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Solanum lycopersicum 'Maskotka'

Solanum lycopersicum Maskotka
Tomato

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A bushy  cherry variety of small development, early, which does not require pruning, well adapted to pot cultivation. The plant produces clusters of small round tomatoes weighing 30 to 40g, tasty, rather sweet, resistant to bursting. They can be enjoyed raw as an aperitif, in salads, or cooked in pies and sauces... Sowing from March to April for a harvest from June to September.
Ease of cultivation
Beginner
Height at maturity
60 cm
Spread at maturity
50 cm
Soil moisture
Moist soil
Germination time (days)
14 days
Sowing method
Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Sowing period March to April
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F
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A
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Flowering time May to August
J
F
M
A
M
J
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N
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Harvest time June to September
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F
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Description

The 'Maskotka' Tomato is a Polish variety dating back to 1993, of the cherry type, rather early, whose small development is perfectly adapted to small spaces and container gardening. It was awarded in England by the R.H.S. The plant, bushy, does not require pruning. It produces long clusters of small round and red tomatoes, 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in diameter, weighing 30 to 40g. Its fruits have a balanced flavour between sweetness and acidity and their thick skin protects them from bursting. They can be enjoyed raw as an appetizer, in salads, or cooked in pies and sauces... Sow from March to April for a harvest from June to September.

 

The tomato is native to South America and Central America. Several varieties were already cultivated by the Incas long before the arrival of the Conquistadors. We are always amazed by the variety of this nightshade family plant. The term "tomato" comes from the Inca word Tomatl and refers to both the plant and the fruit from the plant. There are fruits of all colours (red, of course, but also green, yellow, and even some very rare blue varieties), of all shapes and sizes. Ancient varieties are indeterminate plants and can live for two years. More recent varieties have a determinate growth and stop growing at the bush stage, so there is no need to stake or trellis them.

The tomato is one of the many foods that came to us from the New World, along with beans, corn, squash, potatoes, and chili peppers. It took much longer for it to reach our taste buds. And for good reason! It was cultivated for its aesthetic and medicinal qualities. It was thought to be toxic because of its resemblance to the fruit of the Mandrake, another nightshade plant. It only became a regular on our tables from the beginning of the 20th century.

The tomato plant is a perennial herb in tropical climates, cultivated as an annual in our latitudes. It lignifies over time and produces small insignificant yellow flowers grouped in clusters that will turn into fruits.

It must be admitted that its fruit is very pretty and adds a pleasant colour to the vegetable garden. It also has many nutritional benefits. Low in calories like most vegetables, rich in water, it contains a very interesting molecule: lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. And the longer the tomato is cooked, the more lycopene becomes available. It is also rich in vitamin C, provitamin A, and trace elements.

Today, its taste and nutritional qualities are well-known. For gardeners, tomatoes are among the essential vegetables of summer. They only need to consider what they want to use them for to guide them among all the existing varieties. Are they for salads, sauces, for direct consumption, cooked, etc. They will also consider when they want to harvest them. The answer will of course depend on the average summer sunlight in the region where their garden is located. Rest assured, the choice is vast and there is a tomato for every situation! And while tomatoes do need a lot of sun and heat, they don't necessarily require a lot of space. That's why you shouldn't hesitate to grow them in containers on your balcony, where you can use small-fruited varieties. Be careful, immature fruits, stems, and leaves contain solanine and should not be consumed.

Harvesting: depending on the varieties, from early to late, it can take 50 to 100 days between the transplanting date and the harvest. There is no foolproof way to know for sure when a tomato has reached its full ripeness. The picking will be done when, at the very least, it is completely colored as it was announced and when its texture, while remaining firm, shows a slight softening. For better storage, be sure to pick the fruit with its calyx.

Storage: tomatoes do not keep as long when their water content is high. They can be kept for a few days in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator or spread out in the open air. To keep them longer, consider culinary methods such as tomato confit, sun-dried tomatoes, sauces, frozen fruits, preserves, jams, or juices. We love to confit them because it's simple and so tasty: cut your tomatoes in half and collect the juice. Place your tomato halves with the cut side up on the baking sheet of your oven. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar, then bake at a very low temperature for at least an hour. Remove your tomatoes and consume them immediately, or store them in a glass jar and cover with olive oil.

