The mid-early tomato Harmoshka was developed by Russian breeders for cultivation in open ground and under film cover. The variety is loved by summer residents for the size and color of the fruit, high yield, and good taste. Thanks to their fleshy, juicy pulp, tomatoes are ideal for fresh consumption, making sauces, adjika, and juice. If you follow the rules of care, you can get up to 8 kg of fragrant, raspberry-red fruits from the bush.
Description of tomatoes Accordion
The variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2015 for cultivation in all regions of Russia, the originator of the variety is .
The Accordion tomato is a mid-season variety that is distinguished by its large fruits with excellent taste. The plant does not stop growing, so its bushes can reach a height of 2 m.
Growing tomatoes is possible in a greenhouse and in open ground, so gardeners often choose Accordion as an unpretentious variety that can be planted in different climatic conditions.
Pest and disease control
Preventive treatment of bushes of the Garmoshka variety is carried out in May, before transplanting into the ground or immediately after that. Use common fungicides (one to choose from):
- "Fufanon";
- "Fitosporin";
- "Maksim";
- "Profit".
Home remedies work well against insects, for example, an infusion of chili peppers, mustard powder, onion peels, crushed garlic, as well as baking soda solutions, laundry soap shavings and others.
You can completely destroy the colony using insecticides:
- "Spark";
- "Karate";
- "Decis";
- "Fitoverm";
- "Green Soap"
The bushes are processed late in the evening. If Accordion tomatoes are grown in open ground, spraying the product should be done in dry and windless weather. You can start collecting tomatoes after 5-10 days (the waiting period is indicated in the instructions).
Advice! In autumn or early spring, the greenhouse can be treated with a tobacco or sulfur smoke bomb. This disinfection allows you to cope with both insects and fungal diseases.
Taste qualities of fruits
The Accordion tomato has its own taste characteristics:
- the fruit pulp is juicy, pink, fleshy;
- the peel is dense;
- the shape of the tomato is pear-shaped, ribbed;
- the mass of a tomato is about 200 - 250 g;
- the color of a ripe vegetable is red-raspberry;
- taste – sweet and sour.
The excellent taste of tomatoes allows them to be used for making juices, salads and other winter preparations. They are also suitable for fresh use.
Characteristics of tomato
The characteristics and description of the variety are as follows:
- The vegetative period of development from seedlings to the first fruits ranges from 104-110 days.
- Accordion tomatoes have bushes up to 180 cm high. Each tomato brush contains from 2 to 3 berries.
- The inflorescences of the plant are simple. The stems have an average number of leaves, colored in light green tones.
- The description continues with the shape and color of its fruits. They resemble a pear in shape, painted in pink and red tones.
- Description of Accordion berries: good taste, high pulp density, large number of seed chambers.
- The weight of the fetus can range from 0.1 to 0.4 kg.
Feedback from farmers shows that the yield of the described variety is 4.5-5.0 kg of berries per bush. With the correct growing method, Accordion produces up to 13-15 kg of fruit per 1 m² of bed. Gardeners note the ability of tomatoes to withstand long-term storage (up to 30 days) in a cool place. The transportability of the Accordion allows it to be transported over long distances. Gardeners note the possibility of growing tomatoes for seeds.
But this plant also has disadvantages. Summer residents note the susceptibility of Accordion to various diseases, since the variety has practically no immunity to diseases of nightshade crops.
Therefore, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures, for example, treating tomato bushes with fungicides.
The plant is demanding in terms of bush formation. Most often, this requires 2-3 stems. The tomato must be protected from bad weather, otherwise up to 50% of the harvest may be lost. The variety does not tolerate temperature changes, heat, or sudden frosts.
A disadvantage of fruits is their tendency to crack.
Pros and cons of the Accordion tomato variety
Like all plants, Accordion is a variety that has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Positive features include:
- fruit size – a fairly large tomato;
- excellent presentation;
- good taste;
- the ability to grow in different conditions;
- ripening at a fairly early stage;
- good keeping quality;
- possibility of long-term transportation.
