Tomato variety Raketa

Domestic selection is in no way inferior to the Dutch one. Among the successful long-lived tomato varieties of domestic development is Raketa. For more than 30 years this species has remained the most popular not only among amateur gardeners, but also in industrial cultivation. The place of appearance of a successful novelty was the branch of the Crimean OSS VIR. Author - A.N. Lukyanenko, in collaboration with S. V. Gavrish. In 1975, an application was filed for registration of the variety, and in 1980 it was entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation, where it is still located. Regions of admission - Central Black Earth, North Caucasian, West Siberian and Ural. In the open field, it shows excellent results in the North Caucasus region. Tests have shown the suitability of this tomato for one-time mechanized harvesting, and it is also found suitable for the canning industry. Not a hybrid.

Description

The description says that the plant is determinate, medium-sized, compact. Height 50 - 80 cm. Although there is evidence that the growth of the bush in the greenhouse is not limited and can exceed 2 meters. The foliage is not strong, the shoot formation is moderate. Leaves of medium size, usual type, slightly wrinkled. The stem and shoots are not too thick, but strong. The internodes are short. The inflorescence is simple. The first fruit cluster is laid over 5 - 6 leaves, subsequent ones appear every 1 - 2 leaves. In each cluster of this variety, from 4 to 6 ovaries are formed.

The fruits of the Rocket are of a beautiful elongated-plum-like shape, with a drawn-out apex, smooth, moderately elastic. The skin is not thick, firm, glossy. Unripe tomato is light green, without a spot at the stalk. When ripe, it takes on a classic red color. The fruit is thick-walled, without voids inside, the flesh is very fleshy, juicy, low-seeded. Seed chambers 3 - 4. The taste is good, but without frills - the usual tomato, sweet and sour. Assessment of tasters - 3.8 - 4.0 points. The juice contains: dry matter - 4.7 - 6.0%, total sugar - 2.1 - 3.7%. Tomatoes are not large, the State Register indicates a weight of 34 - 58 grams, according to other sources - from 50 to 100 grams. But specimens can grow in 130 or 150 grams.

Characteristics

• Rocket is a mid-early variety. The beginning of ripening occurs after 122 - 129 days (according to the State Register) after the appearance of full shoots. This indicator is better than the control one Novinka Pridnestrovie, which ripens 10 - 12 days later. Seed producer "Gavrish" company promises that the harvest will begin to ripen in 100 - 105 days;
• according to the State Register, the yield with a one-time harvest is 328 - 618 c / ha, with multi-harvest harvesting, that is, as the tomatoes enter the stage of technical ripeness, this indicator increases to 488 - 654 c / ha, which is 103 - 145 c / ha above the standard New product of Transnistria. According to other sources - 6 - 7 kg of fruits are removed from 1 square meter;

• the harvest ripens in July. Tomatoes ripen together, which is appreciated when grown for the canning industry;
• among the indisputable advantages are slow overripening and a strong skin that protects the fruits from cracking. This allows you to take your time with the harvest, which is very suitable for gardeners living in the city and who do not have the opportunity to often visit their dachas;
• the immunity of the variety is quite high, especially the Rocket's good resistance to various types of rot - root and apical, is noted. According to reviews, late blight tomato can be affected in late August - early September, and even then only slightly;
• the plant is resistant to various types of weather changes - cold snaps and dry periods;
• if the fruits are removed at the stage of blanche ripeness, they can be ripened at home;
• transportability is quite good, which makes it possible to deliver crops to enterprises for processing with practically no loss of presentation;
• the purpose of tomatoes is salad and canning. It is this variety that is considered the most suitable for whole-fruit canning - elongated tomatoes are conveniently placed in a jar, the skin does not burst and the taste pleases.Suitable for processing into tomato products - juice, paste, lecho;
• seeds can be harvested independently, the grown crop will meet the declared characteristics and description.

Agrotechnics

It is best to grow the Rocket in a seedling way, although in the southern regions you can sow tomato seeds directly in the garden. According to reviews, the seeds show good germination. By the time of transplantation to a permanent place, the seedlings should be at least 55 - 60 days, therefore, the sowing time is best calculated independently, taking into account the climatic features of the region. Plants are transplanted into open ground when the threat of recurrent frosts has passed. The planting pattern is standard - 40 cm between bushes and 50 cm - row spacing. But given the small size of the bush, the recommended density can be thicker - up to 6 plants per 1 square meter. Growing and grooming is pretty easy. There are often recommendations that a tomato bush should not be pinned and tied up. But if you listen to the opinion of gardeners who have been growing this variety for more than one year, then it is still better to form a plant in 2 - 3 stems. This is especially true in thickened plantings, where the stems are often intertwined. It will also be useful to carry out pinching. If the variety is cultivated as intensive, it needs enhanced fertilizing with potash fertilizers.

Attentive tomato growers have discovered another amazing feature in Rocket. It turns out that the culture intended for open ground grows well on the balcony. True, in this case, the lighting should be maximum, and do not overdo it with soil moisture, otherwise the roots of the tomatoes may suffer.

There is another variety on sale with a similar name - the Yellow Rocket. This is not a relative of the described variety, but a completely independent species of Siberian selection. As the name implies, the fruits are yellow, but their shape is similar - oblong. The yellow-fruited tomato was entered into the State Register in 2009.

The rocket is a surprisingly unpretentious and productive variety, with good immunity and versatile fruits. This tomato is great for busy gardeners as the crop will not overripe while waiting for harvest. Even in lean years, you can always remove from 1.5 to 2 kg of fruits from one bush. The plant can be grown in compacted plantings, which saves space for other crops. Due to these qualities and high transportability, the variety has long been appreciated in industrial cultivation.