Tomato Zephyr in chocolate. Description of the variety, photo of the tomato, reviews

Features of the variety

An unusual variety of tomatoes has been around for more than 15 years. During this time, he managed to get into the state register and fall in love with gardeners.

Vegetables have a dark color and a peculiar bright taste, sweet, without sourness. These tomatoes contain a high percentage of sugar. That's why vegetables are called salad vegetables. They should be eaten as soon as possible after harvest. The soft, tender and juicy pulp of the fruit does not withstand long-term storage and transportation. The skin on tomatoes often bursts.

When you cut a tomato, you may notice light spots on its flesh. Vegetable buyers often mistake them for signs of nitrates in fruits. But scientists have refuted such assumptions. Marshmallow tomatoes in chocolate do have a lot of light areas, but they appear as a result of irregular watering of the crop or lack of lighting. With proper quality care, this feature will not be noticed.

Other characteristics of the variety:

The pulp of the vegetables is very pleasant, juicy, without astringency. The fruits are suitable for a wide variety of dishes. They are consumed fresh, added to salads, on sandwiches, and used for baking. These tomatoes are often chosen for making juices and sauces. But vegetables are not suitable for canning and freezing because of their softness. It's better to eat them fresh.

Description and characteristics of the variety

It was created by breeders near Moscow at the turn of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The variety was included in the State Register in 2015. It can be grown in all regions of the Russian Federation in greenhouses. The variety is considered a table variety; it is used for salads and vegetable cuttings, but it can also be processed into juices and pastes, as well as canned.

About the tomato Zephyr in chocolate, the description and characteristics say that it is an indeterminate tall bush up to 160-170 cm. The plant is not standard. From seed germination to fruit ripening, 110-115 days pass.

The fruits are round, medium in size, weighing 120-150 grams. The stalk has slight ribbing. The skin color is red-brown, with slight green streaks. The pulp is very sweet, juicy, fleshy.

• The growth of the stem is not limited, it grows up to 2.5 m.
• The leaves are green.
• The fruits are round and brown.
• The average weight of tomatoes is 130 g.
• Increased content of lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin C and sugars.
• The yield indicator is 6 kg per m².
• Pronounced sweet taste.
• Not susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus.
• Requires bush formation.
• Strict dosing of fertilizing is recommended.
• Used for preparing salads and main courses.
• Suitable for growing in any region of Russia.
  Tomato Zephyr in chocolate seeds

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You can buy soil at the store or prepare it yourself. It is enough to mix sand, soil and peat in equal quantities. To reduce acidity, add 50 g of dolomite flour.

Advice! It is advisable to place pebbles or crushed eggshells at the bottom for drainage.

A container should be at least 8 cm in diameter with drainage holes to drain liquid. These can be glasses, peat pots or special containers. Before planting, water the soil with warm water.

Sowing seeds

At the beginning of March you need to prepare the seeds. If you order them from trusted manufacturers, you can start germination without disinfection. Old seeds are pickled in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. The strength of the solution is 1 g of potassium permanganate per liter of water.

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Important! The optimal air temperature for seedlings is 25 °C. If it is lower, the time for sprouts to appear increases

Planting in a greenhouse

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate

The greenhouse is prepared for the season in advance in the fall or spring at the beginning of March:

• treat wooden beams with a protective agent,
• eliminate breakages and holes,
• disinfect the soil with copper sulfate,
• a wire is stretched under the ceiling at a height of 2 m.

In mid-April, seedlings are planted in a greenhouse; the soil temperature should be at least 10 °C. Before this, you need to remove the top layer of soil (5 cm) and saturate it with mineral fertilizers, manure and sawdust. Then loosen the soil.

On a note! Tomatoes should not be planted in the same place as potatoes, peppers or eggplants.

As the plants grow, they are tied to twine thrown over a trellis. In this case, the bushes need to be formed into 2 stems, and the side shoots should be removed. A month before the harvest appears, the top of the stem is pinched.

Tomatoes are fed 3 times per season:

• during flowering,
• during the growing season,
• during the collection of the first fruits.

