Tomato variety Golden heart

Many tomato growers are simply in love with heart-shaped tomatoes. They are very different in color - red, pink, yellow. Among the yellow-fruited varieties, one of the honored veterans is the Heart of Gold. Its creator, Yu.I. Panchev, announced the creation of this species in 1999. In 2001, the variety was entered into the State Register of Breeding Achievements of Russia and received admission for cultivation in all regions of the country. The variety trials carried out revealed good adaptive characteristics, as a result of which the tomato was recommended for growing in open ground in garden plots, in household and small farms. But even indoors, the plant is successfully grown, especially in cool regions. Even after almost 2 decades, Golden Heart also continues to win the hearts of tomato growers and not only in Russia, the variety is highly regarded in Moldova and Ukraine.

Description

The plant is determinant, in open ground the growth of a bush can be limited to a height of 60 - 70 cm, but in a greenhouse the plants can grow up to 1 meter or slightly higher. Stems of medium thickness, moderate shoot formation, good foliage. The leaves are not very large, green in color, of the usual type. Inflorescences of intermediate type. Each fruit cluster can form 5 - 7 ovaries. But vegetable growers usually note that 2 - 4 tomatoes ripen in clusters. The peduncle is articulated.

Fruits are heart-shaped, slightly ribbed, moderately dense. When unripe, the tomato is green, with a dark green spot at the stalk. When ripe, it becomes deep orange, reminiscent of ripe persimmon in color, the stain completely disappears. By the way, not a single tomato grower complained about the presence of the so-called shoulders in the Golden Heart, which red-fruited tomatoes often sin. The skin is firm, but neither thick nor tough. The pulp of the variety is of the same pleasant orange color, very fleshy, tender, juicy, but not watery, contains an increased amount of beta-carotene - up to 3.5 mg per 100 grams of raw material. The taste, according to reviews, is excellent, sweet. The number of seed nests is more than 4. They are small, well filled (therefore, the fruits are never empty), there are few seeds. Medium-sized tomatoes - according to the State Register, weight from 90 to 107 grams. But if you limit the number of stems, then 300-gram specimens can be grown. Also, tomato growers pay attention to the fact that in the greenhouse the fruits are much larger than on the street - from 150 to 200 grams.

Heart of Gold is a hypoallergenic product, as it does not contain red pigment. The lack of acid in the pulp allows people with gastrointestinal problems to use yellow-fruited tomatoes (of course, after consulting a doctor). In addition to beta-carotene, yellow tomatoes contain many other substances and vitamins necessary for health. Therefore, healthy and low-calorie tomatoes can be used in baby and diet food.

Characteristics

• The State Register classifies the Heart of Gold as early maturing. From the moment of emergence of full shoots to the beginning of fruiting, 93 - 95 days pass (outdoors - up to 100 days). But according to the experience of tomato growers, the variety can be called rather mid-season, since ripening begins only in the middle or end of July;
• the yield of marketable fruits, according to the State Register, is up to 7 kg per square meter. According to other sources, up to 2 kg of fruits can be removed from one plant. The gardeners call our hero a real hard worker for the abundance of fruit set;
• there is no information on the immunity of tomato in the State Register. But on the forums, vegetable growers praise the variety for good health, both outdoors and indoors. Although it has been observed that the plant can suffer from late blight in cold and rainy summers;
• the originators declared excellent cold resistance of the plant. And this is really confirmed by those who have been cultivating the variety for more than one year;
• but in relation to heat, many consider the variety not resistant enough. So, for example, it was noted that in regions with a hot climate during a period of a sharp increase in temperatures, the Golden Heart can shed some of the flowers and ovaries. True, when the temperature drops to normal, the process of fruit formation resumes and the bush can bear fruit before the onset of stable cold weather;
• tomatoes collected at the stage of blanche ripeness are able to ripen safely at room temperature;
• the fruits are not susceptible to cracking, however, if the soil is often waterlogged during the ripening period, this problem cannot be avoided;

• the transportability of the crop is good, but for this, the fruits must be harvested at the stage of technical ripeness. Such tomatoes can even be stored for some time, if the temperature and humidity conditions are correctly observed;
• the way of use is universal. Sweet, delicate tomatoes with their taste and bright color perfectly complement other vegetables in vitamin salads. Small fruits, thanks to their strong skin, are used in whole-fruit canning. The pulp of suitable consistency allows you to get tomato products from this variety of excellent quality - sauce, juice. The dense, low-liquid pulp is suitable for preparing a real delicacy - dried tomato.

Agrotechnics

To get the harvest as early as possible, the Golden Heart is grown in seedlings. Seeds are sown in late March - early April. Seedlings germinate quickly and require standard care. The pick is carried out in the phase of 2 true leaves. You can transplant seedlings at the age of 60 - 65 days. The recommended density is up to 5 plants per square meter. Seedlings can be planted under film shelters or a greenhouse in central Russia in the first decade of May. In the open ground, transplantation is carried out when the threat of return frosts has completely passed - at the end of May or the beginning of June. In different regions of the country, the given sowing dates can be adjusted. The tomato is not a standard tomato, so a support is installed to support it. Usually, experienced tomato growers are advised to form a plant in 2 or 3 stems. In the first case, you need to leave one stepson under the first fruit brush, in the second - an additional stepson is also left over the first brush. Variety care is standard. The plant requires good watering at the beginning of growth, and when the crop begins to ripen, the amount of moisture is reduced, but it is unacceptable to overdry the soil. Nutrients are first introduced into the soil in preparation for planting, and then at least 2 dressings are carried out during the growing season.

Interesting information was shared by one amateur of experiments, who safely grew the Golden Heart on the balcony. To do this, he needed a large capacity (30 - 40 liters) and careful attention to the plant. Caring for a tomato was no different from usual. True, the humidity level had to be always kept under control. And most importantly, the place for the tomato grown on the balcony should be the most illuminated. This is almost half the success.

The heart of gold is appreciated not only for its original appearance and excellent taste. The variety has shown itself to be a hardworking and reliable culture, not afraid of cold snaps and resistant to major diseases. In care, our hero is unpretentious, so even a novice vegetable grower can safely take on its cultivation. A definite plus is the possibility of self-collection of seed. Of course, good performance is influenced by weather conditions. Therefore, if the first time you have failed in growing this variety, still try to grow it the next year, taking into account possible mistakes.