Reliable, well-proven extra-early tomato variety “Shchelkovsky Early”

Hello, dear gardeners! I don’t know about you, but I am always surprised by the variety of varieties and hybrids of tomatoes, and every season I always try to plant some new ones. But the old proven varieties should not be forgotten, and although some are considered obsolete, it is too early to “write them off”. Especially if you are a beginner gardener and don’t always know all the intricacies of tomato farming.

The Shchelkovsky early tomato variety will definitely please you with excellent early harvests, and it will not require complex care. For those who are just mastering the difficult art of growing a heat-loving vegetable, this variety is perfect.

Tomato "Shchelkovsky early": description of the variety

The tomato variety “Shchelkovsky Early” belongs to the extra-early varieties, since from sowing the seeds to the ripening of the fruits, it takes from 85 to 100 days. The height of standard determinate bushes of this tomato ranges from 30 to 35 centimeters. This variety is not a hybrid, and it can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouses. This variety of tomatoes is not susceptible to diseases. This variety of tomatoes is characterized by high yield.

The main advantages of the “Shchelkovo early” tomato can be called:

• Disease resistance.
• High yield.
• Universal purpose of tomatoes.
• Possibility of growing both in open ground and in greenhouses, as well as on the balcony.

The disadvantages of this variety are the small size of the fruits and the fact that it is somewhat outdated. The main feature of this type of tomato is its fast and friendly yield. Its compact bushes can grow even in dense plantings.

As for the yield of other varieties, you will find this information in the table:

We bring to your attention articles about high-yielding and disease-resistant tomato varieties. And also about tomatoes that are resistant to late blight and about effective methods of protection against this disease.

Early and fruitful

The low-growing tomato was bred in the 80s of the last century, and all these years it has been pleasing gardeners in various regions.

The name once again indicates the main characteristic of the tomato - this is an early variety, since only 80-90 days pass from the moment the first shoots appear to the ripening of the fruit. Therefore, it can be safely grown in risky farming zones, in the Urals, Siberia, and the North-West.

Shchelkovsky early produces excellent yields in the Moscow region, while some grow it in open ground, while others prefer shelters. You will enjoy the harvest in any case!

The bush is determinate, very compact, the height of the plant ranges from 30 cm to 60-80 cm. In open ground this tomato does not grow tall; plants in a greenhouse will be slightly higher.

Shchelkovsky early bears fruit well on balconies, loggias, and on apartment windowsills. So if you want to plant a tomato at home, you can choose this low-growing variety.

No pinning is required, no garter required. True, sometimes gardeners still tie up the plant (especially in open ground) so that during precipitation or wind the tomato and fruits are not broken.

Tomato stems are dense, stocky, the number of leaves is average. Due to its compactness and low height, Shelkovsky early can also be grown in dense plantings. This is especially convenient if the area is small.

The usual pattern for planting this sturdy tree is 50x30 cm.

In warm regions, a seedless method of cultivation is allowed, when the seeds are sown directly into the ground. The optimal time is mid-May.

Characteristics

• The fruits of Shchelkovsky early tomatoes have a round shape and a smooth surface.
• Red tomatoes.
• They have a classic taste with a slight sourness.
• Weight ranges from 40 to 60 grams.
• These tomatoes contain an average amount of dry matter.
• They have a small number of nests.
• These tomatoes are not suitable for long-term storage.

According to the method of consumption, Shchelkovsky early is a universal variety. Its fruits are consumed fresh, and also used for pickling and preservation.

And in the table below you will find such characteristics as the weight of fruits of other tomato varieties:

Prevention of diseases and pests

As we have already mentioned, few diseases threaten this crop; it matures very quickly. Early fruit ripening allows the plant to “overtake” even late blight - the scourge of modern tomato crops. However, it is still worth taking generally accepted preventive measures.

As for pests, modern effective insecticidal substances are used to combat them.

Due to the very early ripening variety, tomatoes of this variety are not susceptible to late blight.

Photo

We bring to your attention several photographs of the Shchelkovsky Early tomato variety:

Recommendations for cultivation

These tomatoes can be grown in all regions of the Russian Federation. The Shchelkovsky early tomato is a light-loving and heat-loving crop. The optimal period for sowing seeds for seedlings is mid-March. The seeds need to be buried two centimeters into the ground, and the optimal temperature for their germination is from +20 to +25 degrees.

As soon as two or three full leaves appear on the seedlings, dive them to a depth of 5 centimeters. You can sow seeds directly into open ground in mid-May. Planting of seedlings in film greenhouses without heating, greenhouses and shelters is also carried out in May. In this case, the depth to which the main stem is rooted in the ground should be 10-12 centimeters.