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate in section

Mullein and bird droppings diluted in 10 liters of water are used as fertilizer. Repeat the procedure every 14 days.

Tomatoes are watered generously 2 times a week with 15 liters of water, after which the greenhouse is ventilated.

• Pronounced taste, it’s not for nothing that tomatoes are called Zephyr.
• Unusual appearance, chocolate color.
• High content of antioxidants, which have a positive effect on metabolism.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• Susceptibility to fungal diseases.
• The fruits are difficult to transport.

• The growth of the stem is not limited, it grows up to 2.5 m.
• The leaves are green.
• The fruits are round and brown.
• The average weight of tomatoes is 130 g.
• Increased content of lycopene, beta-carotene, vitamin C and sugars.
• The yield indicator is 6 kg per m².
• Pronounced sweet taste.
• Not susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus.
• Requires bush formation.
• Strict dosing of fertilizing is recommended.
• Used for preparing salads and main courses.
• Suitable for growing in any region of Russia.
  Tomato Zephyr in chocolate seeds

Advantages and disadvantages

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate has a whole list of advantages and disadvantages. It is important for every gardener to become familiar with all of them. Based on this information, he will be able to decide whether to plant a crop on his summer cottage.

The advantages of the variety include:

• minimum percentage of water in the pulp;
• rapid and uniform ripening of fruits on the bushes;
• excellent productivity (with quality care);
• pleasant taste and aroma of vegetables;
• culture resistance to most common diseases and parasites.

Among the disadvantages it is worth noting:

• short storage period;
• impossibility of long-distance transportation;
• the need to carefully pack vegetables in thick cardboard boxes and ensure that there are no dents on them.

Landing in the ground

It is necessary to transplant the seedlings to a permanent place when several pairs of true leaves have formed on it. May is the best planting time. The soil temperature should not be lower than 15 C. Otherwise, the root system will not develop well.

Before planting seedlings in the soil, dig it up and fertilize it with rotted humus. It should be remembered that it is prohibited to use bird droppings and fresh manure for these purposes, which can cause burns to the root system. Tomatoes should not be planted in areas after potatoes and eggplants.

Planting on the beds is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Dig holes at a distance of 50 cm from each other. Leave the distance between rows at 60-70 cm.
2. Pour a warm solution of wood ash into the hole.
3. Place the seedlings in the hole and lightly pry the root. It is advisable not to damage the lump of earth when replanting.
4. Cover the hole with soil.
5. Pour over warm water.

Description of culture

Every gardener should carefully study the detailed description of the crop. It will be useful to know the ripening time of vegetables, their susceptibility to drought, heat and frost, crop yield and ways to increase it.

Ripening period

From the moment of planting to the collection of the first fully ripe fruits, 95-105 days usually pass. But a more precise period depends on the time of planting the seedlings, as well as on the growing conditions of the plant, air temperature and other important points.

Typically, ripe tomatoes are harvested in August. Gardeners are trying to speed up this process and harvest the entire crop before the first frost. Vegetables are not suitable for long-term storage, so they should be consumed as soon as possible.

Drought resistance, frost resistance

The variety Zephyr in chocolate does not tolerate drought well. It needs regular and high-quality watering. If the plant does not receive enough moisture, this can negatively affect the quality and abundance of the harvest.

The culture cannot exist normally even during frosts. Low temperatures are detrimental to the variety. Therefore, it is so important to start harvesting on time and complete the process in August. Typically, the fruit harvest time is from July 20 to August 20.

With proper care and compliance with all the main stages, the plant will not encounter frost. For the winter, all bushes are completely removed, and in the spring the crop is replanted.

Appearance of plant and fruit

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate has an unusual appearance. The bush of the plant is usually quite tall (especially if grown in greenhouse conditions). It reaches a height of 1.6-1.7 m. The bushes have lush foliage of a rich green color.

The fruits on the branches are round. At first they are greenish during the ripening process. But gradually they acquire a red-brown color. Each ripe vegetable has small green streaks (you can notice them from the side of the stalk). The size of the fruit also largely depends on the care of the crop. But on average it is 110-130 g. With regular sufficient watering and proper formation of the bush, vegetables often weigh 150-160 g.

