Black-fruited tomatoes "Kumato"

Tomatoes are planted in almost every summer cottage. Red, pink, yellow juicy fruits are popular due to the fact that they are extremely useful, and are also used to make juices, sauces and all kinds of preservation for the winter. In the process of incessant breeding, new plants are opened, which sometimes have a rather exotic look. One of these are black tomatoes "Kumato" - an unusual variety that attracts attention, both by its appearance and its unusual taste.

Appearance history

Apparently all the beautiful and unusual inherent in some mysteriousness, it happened with the history of the appearance of black tomatoes. It is known that the work on the breeding of this variety began more than 40 years ago, and it was discovered by European scientists who crossed the crop with wild tomatoes,growing on the Galapagos Islands, and for the unusual color of the fruit was used pigment derived from blackberry.

Description and photo

Kumato is interesting in everything, from the unconventional coloring of the tomatoes themselves and the leaves of the shrub to the incredible taste characteristic of this variety.

Bushes

The plant belongs to the indeterminate, and is therefore capable of growing up to 2 - 2.5 m in height. Shrub distinguishes powerful, bristle-covered stem. Initially, the inflorescences begin to form over the 8-9 leaf, and the next - after 1-2 sheets.

Tomato roots are very developed, able to grow on the surface, taking up to 1 m of space. The foliage of the shrub is colored dark green, rather small.

Fruit

Kumato tomatoes can be of various shapes, both perfectly rounded and plum-shaped, oblong or oval. The main highlight is their chocolate color, which can be monotonous, and also have green blotches.

The weight of the fruit varies from 75 to 180 g. The tomato is covered with a dense, but thin skinned, behind which is a fleshy, juicy filling, red or greenish in color.The minimum number of seeds in four-chamber fruit, gives the variety even greater taste advantages.

Characteristic

"Kumato" ripen in 105-120 days after the first shoots, that is, they are middle-ripening. The fruits are very well stored and suitable for long shipments.

The grade differs in high efficiency, from 1 sq. m planting can be collected up to 15 kg yield. Black tomatoes have excellent gastronomic qualities, they are used for dining, for preparing various salads and snacks, they are added to sauces and hot dishes, and also, due to their dense structure, they can be preserved.

Advantages and disadvantages

Black tomatoes have several advantages. In addition to the exotic appearance, among them are:

• high, stable yield;
• the possibility of long-term storage and transportation over long distances;
• sweet berry flavor;
• drought resistance of the plant;
• rich in fructose and vitamins.

Kumato tomatoes also have disadvantages, for example, the fruit does not always have a uniform color, there are various errors, sometimes there are green patches on the dark skin.

How to plant "Kumato"?

The merits of the variety and its originality evoke interest and the desire to plant the plant on its plot. Let's see how to do it correctly, and what agrotechnical methods should be used in order to achieve maximum yield.

Seed preparation

Before planting, the seeds are always disinfected in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes, after which they should be washed under running water.

In order to accelerate the emergence of shoots, you can use growth stimulants, which are widely represented on the market.Before sowing, planting material is recommended to soak in water for 24 hours, so that the seeds are properly swollen.

Soil requirements

Success in cultivation largely depends on the quality of the soil on which tomatoes will grow. Planting substrate can be prepared personally or purchased ready-made in a specialty store.

Ideal - weakly acidic sandy or loamy soil, which must be fed with organic fertilizers, rotted manure or compost. To normalize the acidity in the soil make lime.

For planting seedlings are recommended to mix peat, humus, river sand and ash. Before sowing seeds, the substrate must be disinfected, this can be done by calcining it in the oven or using boiling water.

Planting and caring for seedlings

In March, the prepared seeds are planted in planting containers to a depth of 2 cm and at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.Capacity for seedlings should be spacious.

After all the seeds have been sown, they are watered and the container is covered with a film or thin glass, this is necessary in order to form the correct microclimate. Seedlings stored in a warm, lit place. Shelter is removed after 5-7 days, when most of the shoots appeared.

Comfortable temperature for seedlings is 23-25 ​​degrees. The Kumato dive is started when 2 leaves appear on each plant.

Seedlings are seated in separate containers in order to better develop and strengthen the roots of the shrub. Tomatoes need regular watering as the soil dries. Water procedures should be carried out with caution, so that the drops do not fall on the foliage of young plants. Fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers is recommended, 2-3 times per pot period.

Transplantation in open ground

For transplanting, plants are prepared gradually, starting from the hardening procedure for 2-3 weeks before the intended planting in a greenhouse or open ground.

Seedlings are planted on the beds around the end of May. It is very important that by that time the earth is well warmed up and the night temperature does not fall below zero. Tomatoes can be transplanted into the greenhouse much earlier, in early May.

It should advance to worry about the preparation of the landing holes. They are dug at a distance of 50-60 cm from each other, it is recommended to place fertilizers with a high phosphorus content at the bottom of the pits.

Tomato care

Despite its decorative effect, Kumato tomatoes are completely unpretentious. Caring for a plant does not take too much trouble.

Watering

Shrubs are watered as the soil dries, on average 1-2 times a week. For water treatments it is best to use warm settled water, and water the tomatoes exclusively at the root.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing should be carried out every 10-14 days, alternating between rotted manure, diluted in water 1: 1 with complex mineral fertilizers.

Masking and garter

Like other indeterminate varieties, Kumato need a garter and regular stading. It is better to tie up bushes immediately after planting on a bed, with the help of synthetic materials. As they appear, the lower and lateral processes are removed. The shrub does not need formation.

Harvesting

Depending on the climatic conditions, the crop ripens in early to mid-July. With fruit picking, it is better not to delay and remove them immediately after ripening, in which case they will be stored well and for a long time, and the plant will direct its vitality to the ripening of the next crop.

Little about the benefits

Anthocyanins, which are very useful for the human body, impart an unusual black color to tomatoes. Regular consumption of black tomatoes will help protect against cardiovascular diseases, improve vision, strengthen blood vessels, defeat puffiness and even prevent the occurrence of cancer. Kumato is also considered a powerful aphrodisiac.

The above description and numerous positive characteristics of Kumato tomatoes only slightly lift the veil of originality of this variety.In order to understand and appreciate all its charm, you should definitely try to grow it in your own plot.

Exotic fruits in taste and appearance will not leave anyone indifferent, and the simplicity of growing a culture definitely inspires experimentation.