A variety with good yield - Etoile tomato: reviews, descriptions and characteristics of tomatoes

The name Etoile evokes associations with cosmetics, but in fact it is a tasty tomato with a very unusual, truly beautiful appearance. The variety is quite rare, but those gardeners who decide to plant it are invariably satisfied.

Description of the variety

The exotic tomato variety Etoile, whose name means “star” in French, gained fame in the late 90s. Information about its origin is contradictory. Some sources claim that it was bred in Kazakhstan, while another part believes that Switzerland is the birthplace of the culture.

The seeds of the plant have a fairly high germination rate, which remains at 85%. The variety is mid-season; you can count on the first harvest within 100-110 days after planting. Productivity is average and depends on growing conditions. But even with little care, you can expect at least 40 fruits from one bush with a total weight of 4 to 9 kg.

The description of the Etoile tomato notes that the variety is indeterminate. The bushes reach an average height of 1.5 m and require careful shaping and tying to supports.

There are 5-6 tomatoes in racemose inflorescences. Ripe tomatoes have a rich red-raspberry color, with yellow stripes on the sides. The pulp is fleshy and quite dense. The number of ribs varies among fruits. The skin is dense and not prone to cracks. The average weight varies between 200-250 grams.

There is a pleasant sweet and sour taste of tomatoes. They are suitable for consumption both fresh and for processing into ketchup and sauces. Tomatoes can be picked green and ripen successfully. Suitable for long-term storage and transportation.

Why you should grow the Etoile tomato: the benefits of the variety and tips for getting a rich harvest

Today, choosing a tomato variety that will satisfy all your needs is not an easy task.
Store shelves are full of colorful packaging, and collectors' catalogs contain hundreds of titles. Beginning gardeners are lost in the face of such abundance. And I sincerely understand them, because I myself faced this problem several years ago. One of them is Etoile, a very productive and recognizable variety with good fruit yield. The plant reaches 1.5 m in height, the bush is neat, with a small number of stepsons, and looks decorative. Fruits weighing 300-400 g, ribbed, round, bright pink, collected in clusters of 6-8 pieces. The tomatoes are sweet, fleshy, very tasty. Perfect for salads, festive table decoration, stuffing, drying, making juices and sauces.

I start the process of growing tomatoes by soaking the seeds: I immerse them in a solution of potassium permanganate, cover them with film and leave them in a warm place for three days. I sow the seeds in early March in seedling boxes in rows to a depth of 1 cm, the distance between the seeds is 2 cm, between the rows 5 cm, I water with warm water, cover with cling film and leave for a day or two near heating devices.

Growing

Etoile is grown from seeds. After purchase, seeds can be treated in a special solution that stimulates plant growth. The use of such liquid helps strengthen the immunity of the future tomato and kills harmful microorganisms. The growth stimulant is sold in hardware stores or gardening supplies. It is diluted according to the instructions and the seeds are soaked in it for several hours. Then they begin planting.

Containers are used for planting. The soil should be porous and contain peat, humus and some river sand. An optimal and balanced soil composition is the key to success in growing seedlings. The soil must be treated thermally. To do this, place the container with soil in a microwave oven and heat it for 5-7 minutes. The earth should become hot. Heat treatment eliminates pathogenic microflora. If you don't have a microwave, a regular oven will do.

The seeds are planted in the ground to a depth of no more than 1 centimeter, then the planting site is sprinkled with soil, but not crushed. When finished, spill the soil and cover with cling film. After 2-5 days, the first shoots form. Spray the soil daily and do not allow it to dry out. After 2 weeks, the film is removed and the seedlings are placed in a sunny place, but direct rays are avoided.

When the plant has grown noticeably and reaches a height of 10 centimeters or more, it can be transplanted into greenhouse soil. The soil for planting is dug up in advance, ash and humus are added. There should be no more than 4 plants per 1 square meter. This will prevent the leaves and stems from becoming tangled. Replant the tomatoes carefully, immerse the roots in the ground, leaving the leaves on top of the ground. The soil is watered using mineral fertilizer.

At the beginning of summer, new fruits form on the tomatoes. During this breeding period, plants require special care. Increase the frequency of watering, use phosphorus-containing additives and other types of fertilizing. The soil must be loosened and weeded to remove weeds. Timely loosening and weeding stimulate the growth of the root system and provide access to oxygen.

Etoile is stored for a long time at low temperatures; storage in the refrigerator is allowed. The variety tolerates transportation well, does not wrinkle or crack. Tomatoes can be frozen, they will not lose their taste.

Gardening forums are full of stories about one unusual variety of tomatoes called Etoile. Admiring reviews are accompanied by photographs of amazingly shaped tomatoes. In cross-section, a delicious lace round piece appears before us. You'll fall in love!