The fruit has a dense dark skin. But at the same time, it bursts easily, which is why tomatoes cannot be stored for a long time.

Productivity

The largest harvest of the Chocolate Marshmallow variety can be obtained if the seeds were properly prepared for planting and the seedlings were grown in comfortable conditions. Watering and fertilizing the plant also affects the result. The culture feels most comfortable in warm southern regions. But a greenhouse will help provide it with suitable conditions in other areas.

From each bush of the plant it is possible to collect an average of 5-5.5 kg of vegetables. With high-quality care of the plantings, this figure can be increased to 6-7 kg. And if it is insufficient, it drops to 3-4 kg.

Brief information about the variety

• Fruits and bush : plants of indeterminate type. The average height of the bush is 150 cm. The fruits are medium-sized, round, weighing up to 150 g. The color is unusual - red-brown with green stripes at the stalk.
• Productivity : 5 kg of fruits are collected from each bush. From 1 m² the gardener receives 15-18 kg.
• Resistance : to fruit rot, powdery mildew and late blight. Among the pests, the crop is not affected by mole crickets and moths.
• Distribution : the variety is zoned for all regions if the plant is planted in a greenhouse. In the southern regions, seedlings are placed in open ground.
• Application : used for preparing dishes from fresh vegetables, sauces and tomato paste. Suitable for preservation.
• Planting : seedlings are planted in a permanent place in May according to a 50x65 cm pattern.
• Soil : light, nutritious, with a low alkali concentration.
• Care : water the bushes every week. Feeding - 3 times per season. Sewing and gartering are mandatory.
• Ripening period : the growing season lasts 100 days from the moment of planting. The harvest is harvested in August before the first frost. Tomatoes are not suitable for long-term storage.

Features of planting and growing

Tomatoes of the Zephyr variety in chocolate must be planted correctly and provided with high-quality care in the future. Then the gardener can count on an excellent harvest.

Soil and planting algorithm

Tomato seedlings are usually moved to the beds when they are two months old. Sometimes it is allowed to plant it 8-10 days earlier. And each gardener calculates the exact sowing time independently. You just need to focus on the fact that the harvest can be obtained in a little less than 4 months from the moment the planting material germinates.

Seeds germinate on average in 7-9 days. It is recommended to start planting them in March, so that they can then be sent to unheated greenhouses.

It is best to buy seeds in specialized gardening stores. They are usually packaged in small bags of 1 g. If there is no mark on the packaging that the seeds have already been treated against pathogenic microbes, then this process should be organized independently. For this, the seed is filled with manganese solution and left for half an hour.

Afterwards, the seeds are transferred to fabric bags and stored in the refrigerator for another 11-12 hours. This procedure allows you to harden the grains well. It is best to organize a temperature difference for the seeds. After the specified time from the refrigerator, the seed is left for the same time at room temperature. The movements are repeated sequentially for 7-8 days.

While the seeds are hardening, soil and suitable containers are prepared for them. You can either buy the soil (ready-made suitable mixture) or mix it yourself. For nutritious soil, peat, humus and soil from the summer cottage are combined in a common container. But it is important not to take soil for seedlings from beds where eggplants, tomatoes or potatoes previously grew.

It is convenient to use plastic cups for seeds. They are filled with nutritious soil, and holes must be made in the bottom of the containers so that excess moisture comes out and the roots of the plants do not rot.

It is permissible to plant the seeds immediately in a large common box.

1. The prepared grains are buried into the soil by about 1-1.5 cm. If separate cups are used, then 2 seeds are sent to each cup.
2. After planting, water with warm, settled water.
3. They are covered with film on top and left in a warm place. In special seedling boxes, seeds can be sown densely.
4. After 16-18 days, when 2 true leaves appear, the seedlings are distributed into separate containers.
5. When the first shoots already appear, the film is removed.

Containers with seedlings are moved to the windowsill. Seedlings need light at least 9-10 hours a day. If natural light is not enough, then you should use a phytolamp.

