather changes.

Features of growing Danko tomatoes, planting and care

We recommend sowing the seeds of this tomato for seedlings 60-65 days before the intended planting in the ground. Picking seedlings at the stage of two true leaves. When planting seedlings in a permanent place, it is recommended to place up to 4 plants per 1 square meter of prepared area.

Further care for tomatoes consists of timely watering, fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizer, pinching, weed removal and preventive measures to protect the crop from diseases and pests.

This is a natural variety of tomato. Therefore, we recommend taking seeds from a ripe fruit and using them for planting in subsequent seasons.

Description and characteristics of the variety

Tomatoes of this variety belong to the determinate type, so the central shoot of the bush has an endpoint of growth - at its top not foliage grows, but an inflorescence with ovaries. Bushes of the Danko variety are low and compact, can reach 49-51 cm in height, side shoots are formed in small quantities.

Danko tomato can be grown both in beds in the garden and in greenhouse conditions, where they can grow up to 1.10-1.15 m. According to the ripening period, these tomatoes are classified as mid-early - from the moment of germination of the seed material to the harvesting of ripe fruits, it takes incomplete 4 months. This tomato is formed into 3-4 shoots, and the yield increases significantly.

These bushes do not need to carry out the pinching procedure. When growing the Danko tomato variety in greenhouse conditions, it is necessary to tie the tufts to supports. Ripe tomatoes of this variety are heart-shaped, the surface is even, smooth with slightly noticeable ribbing. The skin is thin, during ripening it is light green in color, and as it ripens it becomes orange with a red tint. Even after full ripening, the stalk retains a dark emerald-colored spot.

The pulp is compacted, sugary, with a very sweet taste. The weight of ripe fruits when grown in garden beds is up to 240-264 g, when grown in greenhouse conditions - up to 360-390 g. The largest fruits ripen in the lower part of the bushes. The commercial quality of ripe fruits is good.

The skin of ripe tomatoes is not too thick, so the fruits are prone to cracking, do not tolerate transportation well over any distance, and cannot be stored for a long time. The Danko tomato is considered a salad variety due to its sweetish taste. Therefore, they are eaten fresh, added to salads, and prepared as snacks.

This variety is characterized by good resistance to heat and periods of drought, and can easily tolerate temporary drops in temperature, which is why it is actively grown by vegetable growers in Siberia.

Description of the variety

Those who have at least once planted Danko on their plot will certainly return to this tomato again. The tomato is not high-yielding, but it bears fruit consistently, regardless of climatic and other external factors.

Attention! It is simply impossible not to notice and remember the Danko tomato. Beautiful, heart-shaped, raspberry-colored tomatoes stand out among their red, yellow, and even black counterparts.

The Danko tomato variety was developed by domestic breeders, and it belongs to the Siberian selection of tomatoes. This means that the tomato tolerates low temperatures and lack of sunlight very well, that it is not picky about the composition of the soil and is ready for any weather changes.

Characteristics of the Danko variety:

the tomato is of a determinate type, that is, the bushes have a final growth point;
the height of the bushes is small - about 50 cm, they are compact, not too thick;
a universal-purpose variety: suitable for growing in the ground and in a greenhouse (in greenhouses, a tomato can grow up to 120 cm);
fruit ripening dates are mid-early - 110 days after germination, tomatoes will begin to turn pink;
It is recommended to form Danko bushes with 3-4 stems - this will significantly increase tomato yield;
There is no need to plant a tomato; when grown in a greenhouse, the bushes may need support;
the Danko variety tolerates not only cold, but also severe drought and summer heat;
the largest tomatoes are formed in the lower clusters;
the shape of the fruit is heart-shaped, the surface with barely noticeable ribbing;
The color of unripe tomatoes is light green; when the tomatoes ripen, they turn red-orange and have a dark green spot near the stalk;
the average fruit weight depends on the growing method: in the ground - 250 grams, in greenhouses - about 400 grams;
The Danko tomato has an excellent taste, the flesh is sugary, dense, very sweet;
the peel on the fruit is thin, so Danko is not suitable for long-term storage and transportation;
The purpose of tomatoes is salad - they are best eaten fresh;
the yield of Danko tomatoes is average - about 3-3.5 kg from each bush;
Danko tomatoes have a good presentation, but due to their thin skin they often crack;
the variety has good resistance to “tomato” diseases and is rarely affected by pests;
Thanks to the early ripening juices, the tomato is rarely susceptible to late blight, which peaks in August.

