Tomato "Bobcat": description of the variety and the rules of planting and care

Any gardener would like to have tomatoes on the plot that would delight with taste and yield.

One of these varieties is dedicated to our today's review.

Tomato "Bobcat": description and features

Let's see what this variety is remarkable for and what you should pay attention to when it is grown.

Description of the bush

The plant belongs to medium-sized varieties. For a tomato, “Bobcat” is usually called the height of a bush up to 1.2 meters, since it is up to this size that healthy seedlings reach. They look stocky and rather wide, with well developed branches.

Experts know that this species belongs to the so-called determinant. That is, their active growth occurs only until the appearance of a fruiting ovary at the top. After that, the bush will no longer "drive" up. The first brush will appear after 6 - 7 leaves, and between them and the ovary will be a maximum of three leaves. After the appearance of about 6 of these ovaries, growth ends.

Fruit Description

These are large tomatoes, weighing 250 - 300 g. Their shape is almost the right circumference, slightly flattened, as befits this culture. To the touch the fruit is smooth, with a glossy surface. The eye is pleased with bright red color, without green specks.

Tomatoes do not lose their qualities during the entire period of fruiting.

Yield

The tomato "Bobcat F1", as well as its description, interests us, first of all, because of its yield.

Harvest can be removed after 65 - 70 days after disembarkation. From 1 "square" on a site collect at least 4 kg of tomatoes. The average figure is 6 kg, although some bring it to 8 (but this is in a warm climate and with careful care).

Disease and Pest Resistance

Such a “Dutchman” is favorably distinguished by good immunity. Common diseases like Fusarium fungus, tobacco mosaic or verticillus are not bad for him.If you maintain the desired temperature and irrigation regimes, then powdery mildew will not appear. The same applies to pests. "Bobkaty" rarely become their place of residence. True, the same aphid can spill over from a sick plant of another variety growing in the neighborhood. So regular inspection will only benefit.

Regions for growing

Tomato "Bobcat" was bred for warm areas. In our latitudes, it is best acclimatized in the south, both in greenhouses and in the open field.

For more northern areas is suitable except the greenhouse method. This is due to the fact that the thermophilic hybrid is picky about temperature and luminous flux. So even a film greenhouse may not be suitable for this variety, especially if the area is characterized by frequent repeated frosts during the spring.

Pros and cons varieties

Many gardeners are engaged in growing vegetables for sale, so their interest in new lines is purely practical.As befits a prudent person, let's count all the advantages and disadvantages that distinguish Bobcat tomatoes when growing this variety.

First we give the arguments for:

• Spectacular appearance of dense fruit
• Heavy tomatoes
• Good disease and heat resistance
• Do not deteriorate during prolonged storage
• Have a high transportability (even on a long-haul flight, they will not lose their presentation)

But there are also disadvantages:

• Pronounced thermophilic

• With a large amount of seed labor intensity increases
• Need constant supervision. For country cottage, which is visited once a week and a half, this variety is unlikely to fit. At least on a commercial scale.

As we see, in this case there are more benefits than risks. Therefore, the next step is to work with seedlings.

Growing tomato seedlings

With the sowing and the seedlings themselves, there will be no particular hassle: these activities are done according to the standard pattern for all tomatoes.

Before the start of the landing, the terms are calculated: 65 days are taken from the planned date of disembarkation in the open ground. The time when it is necessary to start seedlings will differ in different regions. If for the southern regions this will be a “window” between February 20 and March 15, then for the middle band the dates are shifted to March 15 - April 1. For the Urals and the northern regions, the time is from 1 to 15 April.

Tomato "Bobcat", as reviews show, does not require additional seed treatment. Warming up, glowing in the oven and the more "chemistry" is inappropriate here.

Let's start sowing:

• Fill the container (pots, tapes or cups) filled with moist clean soil.
• We make grooves with a depth of up to 1 cm and an interval of about 3 to 4 cm between them.
• Between the seeds themselves need to adhere to a distance of 1.5 cm. If there is enough land for seedlings, you can take more. A rarer sifting gives you the opportunity to keep the seedlings in the container longer without resorting to their "resettlement".
• Next you need to fill the holes with primer.
• And in order to keep the desired humidity, we cover the container with a film or glass on top, then placing it close to the battery (so that it is constantly + 25-30 ° C).

Do not forget about the daily inspection.Pay special attention to the soil: if it is highly moistened, temporarily remove the glass or film, letting the ground dry out. Noticing that the soil dries out strongly, moisten it with a sprayer, and it is too early to pour in a direct stream.

A prerequisite is good lighting. At first, the daylight will be missed, and then a fluorescent lamp comes in handy.

Shoots will break through in 10 - 12 days, or even faster (it depends on temperature).

Fully film is removed after 1.5-2 weeks. Before that, give the seedlings as much attention as possible. Inspect them in the morning, preferably before sunrise, and also during the day: in the warm afternoon, the rays may even harm the seedlings. Any plants have a quenching period, and this quality can (and should) be developed. A container with already appeared shoots can be taken out on the balcony or open a window, if it is outside from + 15 to + 20 ° C.