When caring for seedlings, it is important to maintain a temperature that is comfortable for them. So for the first 7-8 days it should not be higher than +18 degrees. Next, the seedlings can grow for a whole month at temperatures above +21 degrees.

During the growth process, the seedlings are watered with warm, settled water. It is convenient to do this with a syringe or a tablespoon. Water pours directly under the root of the plant. The frequency of water treatments for seedlings is calculated based on soil dryness.

It is also advisable to regularly feed the plants. During the entire period, the procedure should be carried out 2 times. It is convenient to use purchased complex fertilizers. After the dive, the feeding comes back again. The first should be done 11-12 days after planting the sprouts.

Seedlings should be sent to a permanent location during a period of stable heat, when there is no likelihood of frost returning. By this time the soil should warm up to 15 degrees. If the ground is colder, this will negatively affect the development of the plant's root system. The best month for planting seedlings in a permanent place is May.

It is important to properly prepare the soil before the process. It must be dug up, in the process removing the remains of last year's plants. Otherwise, they can become a source of infections. After digging, the soil is fertilized with rotted humus. Under no circumstances should fresh cow manure or chicken manure be used at this stage. Such feeding options can cause burns to the still young, delicate root system of the plant.

It is not recommended to plant tomatoes in beds in a greenhouse where other varieties of tomatoes or eggplants grew last season. But cucumbers and herbs are good predecessors for chocolate covered marshmallows.

In the process of planting seedlings in a garden bed, the following is required:

1. Dig small holes, placing them at least 40-45 cm apart (preferably 50-55 cm).
2. Maintain a distance between rows and leave 65-70 cm.
3. Send a portion of fertilizer into each hole. For example, a solution of wood ash is perfect. The liquid should be lukewarm.
4. Place individual seedlings in the recesses, handling the root system very carefully when transferring. It is best to take small peat pots. In such containers you can send seedlings directly into the ground. The pots will gradually dissolve in it. Then there is no need to disturb the roots of the plants.
5. Cover the holes with soil.
6. Water the plantings with warm water.

It is important to continue to provide high-quality care for the plantings. The soil should be regularly moistened, loosened, and mulched.

If a mole cricket is spotted in the area where tomato seedlings are planted, you can immediately take care of prevention. To do this, poison against parasites is poured into the holes for young plants.

Trimming

The plant is formed into 1-2 stems. If you grow it in 2 stems at once, this will increase the crop yield. The second shoot starts from the lowest stepson (the first).

As the crop grows and develops, it is important to regularly trim the lower leaves under the trusses. This should be done when the ovaries have already begun to form into fruits.

The gardener should carefully inspect each bush regularly. In the process it is cut off. First of all, the shoot growing from the stem in the axil of the leaf branch is removed.

It is also important to periodically tie up the bushes as they grow. If this is not taken care of, the branches may begin to break under the weight of the fruit. And vegetables left on the ground will quickly rot.

If you need to stop the growth of bushes, you can start pinching them from the top. This should be done after the ovaries have formed. The area above the fifth pair of leaves is pinched.

To reduce green mass in general, removing the lower leaves helps. The procedure is performed gradually. It is also advisable to remove excess shoots. For the process it is convenient to use sharp pruning shears with thin blades.

Care

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate requires high-quality regular care. One of the main procedures is watering. For the process, be sure to use warm water so as not to harm the root system (not to deform it).

Liquid at room temperature promotes better adhesion between roots and soil. It is advisable not only to heat the water, but also to leave it to settle for at least 25 hours. Cold liquid significantly reduces the activity of the plant’s roots. As a result, they stop growing and absorb nutrients from the soil less well.

An interval of 70 hours is maintained between waterings. But this period can be adjusted depending on the air temperature. During very hot periods, the plant sometimes requires more frequent watering.

After each water treatment, be sure to loosen the soil. When the soil dries out after watering, it becomes covered with a dense crust on top, which prevents oxygen from reaching the roots of the plant. In the process of loosening the soil, you should also remove weeds along with the roots. To keep moisture in the soil longer and for grass to grow slower, you can use mulch. For example, cover the beds with a layer of hay.

