The tomato is a first generation F1 hybrid. Bush size: tall, very powerful. Purpose: universal. Features: super productive hybrid with amazingly bright fruits. At the stage of technical ripeness, the fruit is scarlet.
The tomato has many large, tasty fruits that ripen evenly and have a wonderful pulp consistency. Resistance to diseases and adverse weather conditions, fruiting until frost.
In which regions of Russia can you grow tomatoes? Intuition
Tomato Intuition is recommended for cultivation in the central zone of the country. But judging by the reviews of gardeners, this hybrid shows high performance in other areas. However, it is necessary to take into account the climatic conditions of the region in each specific case.
Ural
To successfully grow the Intuition tomato in the Urals, planting by seedlings in closed ground is recommended. Sowing should be done in mid-March, and transplanting to a permanent place - in early June. Due to the early ripeness of the hybrid, the first fruits in this region ripen in mid-August.
Siberia
In Siberian conditions, this tomato shows high performance in closed ground. It is recommended to grow it in seedlings. Sowing is carried out in the first ten days of March, and the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in early June. The first harvest can be harvested in the second half of August.
Moscow region and central Russia
In these regions of the country, the hybrid is recommended to be grown in seedlings in open and closed ground. Sowing is carried out in late February-early March, and the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in early or mid-April.
Southern regions of Russia
Tomato Intuition in the south of the country can be grown in seedlings in open ground. To do this, you need to sow the seeds in mid-February so that by the time the plants are planted in a permanent place, they are 60-65 days old. You can transfer seedlings to open ground in the second half of April. In this case, the first fruits ripen in early July.
Characteristics and description of the variety
Tomatoes Intuition - description of the variety.
photos, reviews, all this will be discussed in this article. This tomato is a hybrid; it was bred at the end of the last century by breeders from the Gavrish Breeding Company LLC, who immediately submitted it for inclusion in the Russian State Register of Agricultural Achievements. After variety trials were carried out in 1998, the Intuition F1 tomato was included in the State Register. It is intended for cultivation in greenhouse conditions in central Russia, other regions with similar climatic conditions, in the Leningrad region, the Urals and Siberia.
Due to its properties, the Intuition tomato can be grown not only in summer rotation, but also in summer-autumn and extended rotation.
Characteristics of fruits, bushes - distinctive features
Characteristics and description of the tomato variety Intuition should begin with a story about the plant itself. This hybrid is medium-early in terms of ripening - no more than 4 months pass from the moment of germination of the seed material to the harvesting of ripe fruits.
The Intuition tomato is an indeterminate type, so its central shoot is not limited in growth.
Description of the bush
The bushes are tall, can grow up to 2 m, the shoots are strong and powerful, but under the weight of ripening tomatoes they can break or fall to the ground. Therefore, they must be tied to trellises or other strong supports. Constant pruning of the bushes is also required.
Since the Intuition tomato is tall, it is usually formed into no more than a couple of stems. To do this, the stepson that appears under the second flower cluster is not removed - the second shoot will be formed from it.
The foliage of the Intuition tomato is typical for tomatoes, medium in size, matte, slightly wrinkled, dark emerald in color. Inflorescences are simple, compact in structure, racemose. Each of them produces up to 8 ovaries. The first inflorescence is formed under the 9th permanent leaf, at the node, the next ones - after a couple of leaves.
Intuition tomatoes have a powerful root system that branches in the top layer of soil. The diameter of the roots can be up to 0.5 m.
Description of fruits
The fruits of the tomato variety Intuition are smooth, round in shape, up to 7 cm in diameter, with smooth, dense skin. The average weight of ripe tomatoes is about 100 g.
Important!
One of the advantages of tomatoes of the Intuition variety is approximately the same size of ripe fruits.
Tomatoes at the ripening stage have a delicate light green color; there are no dark spots even on the stalk. At the stage of full ripeness, all tomatoes turn a rich red color.
Tomatoes of the Intuition variety are characterized by the presence of tender, juicy fleshy pulp inside the ripe fruits. Each ripe tomato contains several seed chambers, with a small amount of underdeveloped seed material.
According to reviews from vegetable growers, the taste of ripe tomatoes is excellent; the sweet and sour fruits also have a pleasant tomato aroma.
The harvested crop can be transported to any distance without the fruits cracking or leaking. Ripe tomatoes can be stored at home for a long time without losing their beautiful appearance and pleasant taste.