You can’t buy seeds in regular gardening stores—mostly they are sold only by private owners. But you can order online with delivery by mail. A packet of seeds containing 5 seeds costs about 40-50 rubles.

The variety is mid-season, indeterminate. From seed germination to the first harvest, 100-110 days pass. Plant height can reach 180 cm.

Even with not very careful care, about 40 fruits grow on the bush. The average weight of a tomato is 100-250 g. The yield from one bush varies depending on the growing conditions and ranges from 4 to 10 kg of tomatoes.

The seeds of Etoile tomatoes have high germination rates. It stays at the level of 80-85%. This means that out of five seeds, four will definitely sprout.

Tomatoes are red-crimson in color, sometimes with yellow stripes at the top. The fruits are fleshy and dense. Their main feature is their unusual shape: when cut, the tomato looks like a star.

The tomato variety “Etoile,” native to Kazakhstan, Russia, and the USA, first appeared in the late 90s of the last century. Tomatoes are amateur selection.

• Original shape, outwardly similar to a rounded pear or barrel. Thanks to the pronounced ribbing, a beautiful cut is created;
• With bright red-pink skin. However, you can find varieties that have yellowish stripes on the fruit;
• Number of seed chambers – 6;
• With juicy pulp, without hollowness;
• The average weight is up to 300 grams and above.

• Indeterminate plant with abundant formation of green mass;
• They reach a height of up to 1.2 meters;
• Leaves are medium sized, green in color.

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The tomato variety “Etoile” has the following positive qualities:

• Beautiful and original appearance of the fruit;
• Good yield;
• Unpretentiousness in care;
• Good germination of seed material - at least 80-85%.

The “Etoile” variety is grown by seedlings.

Be sure to pre-soak the seed material in a growth stimulator.

How to sow seeds for seedlings:

• Sowing of seed material for seedlings begins in the first half of March;
• The soil for seedlings should be light and consist of garden soil and humus in equal parts. A little sand and wood ash are also added to the soil mixture;
• For cultivation, both containers and peat pots are used. When sowing in peat pots, picking is not carried out;
• Seed material is buried into the soil no more than 1 cm;
• The sown seeds are covered with film and left in a warm place, with a temperature range of 22 to 24 ºС;
• As soon as the first sprouts appear, remove the film and place the containers with seedlings in a room with good lighting;

• For watering, it is advisable to use a spray bottle or a fine-mesh watering can with warm, settled water;
• In the phase of two true leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate pots and fed with liquid complex fertilizer;
• 10-14 days before the intended planting in a permanent place, the seedlings begin to harden.

Instructions for proper planting of seedlings:

• Seedlings are planted in greenhouse structures in the first half of May;
• The soil is carefully dug up in advance, wood ash and humus are added;
• The planting holes must be spilled with a hot manganese solution;
• After the soil has cooled, they begin planting seedlings. This is done carefully, the root system is immersed in the soil, the leaves should remain on the surface. There are no more than 4 tomato bushes per 1 m2. Thanks to this, the leaves and stems of the plants will not intertwine;
• After planting, the soil is shed using mineral fertilizers;
• The planted bushes are immediately tied to a support.

How to properly care for tomato bushes:

• Once the plant reaches a height of more than 20 cm, it must be tied to the top of the greenhouse structure using a rope or twine. Thanks to this procedure, crop growth is stimulated and part of the load is removed from the bush;
• The formation of a bush is carried out in one stem. During cultivation, the formation of stepsons from the trunk occurs. They are broken off by hand or a knife is used to cut them. Afterwards, the cut is treated with a manganese solution or a solution of baking soda;
• In early summer, the formation of ovaries of future fruits occurs on tomato bushes. At this time, plants need special care. Increase the frequency of watering, and also feed with fertilizers that contain phosphorus and other types of fertilizers;
• The soil must be loosened and weeded, removing weeds. Timely loosening and weeding help stimulate the growth of the root system and provide access to oxygen.

The tomato variety “Etoile” is practically not susceptible to diseases. But it is necessary to take preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of diseases:

1. You can protect plants from verticillium and fusarium by thoroughly disinfecting the soil, and you also need to periodically spray tomato bushes. For spraying, use a weak manganese solution or “Fitosporin”;
2. You can protect yourself from mosaics and late blight by spraying with copper-containing preparations. Disease-affected leaves and other parts of plants are immediately torn off and burned;
3. Insect pests are combated by mulching the soil. Peat, humus or straw are used as mulch. It is also necessary to destroy weeds every week. A solution of warm water and laundry soap is effective against aphids. The prepared solution is used to wash the stems and foliage.

Features of the variety

• Unpretentiousness in breeding;
• Sweet and juicy taste;
• Possibility of use in homemade pickles;
• Resistance to tomato diseases and pests;
• High yield level.