For better appearance, taste of fruits and overall high yield, it is important to take care of feeding the bushes. Fertilizers are applied to the soil several times per season. The table will help you figure out the optimal feeding schedule:

Sometimes during the growth of a crop it requires additional feeding. For example, when for some reason the plant does not have enough nutrients for growth. The need for additional fertilizer is determined by the gardener himself based on the appearance of the crop.

Diseases and pests

The variety is resistant to most diseases characteristic of tomatoes. But still, signs of nematosis may periodically appear on the bushes. You can notice them by the dryness of the foliage and its untimely falling. To cope with the disease, you need to spray the bushes with a solution of copper sulfate. For 20 g of dry matter, take 10 liters of liquid.

It is extremely difficult to fight nematosis. In the process, the plant is affected by small faces that feed on the juices of the roots and stem. Then the bush gradually withers and dies. If copper sulfate does not help cope with the problem, it may be necessary to destroy all plantings in the greenhouse.

Another common problem is brown spot. It can also be determined by the appearance of the plants. Red-brown spots appear on the leaves. Bordeaux mixture helps to cope with the problem. This product is diluted in water (100 g per 5-5.5 l).

If you notice deep holes in your tomatoes that are gradually rotting, most likely there are bollworm caterpillars in the area. Such vegetables are no longer suitable for consumption. To cope with the pest, you can use an infusion of pepper. One package of the product (in powder) is diluted in 6-7 liters of water.

Regardless of what parasite has settled on the site, treatments with special means against it are carried out repeatedly. Frequency – once every 10 days. The procedure is repeated until all signs of the lesion completely disappear.

Wintering

Chocolate-covered Zephyr tomatoes do not overwinter outside or in a greenhouse. Typically, such a crop does not experience frost. At the end of August or at most at the beginning of September, harvesting stops completely.

Next, the greenhouse or open bed is cleared of all plantings. The soil is dug up the next year. It is advisable to try to remove as much weed from the ground as possible during the process.

Next spring, the Chocolate Marshmallow seeds are replanted and strong seedlings are grown from them. This procedure is repeated every year.

Harvesting

It is allowed to begin harvesting the crop as early as August. It is best to remove fruits from the bushes manually, without using mechanical devices. Otherwise, the harvest can be severely crushed and spoiled.

During the process, only healthy tomatoes that have no visible damage are removed from the bushes. They are placed in large wooden or wicker boxes/baskets.

Harvesting can continue until the first frost. But it is best to complete it in the last days of August.

Storage

Tomato Zephyr in chocolate does not store well. Vegetables' skins crack easily, and then they begin to quickly deteriorate. Therefore, the best solution would be not to leave ripe tomatoes for long-term storage, but to consume them fresh as soon as possible.

It is recommended to store tomatoes in a cool, dark place. For example, you can place them on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. The tomatoes are placed away from each other so that they do not touch.

To preserve tomatoes for as long as possible, you should pick them while they are still unripe. During this period, the fruits will be green. Then, in a dark room, the tomatoes will be able to ripen for several more weeks.

Disease and pest control

At the first sign of disease, begin treatment

Despite the plant’s resistance to most diseases, it is not immune to some:

• Signs of nematosis periodically appear in the form of dry foliage and its falling off. The fight against this disease consists of spraying with copper sulfate (20 g per 10 liters of water);
• If you notice red-brown spots on the leaves, it means brown spotting is occurring. Treatment with Bordeaux mixture (100 g per 5 liters of water) will help get rid of it.

Nematodosis is not a disease! This is the defeat of plants by very small parasitic worms - nematodes. They, settling on the root system and the lower part of the stem, feeding on its juices, cause tissue decomposition, as a result of which the plant first begins to wither and then dies. Nematodes are quarantine pests. It is very difficult to fight them.

Among the common pests is wireworm. Signs of this parasite are holes in the fruits, which rot over time, completely destroying the tomatoes.

Wireworms are the larvae of click beetles. They live in the ground and “make holes” in root crops: carrots, beets, potatoes. And holes in tomato fruits are produced by cotton bollworm caterpillars.