Productivity
Harvesting from Intuition tomatoes begins in the second ten days of July. When grown in summer-autumn rotation, the last fruits can be harvested in the first ten days of October, before the first frost.
One of the important characteristics of the Intuition tomato is an indicator of their productivity.
With good care, when growing an Intuition tomato in garden beds, you can collect 9-11 kg of ripe produce from each square of area.
In the greenhouse, vegetable growers can harvest up to 15 kg of ripe tomatoes from 1 m2. Some summer residents say that if they followed all the rules of agricultural technology, they were able to harvest 30 kg of tomatoes per square meter in greenhouse conditions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Of the main positive characteristics of Tomato Intuition, the following should be noted:
- seed material has excellent germination rate - more than 99%;
- although the description notes that the Intuition tomato is intended for planting in greenhouse conditions, it is also successfully grown in garden beds;
- wonderful taste of ripe tomatoes;
- tomatoes are not prone to cracking; after ripening, they hold tightly to the stalks without falling to the ground;
- the yield indicator is consistently high;
- ripe tomatoes can be stored for a long time without losing their pleasant taste;
- the fruits are versatile - they can be used fresh and can also be preserved;
- the harvested crop can be transported to any distance;
- The Intuition hybrid is characterized by high immunity, therefore it is practically not affected by the main diseases characteristic of other tomato varieties.
Among the disadvantages of the Intuition tomato are:
- Since this tomato is a hybrid, it will not be possible to collect seeds from the collected fruits. Therefore, seed material will have to be purchased annually from specialized stores;
- The bushes are too tall, so we have to tie them up and remove the shoots.
Planting tomato seeds
In order for the Intuition tomato harvest to meet expectations, it is necessary to properly sow the seeds for seedlings. And also in the future it is important to promptly carry out picking, hardening and planting of plants in a permanent place.
Seed preparation
To increase the immunity of seedlings at the initial stage of growth, it is necessary to soak the seeds in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. After this, rinse the planting material in clean water and dry slightly until characteristic flowability appears.
Sowing seedlings
The seeds need to be planted in a nutrient mixture consisting of turf, sand, humus and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1:1. Two days before the procedure, water the soil with Fitosporin or Previkur Energy and then dry it. This will prevent the development of soil pathogens.
It is recommended to plant seeds to a depth of 1-1.5 cm in moist soil. After planting, the soil surface must be additionally sprayed with water from a spray bottle.
For successful seed germination, cover containers with film or glass and move them to a dark place with a temperature of +20-22 degrees. After the seedlings appear, place them on a well-lit windowsill and lower the maintenance regime to +17-18 degrees. And after the seedlings adapt to external conditions, remove the cover completely.
Hardening, picking seedlings
It is recommended to pick tomato seedlings Intuition at the stage of 2-3 real leaves. Transplantation is carried out in containers with a volume of 250-350 ml. Use the same soil as when sowing seeds.
Before transferring seedlings to a permanent place, they must first be hardened off. To do this, take it into the greenhouse or outside for 2 hours for the first time, and with each subsequent day increase the hardening duration by 1 hour. After a week, the tomatoes will fully adapt to the new conditions.
Landing in the ground
Recommended scheme for planting tomato Intuition - 4 plants per 1 sq. m. When planting, it is recommended to bury the seedlings until the first pair of leaves, which contributes to the formation of a powerful root system.
Features of cultivation and storage
Seedlings are grown with one pick until the age of 55 days. A week before planting, seedlings begin to be taken outside to harden off. They are planted in the greenhouse when the first corollas form. They must be replanted with a clod of earth.
The fruits of Intuition are perfectly stored and transported. The hybrid was specially created for the sale of fresh tomatoes. Tomatoes can be transported in boxes stacked in several layers. When harvested at technical ripeness, they can lie in a room with a temperature of +10 degrees for more than a month.
Planting tomatoes with seedlings
If you purchase ready-made seedlings, the plants also need preliminary preparation before planting in open ground. The further development and fruiting of tomatoes depends on how correctly it is carried out.
Preparing seedlings
The day before planting, it is necessary to spray the seedlings with Epin's solution to speed up their establishment in a new place. And also soak the root system in Aktar for 15 minutes. This will prevent pest damage at the initial stage of growth.
Rules for planting in open ground
Seedlings can be planted in a permanent place when the soil has warmed to a depth of 15 cm to a temperature of +12-15 degrees. In this case, the seedlings should have 8-11 true leaves and the buds of the first fruit cluster should be formed.
