Tomato Shuttle characteristics and description of the variety which are proposed in this article, will be an excellent choice for beginning gardeners and those who are very busy, but still want to grow vegetables on their plot. Tomato variety Shuttle easy to care for and very hardy, it grows well even with temperature changes. Gives a good harvest with minimal care. Next, you can read the description and characteristics of the variety, its advantages and disadvantages, as well as reviews from those who have already cultivated this variety on their plots.
Description and characteristics of the variety
The Chelnok tomato variety was bred by Russian breeders for cultivation in the southern and central regions of Russia in open ground. However, many successfully cultivate it in a greenhouse and under film cover, obtaining a good harvest. Some manage to grow the Chelnok variety indoors, placing large pots on a windowsill or insulated balcony.
- The bushes are determinate, standard type. They grow in height up to 50-60 cm.
- The stem is powerful, stable, and has a few shoots that need to be removed periodically. The main thing is to pinch them, leaving a stump of 5-7 mm, so as not to damage the main stem.
- It does not require intensive formation, as it regulates its growth itself, so the gardener does not have to spend a lot of time caring for the variety.
- Ultra early ripening. From the moment of emergence, 90-120 days pass before ripe fruits appear on the bushes.
- The variety can be grown in a greenhouse, but it is better to plant seedlings in open ground,
Important! since high-yielding indeterminate varieties are more suitable for greenhouse conditions.
- The first fruiting brush is formed after the 6th leaf. 6-10 simple flowers appear on each brush. However, to get large tomatoes, it is recommended to pinch the bunches, leaving no more than 4-5 ovaries. Then the tomatoes grow large and absorb a lot of nutrients from the juice.
Advice! If you do not pinch the fruiting clusters, you can harvest a lot of medium-sized tomatoes from the bushes.
- Productivity is high and largely depends on cultivation conditions. In a greenhouse with 1 sq. meter you can harvest 10 kg of tomatoes. In open ground - about 6-8 kg.
- It is unpretentious in care, gives a stable good harvest even in rainy and cool weather, as it was bred for Siberia.
- The crop is susceptible to diseases and pest attacks. Therefore, it is necessary to pay special attention to preventive measures. At high humidity and low air temperatures, the Chelnok tomato variety can be affected by late blight.
Diseases and pests
Tomatoes require protection from major viral and fungal diseases. The top layer of soil must be renewed annually; for prevention, the soil is generously spilled with an aqueous solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. This procedure will help destroy pathogens of fungal diseases.
To prevent late blight, it is recommended to spray the bushes with copper-containing preparations . Damaged leaves or fruits are immediately torn off and burned. There are varieties of tomatoes that are not susceptible to this disease. The greenhouse must be ventilated frequently to prevent the air from becoming too humid. Land turnover will help prevent viral diseases. Tomatoes cannot be planted in beds that were previously occupied by nightshades: other varieties of tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, potatoes.
Ideal predecessors for tomatoes are a variety of legumes, cabbage, carrots or herbs.
In open ground, plants are often attacked by pests. To prevent their occurrence, the soil should be mulched with peat, straw or humus. Any weeds that appear must be removed. Plantings must be inspected frequently, looking under the leaves. Having discovered pest larvae, they are collected by hand or washed off with warm water and laundry soap.
An aqueous solution of ammonia, which is periodically sprayed on the plantings, will help get rid of slugs. Spicy herbs planted along the ridges can repel flying insects: parsley, mint, celery .
In case of severe pest damage, tomatoes can be treated with insecticides. Spraying is carried out 2-3 times with an interval of several days. Treatment can be carried out before the formation of ovaries; during the fruiting period, toxic drugs are excluded.
Fruit characteristics
- The shape of the fruit is cylindrical. There may be a small spout at the tip.
- The color of ripe tomatoes is bright red.
- The skin is dense and does not crack.
- The bushes grow fruits of varying degrees of maturity and size, since the variety is characterized by a long fruiting period.
- The weight of average fruits is 60-80 g. By removing some of the ovaries, you can harvest tomatoes with a record weight of 150 g.
- The taste is high, according to experts.
- The pulp is dense, fleshy, sweet with a slight sourness.
- Inside there are 2-3 seed chambers with a small amount of seeds.
- The aroma is weak.
- Universal application.