A solution of “Regent” (1 a per 15 liters of water) or an infusion of pepper (1 package of powder per 6 liters of water) helps fight it.

Treatments against diseases and pests are carried out at intervals of 10 days until all signs of damage disappear.

Reproduction methods

Chocolate covered marshmallows are a natural variety of tomatoes. Therefore, gardeners can collect seeds from mature vegetables and use them for planting in subsequent seasons. This is a great way not only to save money, but also to be confident in the quality of planting material.

If you don’t want to tinker with the seeds yourself, you can always buy them in specialized stores, packaged in small bags. There is another option - to immediately purchase grown seedlings in large boxes or separate miniature glasses (after picking). This will greatly simplify the gardener's task. Usually private farmers sell already grown seedlings in the spring.

Preparing seedlings and planting

You can buy soil at the store or prepare it yourself. It is enough to mix sand, soil and peat in equal quantities. To reduce acidity, add 50 g of dolomite flour.

Advice! It is advisable to place pebbles or crushed eggshells at the bottom for drainage.

A container should be at least 8 cm in diameter with drainage holes to drain liquid. These can be glasses, peat pots or special containers. Before planting, water the soil with warm water.

The best way to grow is by seedlings. Preparations should begin two months before the expected planting time. To get good seedlings you should:

• prepare separate containers for each seedling; peat pots are suitable;
• Fill the containers tightly with complex soil for tomatoes;
• plant seeds to a depth of 1.5-2 cm;
• immediately after sowing, water with warm water and cover with film;
• after the first shoots appear, place the pots with seedlings in a well-lit place;
• carry out regular watering;
• maintain the room temperature at 21-25 degrees.

Where to buy, how much it costs

Today you can buy seeds of the Zephyr variety in chocolate throughout Russia. They are sold at most gardening stores. You can even order the seeds you need from online nurseries. The cost of 1 package of seeds varies from 25 to 60 rubles.

Marshmallow tomatoes in chocolate love high-quality and regular care. When growing them, special attention should be paid to watering the bushes and protecting them from the most popular diseases and parasites. If you take care of the prevention of crop diseases in advance, then the gardener will not encounter them throughout the entire season.

How to make chocolate covered marshmallows at home:

I described in detail how to make homemade marshmallows in a previous article, which can be viewed at this link.

In short, you need to bake apples, make puree from the pulp of baked apples, mix it with vanilla and a glass (250g) of regular sugar, then beat with half an egg white.

Soak the gelatin in water for half an hour, then heat over low heat until it boils, add the rest of the sugar and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes at a gentle boil. While the syrup has cooled slightly, add the second half of the egg white to the applesauce and beat until fluffy and white.

Now slowly pour hot syrup into the whipped mass, whisking all the time, until the mixer whisks begin to leave marks that do not immediately melt. Fill a pastry bag with marshmallow mixture and place the marshmallows on oiled confectionery parchment 3-4 cm apart. And leave to dry for 24 hours. After a day, the marshmallow hardens, but inside it still remains viscous. But after two days it dries out and becomes light and almost dry, like meringue. It turns out to be a lot, we ate half of it like this, and I decided to make the rest of the marshmallows in chocolate.

Melt the chocolate in a water bath, as for glazed cheese curds - after breaking the bars into pieces, add milk and heat, stirring.

When the chocolate pieces have completely melted, dip the marshmallows into the chocolate one at a time, dip the marshmallows into the glaze using a spoon, then take them out, wait for the excess glaze to drain, and place them on parchment.

Place the chocolate marshmallows in the refrigerator until the chocolate layer hardens completely.

And then we take out one for each of us and feast on it!

Even I liked the homemade marshmallows in chocolate, although I usually don’t really like marshmallows. But combined with chocolate it’s very tasty!

Sources

• https://rusfermer.net/ogorod/plodovye-ovoshhi/tomat-pomidor/srednespelye-sorta/zefir-v-shokolade.html
• https://otomate.ru/tomat-zefir-v-shokolade.html
• https://new-recipes.ru/deserty/zefir-v-shokolade-recept.html