Important! The yield of large-fruited pink tomato can be easily increased if you plant no more than four bushes per square meter of soil. This planting scheme will allow you to collect up to 10 kg from a bush.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reviews about Danko tomato are mostly positive. The most important quality of this variety is its versatility: Danko can be grown in open ground in any region of Russia (from the south to the Urals), this tomato is also suitable for planting in a greenhouse; it does not require a lot of light and heat for normal development.

Danko tomatoes have several more important advantages, such as:

excellent taste;
beautiful appearance of the fruit (as proven by the photos from the article);
large size tomatoes;
compact bushes;
good yield;
immunity to various diseases and resistance to pests;
the ability to bear fruit in difficult climatic conditions (be it intense heat, high humidity, drought or uncharacteristically low temperatures for summer).

Important! Another advantage of Danko tomatoes is the ability of the fruit to ripen at room temperature. This quality allows you to save the harvest in the northern regions, where summer ends very quickly.

It is clear that the description of the Danko variety will not be without its shortcomings. After all, like all pink tomatoes, this tomato does not tolerate transportation well, it is unsuitable for growing on an industrial scale, and can crack from excess soil moisture.

Although the Danko variety is capable of bearing fruit in poor conditions, the tomato yield will sharply decrease – the fruits will begin to form in limited quantities. Adding to the complexity of agricultural technology is the fact that tomatoes grow stronger in greenhouses, so their bushes will have to be tied up or support must be found for them.

Advice! You should not plant tomatoes like Danko in large quantities, because their fruits are intended for fresh consumption, and they cannot be stored for a long time. For a small family, a few bushes of this variety will be enough.

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of this tomato variety include:

early ripening of the crop;
the variety does not require pinching;
fairly large fruit size;
these tomatoes are suitable for growing not only in garden beds, but also in greenhouse conditions;
good taste of ripe fruits and excellent presentation;
the bushes of this tomato can tolerate not only low temperatures, but also extreme heat and periods of drought;
unripe fruits of the Danko variety grow well indoors;
high resistance to diseases and pest attacks;
Danko tomato bushes are not susceptible to late blight.

But this tomato also has a number of disadvantages:

the skin is too thin, so the tomatoes are prone to cracking, do not tolerate transportation well, and cannot be stored for a long time;
The yield of this tomato is below average, so the variety is not suitable for growing on an industrial scale.

Pros and cons of the variety

Reviews about this variety are most often positive. Its most important quality is considered to be versatility. Thus, it can be grown throughout Russia.

Advantages of the variety:

excellent external characteristics;
large fruits;
small bushes;
stable yield;
resistance to “tomato” diseases;
pest resistance;
tomatoes of this variety can bear fruit in any climate zone. This could be heat, drought, excessive dampness, or low temperature.

Important! Another advantage of the variety is that its fruits can ripen at room temperature. This feature helps save the harvest in the northern regions, where the summer is very short.

Of course, there are some downsides here.

The following are noted:

Excess moisture in the soil can cause cracking;
despite the fact that the variety is capable of bearing fruit in any conditions, it is worth noting that in unfavorable conditions these indicators will decrease significantly;
in greenhouse conditions it can grow a little taller, so garters may be needed.

Advice! It is better to plant tomatoes such as Danko in large quantities, as it is suitable for consumption in the form of fresh salads. And also is not able to maintain its qualities for a long time.

Growing seedlings

You can buy a mixture for growing seedlings at a specialty store, or prepare it yourself.

To do this, mix equal parts of garden soil, sawdust (or peat), and coarse sand. Also added to this mixture are mineral fertilizers containing potassium and phosphorus, or any organic matter - ash, lime or humus.