Seedlings ready for planting in open ground
When planting in a hole, it is recommended to add humus and a handful of wood ash and mix thoroughly with the soil. If they are absent, you can add 30 g of superphosphate and 25 g of potassium sulfide.
Harvesting and application
The harvest is harvested as the tomatoes ripen, but it is advisable not to leave ripened fruits on the shoots, as they take away nutrition from those tomatoes that are just beginning to ripen.
Harvested tomatoes can be used fresh for food, added to summer salads and snacks, and canned whole.
Important!
Thanks to their thick skin, tomatoes do not burst during heat treatment and look very beautiful in jars.
Salads, lecho, and adjika are also prepared from the fruits of this tomato variety for the winter.
Care
Tomato Intuition does not require complex care. And when growing it, it is enough to adhere to standard rules of agricultural technology.
Mulching and watering
Tomatoes should be watered as needed when the top layer of soil dries out. To do this, use settled water at a temperature of +20-22 degrees. It is recommended to moisturize in the morning and evening. Tomatoes should be watered directly at the root so that moisture does not fall on the leaves. The watering rate is 1.5-4 liters per bush, depending on the stage of its development.
During hot periods, it is recommended to mulch the bushes at the base with straw, peat, and humus. This will maintain air access to the roots and avoid drying out.
Bush formation and pinching
Tomato Intuition needs the formation of bushes. The hybrid shows high productivity when grown in 1-2 shoots. Therefore, in the first case, it is recommended to remove all growing stepsons, and in the second, to leave only one lower, well-developed one.
In early August, the tops of the shoots need to be pinched above the 5th fruit cluster. This will make it possible to stop their excessive growth and redirect the plant’s forces to ripening the crop.
Top dressing
Tomato Intuition needs regular feeding throughout the entire growth period. You can add organic matter for the first time 10 days after planting the seedlings in a permanent place. It is recommended to use mullein (1:10) or chicken manure (1:15).
2 weeks after this, feed with wood ash at the rate of 100 g per bush, and then, with the same frequency, water the plants with 25 g of potassium sulfide and 30 g of superphosphate per bucket of water. Pour 1 liter of nutrient solution under each bush.
Watering, fertilizing
Further care includes:
- watering;
- feeding;
- loosening row spacing;
- mulching.
These works are considered common to all varieties of tomatoes, but the Intuition hybrid has some features that require special attention - tall bushes that cannot be grown without tying them to a support or trellis. The first time you should tie the stem to a support a week after planting, then, as the bush grows, continue to fix it.
It is better to fertilize the hybrid with the following infusions:
- from fresh grass;
- mullein;
- wood ash.
For the entire growing season, it is enough to plan 4 feedings. They should be performed during the following periods:
- 1 week after disembarkation;
- on the eve of flowering;
- when setting fruit;
- at the height of fruiting.
Water the tomatoes with settled water at room temperature. Before the flowering phase of a tomato, it must be moistened once every 5 days by pouring 1.5 liters of water under the bush. From the moment of flowering, the watering rate is tripled.
Approximately twice a month it is necessary to carry out weeding and loosening of the soil. It is important to be careful as it is easy to damage the tomato roots.
Growing the variety Intuition in a greenhouse
Growing a hybrid indoors has some differences. And in order to avoid problems later, you need to take this into account.
Key Features :
- Planting of seedlings should be carried out in mid-early April, provided that the soil has sufficiently warmed up.
- Regularly ventilate the greenhouse to prevent the development of diseases and pests.
- Watering is carried out 2 times a week, and during hot periods - every evening with wetting the soil by 15 cm.
- Maintain humidity at 60-70% during bush growth, and at 75-80% when tomatoes ripen.
- Plant tomatoes in a checkerboard pattern in two rows at a distance of 60-65 cm.
- Pinching of shoots is carried out above the seventh brush at the end of July.
Preparing the greenhouse
To ensure further comfortable growth of young plants, it is necessary to carry out high-quality treatment of both the soil in the greenhouse and the frame part of the greenhouse itself. Different regions have different timings for planting seedlings in a greenhouse, but usually they vary from the beginning to the end of May. Therefore, if the covering of the greenhouse is film, and the spring turned out to be cold, then you may have to put two layers of film or use a denser (reinforced) one. Using a double film coating is more effective, since the air cushion that inevitably appears between the layers will not only increase the temperature in the greenhouse, but will also significantly increase the performance capabilities of the inner layer.