Among the shortcomings are noted:
- risk of developing various diseases;
- the need for timely tying;
- bush formation;
- fruit cracking;
- dependence of tomato on climatic conditions.
Despite the fact that Accordion has some peculiarities in cultivation, this variety is popular among those who value the taste qualities of tomatoes.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Accordion tomatoes are valued by gardeners for the following varietal characteristics:
- large fruit;
- unique shape of the fruit;
- excellent sweet and sour taste, juiciness;
- good shelf life and transportability (due to the thick skin);
- can be planted in beds and in a greenhouse;
- suitability for cultivation throughout the Russian Federation;
- You can collect seeds from your plants, as they are varietal.
Some vegetable growers include the following disadvantages:
- average resistance to diseases;
- the need for shaping and tying;
- dependence of yield on weather.
The disadvantages include the fact that the fruits cannot be used for canning in jars due to their size. Although many vegetable growers choose the Accordion variety precisely because of its large fruits.
Growing tomatoes of the Accordion variety
Since the goal of every vegetable grower is to obtain a bountiful harvest, when growing the Accordion variety, it is necessary to follow a number of rules that will allow you to grow strong seedlings.
- Soil preparation. Mix 5 parts turf, 4 parts humus and 1 part peat. Pour boiling water with the addition of potassium permanganate to disinfect the soil.
- Tomato seeds should also be disinfected by treating with a weak solution of manganese.
- Pour soil into boxes or pots 10 - 15 cm high and sow seeds, deepening them 1.5 - 2 cm. Cover the plantings with film and place in a warm place where the air temperature will be maintained in the range of 25 o
- Watering is carried out only when the first sprouts appear; until this time, the soil is moistened with condensate formed on the film.
- The shelter is removed during seed germination.
- Seedlings need additional light to prevent them from stretching out. If there is not enough sunlight in March, it is necessary to organize artificial lighting.
- Planting of seedlings is carried out after the formation of 2 - 3 true leaves.
- For rapid growth, the roots must be periodically sprinkled with soil so that the root system does not produce new shoots that take away the strength of the plant.
- They begin to harden off the seedlings in advance. To do this, it is taken out into the air and left in these conditions, first for 30 minutes, then for 40, etc.
Important! Ignoring the rules for growing seedlings can be disastrous for the plant.
Landing rules
Before planting tomatoes in the ground, you need to take a closer look at the seedlings. It must meet a number of requirements:
- have a well-developed root system;
- presence of 1 flower brush;
- the presence of at least 7 leaves on the stem, which should be no more than 25 - 30 cm.
To grow the Accordion variety, choose a place with good lighting. It is equally important that the seedlings are not located in a space where gusty winds can destroy them.
Important! It is best to plant tomatoes where legumes, cabbage or pumpkin grew last year. It will be possible to plant tomatoes in place of eggplants, peppers and potatoes only after 3 years.
- In the selected area, depressions are made at intervals of 30 - 50 cm. The bottom of the hole is covered with wood ash and watered with settled water. Seedlings are planted at an angle of 45o so that the tall variety does not break.
- After planting, the soil must be compacted and mulch added, which is necessary for the plant to retain root moisture. Mulch also acts as a fertilizer and weed suppressant.
- Since the tomato grows quickly, it is necessary to immediately garter. To do this, use long wooden pegs to which the stem is tied using twine.
Watering and fertilizing
Do not water tomatoes immediately after planting. The prescribed amount of moisture should be enough for 10 - 14 days. After this time, you can begin to water the tomatoes as the soil dries; each bush should receive at least 2.5 liters of settled warm water.
Attention! The plant requires irrigation during the period of flowering, formation and ripening of fruits.
Fertilizer for tomatoes Accordion is also necessary. It is carried out according to certain rules:
- growth period - application of nitrogenous fertilizers;
- flowering - input of organic matter or complex mineral fertilizers;
- period of fruit formation - fertilizing with potassium and phosphorus.