Description of tomatoes Shuttle
The Shuttle tomato is an early ripening variety. Their cultivation can be carried out even by inexperienced people. They are perfectly rehabilitated in any conditions and are easy to care for. It is the description of the variety that often attracts gardeners. The bush is small in size; it can reach a maximum height of 55 cm.
The fruit has a minimum of water and a lot of pulp. Tomatoes have an oval shape. The tomato skin is dense and has a pleasant red color. The weight of one fruit can reach a maximum of 60 grams.
The productivity of this variety is quite high. So from one square meter you can get more than 8 kg of tomatoes. The first fruits appear on the bush after 90 days. Many gardeners who have planted this variety at least once leave only positive reviews about it.
Photo
Look what the Chelnok variety tomatoes look like in the photo .
Advantages and disadvantages
Chelnok tomatoes, like other varieties of this crop, have their own advantages that are worth listing:
- High yield.
- Excellent taste.
- Early ripening.
- Compact size of bushes.
- Easy to care for.
- There is no need to form bushes.
- Good resistance to cold and rainy weather.
- Can be grown indoors and outdoors.
- Versatility of use.
In addition to its advantages, this variety also has disadvantages that must be taken into account when cultivating the crop:
- Weak immunity to nightshade diseases, especially late blight, therefore requires preventive measures.
- Productivity may decrease due to low air temperatures during the growing season.
Many gardeners consider these shortcomings to be insignificant and every year they plant the Chelnok tomato variety on their plots.
Tomato Shuttle on video
If you grew Shuttle tomatoes, please write whether you liked them or not. What was the yield and taste of the fruits like under your climatic conditions? How do you assess the resistance of this variety to diseases and pests? Briefly describe what, in your opinion, are the advantages and disadvantages of this tomato. If possible, attach a photo of the entire bush or individual fruits you grew to your comment. Thank you!
Your reviews of the Shuttle tomato and additions to the description will help many gardeners evaluate this variety objectively and decide whether it is worth planting or not.
This is a natural variety of tomato. Therefore, we recommend taking seeds from a ripe fruit and growing them again next season!
Website about tomatoes - Tomatland.
Features of cultivation
Seeds of the Chelnok variety are sown for seedlings at the end of February - early March.
Before this, the seed is soaked for 6 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to destroy fungi and viruses, which can later cause the development of diseases.
After emergence, the container is placed in a well-lit place and, if necessary, additional lighting is provided using fluorescent lamps.
When 2-3 true leaves are formed, the seedlings are planted in separate cups.
Advice! If you immediately sow the seeds in containers with a diameter of 6-8 cm, there is no need to pick.
If the seedlings slow down their growth and their leaves become yellowish, it will be necessary to feed the seedlings with nitrogen fertilizer. 7 days before transplanting seedlings into the ground, they are fertilized with potassium-phosphorus fertilizer.
Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse in mid-May, in open ground in June.
Important! The time for planting seedlings depends on the region and weather conditions.
Bushes are planted according to the scheme - 4-5 pcs. per 1 sq. meter.
More information about growing tomatoes is described in the article: Technology of growing tomatoes. Secrets of planting and care
You might be interested in: How to properly plant tomatoes in a greenhouse: bush formation diagram, care features, photos and videos
Useful information: How to properly tie tomatoes in open ground: the best methods, step-by-step photo and video instructions
What farmers say
Reviews on the Internet are mostly positive.
There are often comments about the ease of growing “Shuttle” tomatoes and the large harvest. There are many comments with recipes. Here are examples of several reviews. “Chelnok has been my consistently grown variety for ten years now. Low. In the best years, I collect at least a seven-liter bucket from a bush. Good at rolling.” - Svetlana, St. Petersburg.
“I like these canned tomatoes. It’s easy to grow, you don’t have to do almost anything,” Natalya, Moscow region.
“It’s an excellent variety, that’s all I plant, and it takes root well in open ground,” Olesya, Nizhny Novgorod.
Application
Tomatoes of the Chelnok variety are universal in use. They are recommended to be consumed fresh, added to salads, various culinary dishes, and canned. They can be salted, pickled, dried. Thanks to their thick skin, tomatoes do not crack when canned whole.
They also make delicious juices, sauces, and pastes. Shuttle tomatoes retain their taste and sweetness even after heat treatment.
Tomatoes contain a large amount of sugar, which is why they are recommended for use in preparing baby food.
Watch the video! Tomato Shuttle
