The Volga German Severe Melon tomato is prized for its high yield and excellent flavor. This variety requires regular pruning and proper watering to ensure healthy plant development and large fruits. Its disease resistance and versatility make it an excellent choice for gardeners.
Description of fruits and bush
The Volga German tomato, Severe Melon, stands out for its unusual appearance. For this and other positive qualities, it is prized by many gardeners in our country.
Distinguishing characteristics:
- A tall variety with simple inflorescences and bright green leaves. In open ground, bushes grow to 130-150 cm, and in greenhouses, up to 180 cm.
- The stems are strong, allowing them to easily support heavy fruits.
- The weight of one tomato varies from 250 to 350 g. The shape of the fruit can be either flat-round or heart-shaped with pronounced shoulders.
Characteristics
The flavor is rich, sweet and tomato-like, with light fruity and spicy undertones. The flesh is tender and buttery, with a caramel-like color. These qualities make this variety ideal for fresh consumption, pickling, preserving, and making natural juices.
A single cluster produces 4-5 fruits, ensuring good productivity. Ripening occurs mid-season. In terms of ripening time, it is considered a mid-early variety – the fruits begin to ripen approximately 90-100 days after emergence, depending on cultivation and care conditions.
Growing and care
To successfully grow the Volga German Severe Melon tomato, it is important to provide the plant with sufficient light and regular watering.
Bushes require staking and periodic pinching to develop a strong, healthy root system. Other agricultural practices are also important.
Conditions
Once the seedlings emerge, provide them with continuous supplemental lighting for five days, then reduce it to 20 hours. After 4-5 weeks, 11-12 hours of light is sufficient for the seedlings.
Perform other procedures:
- During the first three weeks, water the sprouts 1-2 times a week, and before planting, do this more often - up to 3-4 times a week.
- For additional moisture, spray 2-3 times a week using a regular sprayer.
- If you are growing plants without additional lighting, for example, on a windowsill, turn the containers with seedlings towards the light 2-3 times a week.
Sowing seeds
Sow seedlings in containers with a capacity of at least 400 ml, with drainage holes. Choose the best option for you:
- Sowing followed by picking. Fill a small saucer (such as a disposable plastic one) with moist, loose soil, free of lumps and chips, to a depth of 3-4 cm. Mark a grid with 1-2 cm mesh on the surface and place the seeds at the intersections of the lines.
Cover the seeds with about 1 cm of soil and moisten again. To prevent the soil from drying out before germination, cover the saucer or place it in a plastic bag.
- Sowing without picking. Fill the pot about two-thirds full with soil and mist. Make a small hole, place the seed in it, and water lightly. Then cover with soil and water again. To retain moisture, cover the container or wrap it in a plastic bag until the seedlings emerge.
Agricultural technology
To achieve generous and stable harvests, it's important to follow standard agricultural practices. These practices influence the growth and immunity of the shrubs.
Transplanting
Make holes in the bed and water them thoroughly with 0.5-1 liter of water. Then let the soil settle for about 30-60 minutes. Follow these guidelines:
- Before removing the seedling from the cup, be sure to water the soil generously so that it is completely saturated with moisture, and carefully remove the plant along with the root ball, without damaging the roots.
- Place the seedling in the prepared hole, lightly compact the soil and sprinkle it with earth so that a small depression forms around the stem - this will make it easier to water the roots without affecting the rest of the bed.
- After planting, pour water under the roots again, and do not water for 10-12 days, except in cases of abnormal heat.
Maintain a distance of 40-60 cm between bushes and 60-70 cm between rows.
Plant care and formation
It's recommended to train the Volga Germans' Severe Melon tomato variety into single or double stems for optimal bush development and improved ventilation. Regular side shoot pruning is essential, removing side shoots to prevent overcrowding and direct the plant's energy toward the growth and ripening of large fruits.
Watering and fertilizing
When watering, direct water directly at the roots, avoiding moisture on the leaves and stems. Water infrequently but thoroughly—1-2 times a week, or 2-3 times in hot weather.
Fertilize the crop in several stages to provide the bushes with all the necessary nutrients. Feeding schedule:
- Ch10-14 days after emergence. Use a solution of organic matter, such as mullein or bird droppings, diluted with water at a ratio of 1:10. You can add a little ammonium nitrate to stimulate growth.
- IN period of active growth and formation of ovaries (approximately 3-4 weeks after the first feeding). Use complex mineral fertilizers with high phosphorus and potassium content, such as superphosphate and potassium salt. This promotes root development and improves fruit quality.
- IN fruiting period. It is recommended to use liquid fertilizers with increased potassium and micronutrient content, such as magnesium and calcium (for example, wood ash or special tomato complexes). This will improve the flavor and shelf life of the fruit.
Plants can be fed either at the roots or by spraying on the leaves (especially in dry and hot weather). Feeding frequency is approximately every 2-3 weeks throughout the growing season.
Pros and cons
Reviews
The Volga German Severe Melon is a unique tomato with a distinctive appearance and rich, pleasant flavor. Large, distinctively colored fruits are characterized by tender, buttery flesh and fruity, spicy notes. With proper care, tall bushes produce a consistent harvest, ideal for fresh consumption, canning, and juicing.