The distance between plants should be 50 centimeters, and between rows - 30 centimeters. The early Shchelkovsky tomato does not require pinching or gartering! Caring for plants consists of regular watering, special attention to which should be paid before flowering, the formation of ovaries and at the beginning of fruit ripening, weeding and loosening the soil, as well as applying complex fertilizers.

Rules for planting and care

Sowing seeds for tomato seedlings is carried out one and a half to two months before planting young plants in open ground. Tomatoes of this variety can be planted without going through the stage of growing seedlings. In this case, the seeds are sown starting in mid-May.

Shchelkovsky Early variety is a heat- and light-loving crop. It is necessary to plant seedlings, as well as sow seeds in open ground, after the threat of night frosts has passed and the air and soil have warmed up sufficiently.

Seeds packaged by manufacturers do not require pre-treatment. If the seeds were collected with your own hands or were purchased by weight, they must be treated with a disinfectant solution of potassium permanganate, diluted aloe juice, soda or Fitosporin. This is required to increase productivity and protect plants from diseases.

It is also advisable to disinfect the soil for seedlings with boiling water or a solution of potassium permanganate or by calcination.

Tomatoes grown by an experienced gardener (photo)

After disinfecting the soil, it must be well moistened and left for 10 days to be filled with bacteria beneficial for the growth of tomatoes.

Next, the soil is poured into containers, furrows 1 cm deep are made in it. The distance between the furrows is 3-5 cm. Seeds are placed in the furrows, retreating from each 2-3 cm, and sprinkled with soil.

You don’t have to make furrows, but simply place the seeds on the surface of the soil and sprinkle them on top.

The containers are covered with film or glass and placed in a well-lit place.

After 10 days, when the first two true leaves appear, you can pick - plant the seedlings in separate containers. After a few weeks, another pick is carried out in a larger container.

Tomatoes of the Shchelkovsky Early variety, according to reviews, develop well if grown through seedlings. The picking process is one of the most important stages of cultivation.

When preparing the substrate for seedlings that will be transplanted, you should adhere to the same rules as when sowing seeds. The soil should be loose, fertilized and disinfected.

We recommend immediately allocating enough space for each seedling and limiting the picking to one stage. If a box is chosen for planting tomatoes, a distance of 4.5-5 cm should be maintained between the plants. The same amount should be left between the rows, and also retreated from the edge of the container.

If the number of tomatoes is small, it is convenient to use glasses. Then, transplanting to the garden bed will be easier, because it will be possible to use transshipment. Regardless of the container chosen, you need to lay a layer of drainage on the bottom and make sure that there are enough holes for moisture drainage and they are evenly distributed.

According to reviews from experienced gardeners, it is convenient to use old sawdust as a drainage material. They are lighter than small stones and will not spill out like sand.

If planting is carried out in open ground, the seedlings must first be hardened off. To do this, containers with tomatoes need to be taken out into the garden, having previously chosen a place protected from the wind and strong sun.

In the first two weeks after planting, we do not recommend fertilizing tomatoes. This can harm fragile roots and the plants will take root more slowly.

To protect against diseases, pests and fertilizing, we recommend combining spraying with foliar fertilizers.

These tomatoes grow well in fertile soil. Tomato seedlings are planted on a cloudy, windless day. The bushes are planted in holes, retreating 40 cm between them, and watered well, then sprinkled with soil on top.

Further care for tomatoes consists of watering, loosening the soil and protecting them from diseases and insect pests.

Reviews from gardeners about tomatoes of the Shchelkovsky Early variety are only positive due to the early ripening of the fruits, high yields and ease of care.

While watching the video you will learn about growing tomatoes.

The tomato variety described is a good option for growing both in open soils and in greenhouse conditions, including on the balcony. Excellent properties will allow you to enjoy the taste of juicy and healthy tomatoes soon after planting.

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Source

Video

The video tells how to grow very early tomatoes. These recommendations are perfect for the Shchelkovsky Early variety:

In the table below you will find links to informational articles about tomato varieties with different ripening periods:

Advantages and disadvantages

The main advantages of the variety are:

Seeds can only be removed from the ripest healthy tomatoes.

The disadvantages of the early Shchelkovsky tomato include the inability to store the fruits fresh for a long time and the relatively low yield compared to hybrids. Sometimes the small size of the fruit is also considered a disadvantage, but this is a feature of all ultra-early tomatoes.

Table: comparison of Shchelkovsky early with other standard tomatoes