Seedlings are picked at the stage of 2-3 true leaves. This procedure prevents the seedlings from being pulled out and also stimulates the growth of lateral roots in the root system of the seedlings.

When growing seedlings, it is necessary to provide them with sufficient lighting so that the stems do not stretch too much - such seedlings as a result grow weaker and bear fruit worse.

During the growing of seedlings, they need to be fed with urea a couple of times for more active growth of the above-ground parts and roots. The first time, fertilizer is applied 10-12 days after the picking, the second time - 12-14 days before transplanting the plants to a permanent place.

A couple of weeks before planting seedlings in a garden or greenhouse, you should begin to harden them. To do this, containers with seedlings begin to be taken out into fresh air, first for 1-1.5 hours, gradually increasing the time the seedlings are outside.

Strong seedlings should be transplanted into garden beds when the air temperature warms up to +11+12 degrees Celsius, and the threat of severe night cold snaps has passed. In Siberia, seedlings should be transplanted in early June.

The planting scheme for these vegetable plants is at least 4 plants per square area, but bushes can be planted more densely. Seedlings can be transplanted into greenhouse conditions in the second ten days of May. in a greenhouse, bushes of the Danko variety are planted more freely, since in greenhouse conditions these plants grow stronger.

Growing rules

Danko tomato variety of medium ripening period. There is no point in rushing to sow. The timing must be selected depending on the region of cultivation, taking into account that seedlings that are two months old must be planted in the garden.

Planting seedlings

There is no need to process purchased seeds. If the seeds are collected independently, then they need to be soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes, then rinsed with water and dried. Ideally, this should be done in the fall, and the already processed seeds should be stored.

Before sowing, the seeds are laid out between layers of filter paper or damp cloth and sent to a warm place for germination. Living seeds will swell in 3-4 days and show a small white root embryo. Dead seeds will remain ungerminated.

Attention! Wet germination of seeds will speed up the emergence of seedlings by 5-7 days.

Sowing can be done in two ways:

Use the group method and sow all the seeds in one tub with a distance between seeds of 2-3 cm. In this case, after 15-20 days you need to plant them in separate tubs.
Sow each seed in an individual cup.

Important! When choosing a soil mixture, give preference to nutritious, loose soil. They will give the seed a good start.

If the soil was taken from a garden or vegetable garden, then a mixture should be prepared consisting of:

garden soil - 1 part;
mature compost - 1 part;
benign humus - 1 part;
sand - 1 part;
superphosphate - 20 g per 1 bucket of mixture.

The soil mixture for seedlings should be prepared in the fall. It must rest over the winter, “ripen” and be suitable for sowing seeds by spring.

Tomato transplant

At two months of age, seedlings can be planted in open ground. The distance between bushes is within 40-45 cm.

If the plant has an open root system, then water it immediately. Overgrown, elongated seedlings are planted reclining.

Plants with a closed root system are planted using the transshipment method.

Subsequent care for tomatoes

Tomato care consists of:

weed control;
watering;
fertilizing

The Danko variety does not require special care, but it has its own characteristics.

The variety's bushes are sparsely leafy, medium-branched and up to 55 cm high. They do not require staking or pinching. But large fruits break off the shoots and the yield drops sharply. To avoid losses, you should think through fixation methods in advance and tie up not only shoots, but also growing fruit branches.

Reviews from gardeners indicate that the variety is very responsive to soil fertility. By planting in different places on the plot, vegetable growers can make sure that rich soil allows the fruits to be more:

large;
fleshy;
smooth;
weighty;
sweet.

Scarce lands will not allow you to get a good harvest of tasty tomatoes. The fruits become distorted, sour and ugly.

For fertilizing, you can use solutions of organic and mineral fertilizers:

cow, pig, horse manure (1 kg per bucket of water);
bird droppings (0.5 kg per bucket of water);
superphosphate solution (20 g per 10 l of water).

Under each bush, add 0.5 liters of nutrient solution after preliminary abundant watering with clean water.

The first feeding is carried out 12-15 days after planting the seedlings. Then with a frequency of 2 times a month until the beginning of August.