Too much fertilizer can harm tomatoes. Therefore, uncontrolled feeding is considered dangerous. To know when a plant needs microelements, you need to remember a number of symptoms:
- lack of potassium is expressed in the withering of young leaves, they become faded and take on a wrinkled appearance;
- calcium deficiency can be noticed by the formation of numerous tubercles on the foliage, as well as by rotting of the roots;
- a lack of copper affects the condition of the foliage, which loses its elasticity and firmness; in addition, the plant’s root system suffers;
- iron deficiency is indicated by the appearance of yellow spots on the leaf blades;
- A lack of copper leads to a halt in the development and growth of tomato.
Attention! At the first symptoms, it is necessary to begin applying additional fertilizing.
Pinching and tying
In order for the plant to put all its energy into the “birth” of fruits, it must be pinched. Otherwise, additional stems will form from each leaf, which will take away all the vitality of the tomatoes.
The Accordion variety is preferable to grow in 2 - 3 stems. This amount is quite enough to harvest the required tomato crop. The main rules of stepsoning:
- the procedure is carried out at the time of intensive plant growth;
- the length of stepsons suitable for removal is 5 - 7 cm;
- the work is carried out manually, without using a knife;
- It is best to remove tomatoes early in the morning, leaving small stumps at the removal site.
The garter of Accordion tomatoes is carried out immediately after the tomatoes are planted in open ground or a greenhouse. To prevent the plant from breaking during growth and when trying to “turn” to the sun, you need to know one trick: the stem must be passed through the twine clockwise.
You can use wooden pegs or thin plastic pipes as support. It is better to avoid using metal structures.
Formation
One of the important components in the process of forming the Accordion tomato variety is pinching, which limits the growth of the main shoot. In this case, it is worth observing some nuances:
- pinching the top is done only after the flowers of the upper inflorescence have opened, above which there should be 2 leaves that the plant needs to supply nutrients;
- if the tomato will form into two stems, then, in addition to the main shoot, you need to leave one side one;
- You can leave 4 clusters on the stepson for fruiting, and 5 on the main stem.
This approach will distribute the load on the plant, which will lead to the growth of more fruits.
Protection from diseases and pests
The Accordion tomato, according to reviews and photos, has a number of positive qualities, but is not able to independently fight a number of dangerous diseases. Therefore, vegetable growers should know what can threaten the plant and how to avoid it:
- white spot, which appears as dark spots on the foliage, can destroy tomatoes. Bordeaux mixture will help cope with it;
- Late blight - the main symptom is darkening of the foliage and stem. The cure for the disease is the drugs Ditan, Bravo, etc.;
- black leg is a disease that provokes excess moisture, as a result, mainly young seedlings suffer. Following the rules of watering and ventilating greenhouse tomato plants will help you avoid problems.
Features of cultivation
If tomatoes will be grown in a greenhouse, sowing the seeds must be done in early March, and for growing in open ground - in the first ten days of April. Seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 1 - 1.5 cm. The distance between them should be at least 2 cm. During the process of seedling germination, it must be fed twice or three times with mineral complexes.
Plants can be picked only after they have 2 full leaves. To plant plants in open ground, they must be at least 55 - 60 days from the moment the sprouts appear. The second important point concerns avoiding the threat of night frosts.
You can plant future bushes no more than 3 - 4 pieces per 1 sq.m. During the pinching process, only one stem is left. It is recommended to carry out the watering process after sunset and always with warm water. Periodic care involves carefully loosening the soil and tying the fruiting clusters to additional supports or trellises. Mandatory feeding is carried out at the beginning of flowering by the bush, and then before they begin to bear fruit.
Characteristics and description of the variety
The Accordion tomato variety is a mid-early variety (the ripening period from the appearance of the first shoots is 107-110 days). In terms of seedling readiness, it is no different from standard red fruit varieties. From the moment the seeds are planted, until the moment when it can be transplanted into open ground or into a greenhouse, 60-65 days pass. Accordion can be grown in greenhouse conditions, under film cover and planted in open soil. The variety is susceptible to fusarium and blossom end rot, and therefore requires pre-treatment of seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate, and additional disinfection of the soil before planting.