There should be vents on each side of the greenhouse for good ventilation. To avoid infection of seedlings, it is recommended to remove the top layer of last year’s soil (7-10 cm). The remaining soil is treated with a solution of copper sulfate in a proportion of 30 grams per bucket of water. All parts of the greenhouse frame, wooden or metal, must be subjected to the same disinfection. It is necessary to replenish soil loss with humus.
Experienced gardeners recommend changing vegetable plantings in greenhouses annually. But if this is not possible, then the presented method of removing the old layer of soil and replacing it with humus is quite acceptable and will not reduce the planned yield. Tomatoes, in particular the Intuition F1 tomato, the cultivation of which does not involve any particular difficulties, extract maximum nutrients from the soil, and replacing the top layer with the addition of a full range of necessary microelements is a good option for obtaining a high yield.
Soil treatment is carried out at least 10 days before planting seedlings. The soil must be loosened, emerging weeds and fragments of old roots must be removed. Humus is added in an amount of 8-10 kg per square meter; a glass of wood ash (for the same area) will not harm. The optimal types of soil for growing tomatoes in a greenhouse are breathable loams or sandstones.
Diseases and pests
Tomato Intuition has high natural immunity. The hybrid is not susceptible to tobacco mosaic virus, fusarium, and cladosporiosis. But if the growing conditions are inappropriate, it is affected by late blight. And, in order to prevent this, preventive treatment of bushes with fungicides is recommended once every 10 days.
Effective drugs :
- Ridomil Gold;
- Quadris;
- Revus;
- Champion.
Among the pests, the Colorado potato beetle can cause damage to tomatoes in open ground, and in greenhouses and hotbeds - whitefly. To combat them, you need to spray the bushes with Confidor Extra and water them with Aktara solution.
Colorado beetle
Whitefly
Best reviews from our readers
According to reviews from vegetable growers about the Intuition tomato, it practically does not get sick, is distinguished by high productivity, excellent taste of the fruit, and the versatility of the harvest. That is why this hybrid is so popular among vegetable growers from different Russian regions.
Olga, 40 years old, Kursk region: this tomato variety was planted for the first time last season. Seeds for seedlings were sown in the last ten days of February, and they all sprouted. Then some of the seedlings were planted in open ground, and some in a greenhouse. I can say that the variety is really tall, so the bushes had to be tied up both in the beds and in the greenhouse. But in greenhouse conditions, the conditions for growing were apparently more comfortable, so my husband and I collected about 16 kg from each square of area, and only 10 from the garden beds. The fruits turned out to be very tasty fresh and in twists, so we decided continue to plant this variety in the future.
Katerina, 44 years old, Moscow region: I grew this tomato variety in a greenhouse. The bushes grew large, up to 6-8 inflorescences appeared on each shoot, each of which produced 6-7 round, medium-sized tomatoes. The fruits did not crack, their taste was pleasant. Several clusters of fruit were ripening on the bushes at the same time, so their ripening was probably not too fast.
Tatyana, 54 years old, Penza region: I really liked the tomato variety Intuition for its productivity, resistance to disease, and the versatility of the harvested fruits. The only negative, in my opinion, is the impossibility of collecting seed material from the collected fruits.
Advantages and disadvantages
The hybrid has many advantages:
- abundant yield;
- high marketability;
- fruit evenness;
- tomatoes do not crack;
- suitability for harvesting with brushes;
- good keeping quality;
- fruits are well transported;
- suitability for whole-fruit canning;
- disease resistance;
- Possibility of growing in extended rotation.
The variety also has some disadvantages:
- plants need shaping and staking;
- a large number of stepchildren are formed;
- The taste of fresh tomatoes is not very good.
Features of planting seedlings
Intuition F1 is a tomato whose reviews from gardeners are very impressive, but before planting young plants it is necessary to check that several prerequisites are met:
- Tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse on a cloudy day or in the evening;
- the soil is moistened in advance; a few grains of manganese can be added to the water for irrigation;
- before planting, it is necessary to carefully examine the seedling, remove cotyledons, first, yellowed or diseased leaves;
- the soil in the greenhouse must be warmed up; tomatoes cannot be planted in cold soil, since the roots of the seedlings will simply rot, and prolonged cold will intensify the process, and the plant, at best, will take a long time to take root, and at worst, will die.
The soil temperature when planting seedlings should be no lower than 12-15 °C. You can warm up the soil artificially by covering the ground with black plastic film. By the way, it will play the role of mulch, prevent the growth of weeds, and maintain optimal temperature and water exchange, which will significantly reduce the worries of gardeners.