The variety is drought-resistant, but requires watering for a good harvest. Drip tape will allow you to use water economically. If it is not there, then watering is carried out not often, but so that the entire root system gets wet.

Landing

The Danko tomato can bear fruit even under negative weather conditions, but in this case the yield of the variety will be significantly lower. And in greenhouse conditions, tomato bushes grow stronger and more powerful, so they should be tied to supports.

In addition, it should be remembered that this variety is intended only for fresh consumption, so you should not plant too many Danko tomato bushes.

In most Russian regions, tomatoes of this variety are grown only by seedlings. It is necessary to plant seed for seedlings depending on the weather conditions of a particular region. In the central regions of the country, you can plant Danko seeds for seedlings already in the first days of March, and they need to be prepared for planting in the last days of February.

It is better to purchase the seeds of this tomato from well-known seed manufacturers, who package the seeds in bags that are already fully prepared for sowing.

When collecting seed from your tomatoes or purchasing untreated seeds before planting, prepare them as follows:

empty seeds are discarded;
warm them up;
place the seed material in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection;
then the seed material is soaked in Epin solution to stimulate growth;
placed in damp gauze for a day for germination.

The seed material that was collected more than 3 seasons ago should be subjected to a stratification procedure - placed in the refrigerator for some time.

Pest and disease control

No matter how resistant the variety is, prevention must be carried out. Southerners can afford not to worry about late blight, but they also have exceptions. If the weather is not pleasant with heat, constant rain and dew, then spraying with fungicides begins as soon as a small ovary appears. Further processing is carried out depending on the instructions.

To keep your tomato garden safe you need to:

observe crop rotation;
correctly select the previous culture;
Avoid close proximity to other nightshades.

To treat bushes for preventive purposes, you need to give preference to the most effective fungicidal agents. Well-proven products: “Quadris”, “Fitosporin”, “Zaslon”.

When large quantities of the Colorado potato beetle appear, biological control methods should be used - preparations such as "Actofit".

Further care

Although this variety is considered quite unpretentious, this does not mean that the plants can be planted and forgotten about until the ripe fruits are collected. These tomato bushes need to be watered as the soil dries out in the evening. Water for irrigation should be warm and filtered. Although the variety can easily tolerate periods of drought, this negatively affects the formation of ovaries and the ripening of fruits.

It is necessary to form bushes of this variety as follows: remove all shoots except the three or four lower ones. If this is not done, the fruiting of the bushes will be less than stated.

The soil around the tomatoes is regularly loosened, simultaneously removing weeds. When the first signs of disease appear, it is necessary to immediately treat the bushes with appropriate fungicidal preparations.

Those bushes that are grown in a greenhouse should be tied up so that the shoots do not break off under the weight of ripening fruits.

Possible difficulties during cultivation

Usually in a greenhouse this tomato grows very much, it needs to be constantly tied up and supported . In this case, we can advise you not to delay tying or pruning the bush, because it is much more difficult to work with a very overgrown plant.

If the soil is over-moistened, tomatoes may begin to crack. Start watering them less often and less; 3-4 liters of water will be enough for each bush.

Diseases and pests

Danko is resistant to fungal and viral diseases of nightshades. However, these diseases can be transmitted through infected tomatoes from neighboring beds. For this reason, tomatoes should not be planted next to other nightshades. Other causes of disease can be excessive watering of plants, poor ventilation and excessive growth of the bush.

Of the pests, Danko is most susceptible to attack by spider mites, whiteflies and mole crickets. Such products as Fitoverm and Karbofos are actively fighting them.

Reviews

Tatyana, 45 years old, Chelyabinsk : I have been planting the Danko variety in my garden plot for several years now. In our climate, it is difficult to choose pink varieties of tomatoes that could be grown in open ground; all of them are intended for growing in a greenhouse, which I do not yet have on the site. And Danko is also suitable for growing in our region in garden beds. True, I don’t plant many bushes of this variety, since its fruits are only suitable for food and do not last long, they begin to deteriorate. But the taste of picked Danko tomatoes is excellent.