Note! For treatment, the use of folk remedies (ammonia, boric acid, soda solution or two-day garlic infusion) is especially effective. Disinfection is carried out twice - before planting and after the soil has been dug up and loosened before planting the seedlings.
Tomato bushes will have to be treated with an insecticide against whiteflies and spider mites, although spraying with fragrant tobacco is also effective at an early stage.
The Accordion tomato variety is standardly formed into one stem, and for its full growth it is necessary not only to tie the plant to pegs or supports, but also to attach the fruiting clusters to trellises or additional supports. But the fruits have excellent keeping quality. They are able to withstand long-term transportation, so they are quite suitable for commercial production for profit. In addition, the commercial yield of this variety is a significant percentage and exceeds many more popular varieties.
The main purpose of the variety is fresh consumption. Tomatoes are used for various culinary needs and for canning. The large size of the fruit precludes the possibility of storing it for the winter in its entirety, but some housewives preserve the Accordion cut into slices. It is filled with its own juice, which is distinguished by its aroma and memorable taste.
The ribbed surface of ripe tomatoes makes them easier to cut into slices, which makes it possible to use the variety for decorative purposes, to decorate dishes. At the same time, added to sauces or hot dishes, tomato significantly improves its taste.
Growing a variety in your own backyard
Before planting, you should treat the seeds with potassium permanganate (weak solution) or aloe juice. This is necessary to obtain healthy seedlings, since tomatoes have weak immunity to various diseases.
After preventive procedures, the seeds are planted to a depth of 20 mm in special soil for vegetable crops. Fertilizing is carried out with organic fertilizers (humus, manure). After the sprouts appear, they are transferred to a lighted place. If there is not enough sunlight, it is recommended to use fluorescent lamps.
Picking is done when the seedlings develop 2-3 leaves. When the plants are 2 months old, they can be moved to permanent soil in the greenhouse. Before this, the sprouts must be hardened for 10-14 days.
Read also: Tomato King of the Giants: characteristics, description of the variety with photos and videos, reviews, yield
Organic and nitrogen fertilizers are added to the soil in the beds. Bushes are planted in a 0.5x0.6 m format. Soil loosening is carried out 2-3 times a week. This prevents the appearance of parasites on plant roots and saves from some diseases. The seedlings must be covered with film for 10 days to save them from sudden temperature changes.
It is recommended to weed the beds to remove weeds in a timely manner (2-3 times a week). If this is not done, the bushes will become infected with late blight, which will sharply reduce the volume of the harvest. Breeders recommend tying plant branches to strong supports and eliminating excess shoots.
It is recommended to fertilize plants with mineral and organic fertilizers 3 times per season. Initially, nitrogen and potassium mixtures necessary for the growth of bushes are added. After flowering begins, the tomato is fed with potassium nitrate, manure and a small amount of nitrogen mixtures. After the first fruits develop on the branches, fertilizing is carried out with complex fertilizers containing phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen.
When garden pests appear (Colorado beetle, aphids, caterpillars of various insects), the bushes should be treated with chemicals that kill the parasites and prevent their reappearance. Slugs are fought by adding ash under the roots of the tomato. The same method is used to destroy insects that parasitize the root system of plants.
A variety with large tasty fruits - the Accordion tomato: description of tomatoes and their characteristics
Accordion is an unusually shaped tomato, which, thanks to its pronounced ribbing, looks like everyone’s favorite accordion. The fruits have the outline of a giant pear and have a delicious taste.
Height | Landing location | Ripening time | Fruit color | Fruit size | Origin | Fruit shape |
Tall | Greenhouse, Open ground | Mid-season | Reds | Average | Variety | Pear-shaped |
Description and characteristics of the variety
Tomato Accordion is an indeterminate tall variety. The bushes are spreading and strong, the stems grow up to 1.5 m.
Up to 3 tomatoes are formed on fruiting clusters. Storage and transportability are good.
Advantages and disadvantages
- large fruit;
- resistance to adverse factors;
- ease of cultivation;
- Tolerates drought and heat.
Minuses:
- the need for formation and stepsoning.