Tomato Intuition F1 (reviews from experienced gardeners indicate this) does not like deep deepening when planting, as this will stop its growth - sprinkled with soil, the stem is activated to form new roots to the detriment of the development of the stem. There is a danger of overdoing it with the application of nitrogen fertilizers, the excess of which will cause vigorous growth of foliage and the absence of ovaries and fruits. Often, novice gardeners fertilize the planting holes with fresh manure, urea or chicken droppings. This is strictly forbidden.
Garter and stepson
Since Intuition F1 is a tomato (reviews from gardeners confirm this) with unlimited stem growth, its garter is mandatory. It is carried out on the 3-7th day after planting the seedlings. It is necessary to help the plant withstand the weight of the filling fruits. The material for the garter should be chosen so that it will not injure the tomato stem. Various gartering methods are used, including trellises - linear or frame.
Another necessary procedure is pinching, which involves removing shoots growing from the axils of the leaves. This must be done, since they form a tomato into 1 or 2 stems, carefully monitoring the formation of new shoots and removing them in a timely manner. Their formation and uncontrolled rapid growth will significantly reduce fruit formation, lead to thickening and slow down ripening. It should be noted that not all varieties and hybrids are subject to strong formation of these side shoots; in many tomatoes it is very moderate. These varieties include the tomato Intuition F1. Agro, whose reviews of hybrids emphasize the short growth of stepchildren, offers consumers a whole range of similar tomatoes. Stepchildren should be removed carefully; you can break them out or cut them out. It is better to carry out such work in the morning.
Sowing seeds for seedlings and caring for them
The hybrid is recommended to be grown through seedlings
Any vegetable grower knows how important it is to grow strong, healthy tomato seedlings in order to later get a decent harvest
Sowing seeds, growing seedlings
To grow tomato seedlings, you need to choose the right time for sowing seeds, properly prepare the soil and seeds for planting.
Sowing time
Seeds of Intuition should be sown as seedlings 60 days before the planned planting of tomato seedlings in a permanent place.
Approximate dates for sowing tomatoes:
- on average in Russia this happens in the last days of February;
- in the southern regions, sowing dates are shifted to an earlier time;
- in Siberia – they are shifted to a later date.
Soil preparation
The first step is to choose a container for seedlings. Boxes or plastic containers will do. The containers are first disinfected with a hot solution of potassium permanganate.
The soil for tomatoes is prepared in advance. You can buy it at the store or prepare it yourself. To do this, mix the following components in equal proportions:
- turf land;
- humus or compost.
The following is also added to the soil for tomatoes, per bucket of soil mixture:
- 150 g wood ash;
- 35 g superphosphate.
Preparing and sowing seeds
Seeds of Intuition are sold packaged in special bags. Having opened the package, you will notice that the seeds have an unnatural color, because the manufacturer has already disinfected them, so the seed material is colored blue or red. No manipulations should be done with these tomato seeds; they are ready for sowing.
Some amateur vegetable growers play it safe by immersing the seeds for 30 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate or phytosporin before sowing. Then the seeds are washed in cold water, dried and sown. These additional manipulations are acceptable, but not required.
Seeds are sown in specially prepared grooves according to the following scheme:
- distance between rows – 5 cm;
- planting step in a row – 1.5-2 cm;
- embedment depth – 8 mm.
Then the soil with the tomato crops is watered and covered with film.
Seedling care
Before germination, the boxes should be kept in a room where the temperature is maintained at +25 degrees. With the appearance of single shoots, the film is removed and the temperature is reduced to +18 degrees so that the plants do not stretch. Seedlings should have a height of 25 cm and a strong stem.
To ensure the seedlings have the required day length, they should be illuminated in the evenings for 6 hours with fluorescent lamps. The next watering should begin when the top layer of soil dries.
The appearance of 2-3 true leaves on a seedling signals the gardener that it is time to start picking. This operation is very important, it gives the plants more space, light, and nutrition.
As usual, seedlings of the hybrid Intuition are planted one at a time into plastic or peat cups, pots with a capacity of 500 ml or more. The same soil is poured into the pots as was used when sowing the seedlings. Next, you need to water the plants and maintain the temperature at +22 degrees.
14 days before planting seedlings in the garden, they begin to harden them by taking them out into the open air, first for a short period of time, gradually increasing it.