Olga, 55 years old, Samara region : I grow Danko tomatoes along with several other varieties of early tomatoes in my garden. I like this variety because of its beautiful appearance and good taste of ripe fruits. Although the tomato is resistant to periods of drought, in hot weather it is better to water the Danko bushes more often, otherwise the fruits will grow smaller and their taste may deteriorate. During the season I always feed this variety with organic fertilizers, in which case its yield increases.

Reviews from gardeners

Galina Mikhailovna, Nizhny Novgorod

One of my favorite varieties. In a greenhouse, Danko grows up to 1.8 m. This year, a friend’s tree grew up to the roof of the greenhouse, and the fruits were very large along the entire length of the trunk. There are few seeds.

Source: www.tomat-pomidor.com

Sasha from Uralmash

A very worthy variety, the yield is much higher than that of many of its low-growing counterparts. For those who love heart-shaped tomatoes and do not have the opportunity to grow tall plants, this is just a godsend.

Source: www.tomat-pomidor.com

Diseases and pests

The Danko variety is not susceptible to such traditional tomato diseases as gray rot of tomatoes, mosaic and late blight on tomatoes. They can develop in this plant only if they are transferred from neighboring beds with other varieties of tomatoes. To prevent the occurrence of such diseases, it is recommended to plant tomatoes far from crops of the nightshade family and carry out preventive treatment with special agents against diseases.

Fitosporin is an excellent preventative against most tomato diseases.

As for pests, these plants are most often affected by mole crickets, wireworms, and cutworms. These pests must be removed using special preparations such as “Thunder”, “Strela” and others. It is best to take combined mixtures that will not only rid the seedlings of existing parasites, but will also help prevent their appearance in the future.

It should be remembered that fruits affected by diseases or pests cannot be eaten in any form. As for diseased bushes, they need to be immediately removed from the rest of the plants. If they are damaged by rot, it is better to remove the plants from the beds altogether.

Harvesting

Danko tomatoes begin to be harvested 110–120 days after planting the seedlings in the garden. From 1 m² you can get up to 12 kg of tomatoes. Since the skin of the fruit is thin, these vegetables cannot be stored for a long time and do not tolerate transportation well, so it is not recommended to grow them for sale. It is best to immediately consume them fresh and prepare various salads.

Did you know? The very first variety of tomatoes brought to Europe was yellow, which is why this
plant received the name “golden apple”. They are also great for preparations in the form of lecho, sauces, juices, pastes, and purees. For those gardeners who are interested in tomatoes with a delicate and sweet taste, the Danko variety is ideal in this regard. By following the main tips for growing it, you can collect a lot of these beautiful and tasty fruits.

Farmer reviews

Egor Viktorovich. Wedge. Those who have already planted Danko tomatoes are well aware of all the weak points of this variety. First of all, I would like to note that tomatoes cannot be stored for long periods of time; they must be eaten immediately. The bushes require weekly pinching, otherwise the fruits will be small and take longer to ripen. The taste is excellent; fresh tomatoes are suitable for preparing vegetable salads, soups and stews. The variety is unpretentious to lighting and bears fruit even in shaded beds.
Anna Sergeyevna. Krasnoyarsk I grow Danko tomatoes in a greenhouse. The variety is unpretentious in care, undemanding to watering and fertilizing. To get a bountiful harvest of large fruits, I remove the lateral shoots and pinch out the excess ovaries. The tomatoes taste juicy, with fleshy, sweetish pulp and a strong aroma. Due to the large size of the vegetables and thin skin, tomatoes are not suitable for preparations, but they sell with a bang in salads and fresh.

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Care

The main care measure is timely, abundant watering.

It is necessary to remove weeds and loosen the top layer of soil, eliminating crusts formed after watering.

Tomatoes are fertilized after they take root in a new place. Foliar feeding is carried out with mineral fertilizers and microelements, alternating with organic matter.

Fertilizers that contain green residues from plants and weeds are also useful. They are placed up to half of a large tub, after which they are filled with water and placed in a warm place for fermentation. The resulting mixture is stirred for 2 weeks. The finished emulsion is diluted with warm water in a ratio of 1:10, after which the tomatoes are watered.