Productivity
From 1 m2 they harvest 12-14 kg, from 1 bush the yield is 4-5 kg.
Features of cultivation and storage
The soil mixture is prepared from turf, compost, and sand. For greater looseness, peat is added. Neutralize using 1% potassium permanganate or calcined in the oven.
To grow strong seedlings:
- fertilize with Kemira-universal once every 10-12 days;
- hardened for 1 week at 14 degrees;
- dive into a container of 0.3-0.5 liters.
Growing
The agricultural technology of the variety, in principle, is no different from the agricultural technology of most tall tomatoes. Plants are grown mainly from seedlings; seeds are sown in the ground only in the southern regions.
Sowing time
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in early April if the tomatoes will grow in greenhouses and in early May if they are grown in beds.
It is most convenient to grow seedlings in plastic pots with a volume of 0.3-0.5 liters or in large-mesh cassettes. To fill them, a universal substrate for vegetable seedlings is best suited.
- 1 seed is sown in each container.
- To make them sprout faster, they are first soaked for disinfection for 20-30 minutes. in a warm solution with potassium permanganate or fungicide, and then left for 0.5 days in clean water. After this it is dried until it flows.
- Sow the seeds to a depth of 1-1.5 cm and sprinkle a thin layer of peat on top.
- Cover with film until shoots appear and place in a room with a temperature of at least 25˚C.
Water the seedlings moderately, so that the soil is always slightly moist. Feed 2 or 3 times at intervals of approximately 2 weeks.
To feed young plants, it is convenient to use complex fertilizers with their constituent microelements.
When grown in pots, seedlings are not planted, but they are hardened off 1-1.5 weeks before transplanting to open beds.
At the age of 55-60 days, seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or in open ground. Planting density – no more than 3-4 pieces per 1 sq. m. Plants are arranged according to a 50 by 70 cm pattern. After planting, the soil is compacted a little and mulched with any plant material.
Watering and fertilizing
After planting, plant care consists of regular watering, loosening and fertilizing. Water the tomatoes in the evening or in the morning using warm water. You can water by hand, but it is advisable to install a drip irrigation system on the beds. This is convenient and makes it possible to moisten the soil exactly on schedule, while saving water, and combining fertilizing with watering.
After each irrigation, the soil is loosened. This allows you to enrich the soil with oxygen and get rid of weeds.
When most of the tomatoes are fully formed, stop watering to avoid cracking of the fruit.
Tall tomatoes are fed for the first time before flowering with a fertilizer mixture in which nitrogen predominates. You can use organic and mineral fertilizers.
Accordion tomatoes respond well to fertilizing with infused slurry. To obtain it, 1 part of manure is mixed with 10 parts of water, left to infuse for 1 week in a closed container, then diluted with water again at a ratio of 1 to 5. To 1 bucket of such liquid add 1 glass of ash or 50 g of superphosphate.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The variety is mid-season, 116-120 days, indeterminate, in height from 2 meters or more. The stem is powerful, the leaf is of regular shape, dark green. The bush produces quite a lot of green mass and needs staking, pinching and thinning of leaves. To obtain more fruits, the plant is formed into two stems.
The inflorescence is of an intermediate type, the first is formed after the 6th leaf. The fruits are pink, flat-round, ribbed, with a “fold”. The pulp is dense, very tasty, sweet and juicy. On a horizontal cut you can see small cavities between the wall and the seeds - this is a structural feature of the tomato.
Protection from diseases and pests
The Garmoshka variety is moderately resistant to common diseases, but if you do not follow the rules of agricultural technology, adult plants can suffer from late blight, white spot, blossom end rot, fusarium, and seedlings from blackleg.
Among the pests, spider mites and whiteflies can settle on tomatoes of this variety.
To prevent accordion tomatoes from getting sick, preventive measures are carried out: they use only high-quality seeds, plant the tomatoes in an area where nightshades did not grow, treat the soil with Bordeaux mixture or fungicides when preparing it, and follow the watering and fertilizing regime. If signs of damage are detected, treatment with agrochemicals is immediately carried out.