Gardener's tip: it is recommended to grow several varieties of tomatoes each year to minimize the risk of a complete loss of harvest due to a climatic event or a specific pathology. To counter the phenomenon of "blossom end rot" - not a disease, but a calcium deficiency - spray a comfrey maceration rich in calcium on your plants. When transplanting, do not hesitate to bury the stem up to the first leaves. This will stimulate the root system, guaranteeing a bountiful fruit harvest. Winning combinations in the garden are often the same on the plate. It's a good mnemonic device to remember that tomatoes and basil go well together.

 

Harvest

Harvest time June to September
Type of vegetable Fruit vegetable
Vegetable colour red
Size of vegetable Small
Fruit diameter 4 cm
Interest Flavour, Nutritional value, Colour, Productive
Flavour Sugary
Use Table, Cooking

Plant habit

Height at maturity 60 cm
Spread at maturity 50 cm
Growth rate fast

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green
Aromatic? Fragrant foliage when creased

Botanical data

Genus

Solanum

Species

lycopersicum

Cultivar

Maskotka

Family

Solanaceae

Other common names

Tomato

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Annual / Perennial

Annual

Product reference169671

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Planting and care

Soil preparation: Tomato plants are extremely easy to grow. Sunlight and warmth play a crucial role in the success of this cultivation. However, they can thrive in any type of soil, although they prefer rich and well-draining soil. If the soil is too compact, you can enrich it with a bit of sand.

Sowing under glass: From mid-February to May, sow your seeds indoors or in heated greenhouses in trays at around 20°C. Bury the seeds under 5 to 7 mm (0in) of special seed compost as they need darkness to germinate. Do not use compost at this stage, as it may burn the future roots. Tomato plants grow very quickly, with seeds germinating in about two weeks on average. Do not discard a tray if germination has not occurred within this timeframe, as some varieties take longer. Once the plants have reached a good height of about fifteen cm, consider transplanting them.

Transplanting into the ground: Once the risk of frost has passed, usually after the "Ice Saints" around mid-May, transplant your seedlings into the ground. Choose the sunniest and warmest spots in the garden. A position at the base of a south-facing wall is ideal. Loosen the soil and dig a hole that is at least 3 to 4 times the volume of the plant's root system. Add some well-rotted compost to the bottom. Place your plant in the hole, burying it up to the first leaves, and then fill in the hole. Firmly tamp down the soil, create a shallow basin around the plant, and water generously. Be careful not to wet the leaves to protect your plants from fungal diseases.

Maintenance: Applying a mulch around the base of your plants helps retain some moisture and reduces the need for weeding. Tomato plants do not require excessive watering, as their root system can access deep water sources. Water only when there is prolonged dryness.

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Seedlings

Sowing period March to April
Sowing method Sowing under cover, Sowing under cover with heat
Germination time (days) 14 days

Care

Soil moisture Tolerant
Disease resistance Good
Pruning instructions Some gardeners are not in favour of pruning tomato plants. Others recommend removing the leaves in direct contact with the soil to prevent fungal diseases. They suggest removing the suckers, which are all the new shoots at the axils of the leaves as they appear, in order to concentrate the sap on the main branches and fruit clusters. The goal is to obtain fewer but larger fruits. Others also remove the leaves around the fruits to give them permanent access to the sun. We find that systematically practicing one or the other of these methods is not necessarily suitable for the multitude of situations encountered in gardens. Depending on the exposure, the variety planted, the region, the soil, etc., all these methods have their reasons for being. We especially recommend a fair balance that only you are able to experiment with the constraints that are yours.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year

Intended location

Type of use Vegetable garden
Hardiness Hardy down to 1°C (USDA zone 10b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Soil Light and rich in organic matter
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Any
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light), 130

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