Features of the variety

• good yield;
• long fruiting throughout the season;
• relative unpretentiousness;
• beautiful shape of the fruit, allowing you to use tomatoes to decorate dishes on the holiday table.

Advantages and disadvantages

Reviews of the Etoile tomato allow us to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the variety. Among the positive qualities are the following:

• good yield;
• long fruiting throughout the season;
• relative unpretentiousness;
• beautiful shape of the fruit, allowing you to use tomatoes to decorate dishes on the holiday table.

Experienced gardeners note a number of disadvantages of the variety, which you should still pay attention to:

• although growing Etoile tomato is permissible in open ground, to achieve better yields, it is preferable to use greenhouses;
• the plant is demanding when it comes to removing stepsons;
• bushes need careful tying and shaping.

Reviews about the variety from those who planted

With its original appearance, rounded in shape with characteristically pronounced ribs, the Etoile tomato has fascinated gardeners. Those vegetable growers who have already managed to grow it, “Etoile” conquered with its unpretentiousness. This tomato variety can be grown not only by experienced, but also by beginning gardeners.

For the tomato variety "Etoile" it is worth allocating space in the greenhouse structure. Not only household members, but also gardeners from neighboring plots will certainly show interest in planting just a couple of bushes. Beautiful and tasty tomatoes will decorate any holiday table. Despite the lack of popularity of the variety, “Etoile” is worth paying attention to those gardeners who love experiments, as well as exotic, beautiful fruits on the table.

Features of cultivation

Before germinating seeds, they should be kept in a growth stimulator, which will help them germinate better. It is recommended to plant seeds in early to mid-March.

Light soil, consisting of soil and humus in equal proportions, is best suited for tomatoes. It is acceptable to add a small amount of ash and sand.

Planted seeds should be placed in a warm place, first covered with film. As soon as the sprouts appear, they must be exposed to bright light. To ensure uniform development of seedlings, it is recommended to rotate them periodically.

The readiness of seedlings for transplanting into the ground is determined by the appearance of 6-7 permanent leaves. In this case, it is advisable to treat each well with a hot solution of potassium permanganate of medium saturation.

Plant care

For better growth and maturation, the bushes must be formed into 2-3 trunks and tied to a support. Otherwise, the plant risks falling and breaking under the weight of fairly large fruits. Removal of stepchildren is mandatory. To save the strength of the tomato, as it ripens, you should pinch the lower leaves.

The variety does not need frequent watering. Abundant watering once every 6-7 days is considered sufficient. Fertilizing is done 3-4 times per season; complex fertilizer should be used for this. The harvest continues throughout the season as it matures.

The root system of the plant is well developed, but requires oxygen. Therefore, loosening the soil and removing weeds must be carried out regularly. Proper care allows you to achieve a yield of 20 kg of fruit per 1 square meter. m.

Characteristics

Fruit:

• Tomatoes have a very original shape, reminiscent of a round pear or barrel.
• Pronounced ribbing creates a beautiful cut.
• There are 6 large seed chambers inside, but the pulp is quite juicy and there is no feeling of hollowness.
• Tomatoes have a bright red-pink hue, and there are varieties with yellowish stripes on the fruit.
• The taste is pleasant, sweet with a slight sourness.

A salad variety, tomatoes are used for preparing appetizers, stuffing, and decorating dishes. Can be processed into juices and purees. The yield of the variety is encouraging. You can compare it with other varieties in the table:

Read more about diseases of tomatoes in greenhouses in the articles on our website, as well as about methods and measures to combat them. You will also be able to get acquainted with information about high-yielding and disease-resistant varieties, about tomatoes that are not at all susceptible to late blight.

Diseases and pests

Tomato Etoile is a fairly resistant variety to diseases characteristic of nightshades. Fusarium and verticillium can be avoided by prudent soil disinfection and timely treatment of plants. For this purpose, “Fitosporin” or a pale pink solution of potassium permanganate is used.

Surface covering the soil with straw, humus or peat helps protect the tomato from insects. Periodic removal of weeds also contributes to this. An effective remedy against aphids is warm, soapy water. It should be used to wash the leaves and stems of the plant.

Spraying with copper-containing products will help prevent late blight and mosaic. If affected leaves or other parts of the crop are found, they should be removed and burned. This will help prevent the spread of the disease.

Reviews

Experienced gardeners are happy to share reviews and photos of the Etoile tomato. Judging by their statements, successful cultivation experience has been achieved not only in greenhouses, but also in open ground. The aesthetics of the ribbed fruits was especially appreciated by housewives, who used them to decorate dishes.

The classic tomato taste has received consumer approval when using tomatoes both fresh and as preparations. The fruits are well suited for drying. It is noted that fresh tomatoes cut into rings were also frozen for further use in making pizza.