After two or three weeks, the grown shoots fertilize. For such purposes, recommend organic dressing, but the purchased formulations based on humin or biohumus will be the way. At this stage, take half indicated on the packaging dose.Further fertilizers are applied at the same interval.

Any seedlings need a swoop. Since "Bobcat" - a tomato and all its characteristics indicate the medium growth of the bush, one such operation will suffice.

They do it when the seedlings are already quite strong (approximately two weeks after their appearance):

• We take a large volume pot with good drainage.
• Carefully undermine the seedling and separate it from the mass of the soil (try not to hook the greens, it is better to work with an earthy clod).
• We shorten the main root by about 1/3, pinching off the unnecessary part.
• Phosphate fertilizer is added to the well.
• Move the seedling to a new place, gently pressing the root.
• Fall asleep rhizome. At the same time, the ground should be heated to at least + 20 ° C.

The first time after transplantation growth may stop. Because of this, many refuse to “stop” the spine.Yes, it is traumatic for the plant, but a healthy process can cope with such a shock.

Process and optimal scheme for planting tomato seedlings

One and a half months after sowing, the seedlings will “drive out” the first flower brush. Noticing this, count 2 weeks in advance: it is at this time that the landing on the open area will be made.

Perederzhivat plants in pots is not worth it, because the tomato variety "Bobkat" partially lose yield.

Before planting, make sure that the soil is warm. It should be well fertilized with ashes or compost. On the other hand, excessive feeding will make the tomatoes "fattened". Not bad to hold and disinfect the earth with copper sulfate.

The planting scheme is simple: 4 - 5 plants are added by dropping per 1 m², adhering to the “chess” order. That is, the distance between the bushes should not be less than 0.5 m. The 40 cm spacing customary for other varieties will not work (Bobcats have a branched rhizome). The process of planting itself is simple:

• Digging holes that immediately pour.
• While moisture is being absorbed, seedlings with an earthy clod are carefully removed from the pots.
• Holding the lump, the sapling is moved to its permanent place. In the course of this work, the central stem is slightly deepened into a wet hole (a couple of centimeters will be enough) to allow additional roots along it.
• The wells are gently covered with earth.

Features of care and cultivation agrotechnics

For good yields need care. Our hybrids are quite unpretentious, but require constant attention from the owners.

Watering and mulching

Plants of this variety tolerate hot days well. True, it is better to maintain high soil moisture. Look at the weather - in the summer of two irrigations a week will be enough. With high clouds, one abundant watering during the same period is enough. Everyone knows about the benefits of mulching. A lot of materials are used for this, so we will tell about them in more detail. The beds are covered:

• Mowed grass (the easiest way, which is suitable for both greenhouses and open land).The grass lies down after a couple of days of drying (do not rush to lay immediately after mowing).
• Compost.
• Universal straw (a layer of 10 cm eventually settles to 5, so you can put all 15 cm).
• The previously popular burlap will also retain moisture;
• Tightly fitting film will be a barrier from pests (it is interesting that for tomatoes it is better to take a red material).

These are just a few types of mulch, although in fact they are much more. However, it is the species that is best suited for tomatoes.

Top dressing bushes

It is better to do it regularly, every 2 weeks. If for some reason this schedule is not maintained, then the bushes are fed at least three times a season. The fertilizers themselves also have their own requirements: for example, there must be more phosphorus with potassium in solution than nitrogen. The presence of individual components is also important: boron is needed by plants when they have already begun to bloom, while magnesium-based preparations will be appropriate at any time.

The same boron in the form of acid is interfered with in the proportion of 1 g / 1 l of water, after which the green mass is sprayed.

Top dressing is best done in the afternoon.

Masking

This manipulation can be carried out regularly, without letting the stepsons grow up to 3-4 cm.

The first shoots are removed, which appeared under the brushes. If you tighten the plant can easily reset the flower with the ovary.

There is no special trick here: clasping the stepson with two fingers, gently break them out, moving them to the side. Cut off sharply not worth it. If they are already large, you can use a knife.

To form a bush in three stalks, you have to leave the strongest escape, which appeared above the second. For two stems, we act in the same way, just leaving the appendage already above the first brush. These procedures should not be dealt with in the heat, so as not to injure the bush once again. In rainy weather, on the contrary, it will be necessary to remove not only the stepsons, but also the lower leaves.

Garter to support

Seedlings rooted and went into growth - it's time to tie. A meter peg is enough, it is driven to a sufficient depth of ten centimeters from the stem.

The bush can be “grabbed” to the horizontal trellis, it is even better in terms of yield. Yes, and more convenient for processing and cleaning.

As for the other "agrotechnics", such measures are reduced to hilling (3 times per season) and cleaning the weed when it appears. Now you know what Bobcat is good at and how to get tasty, weighty tomatoes. Record harvests!