Facts on the Cosmonaut Tomato Plant

Cosmonaut tomatoes were named to honor Russian astronaut Vladislav Volkov

The Cosmonaut Volkov Tomato plant was developed in the Ukraine. The fruit is both sweet and tart and has won worldwide awards for exceptional taste. Each red fruit usually weighs between 12 and 16 ounces and generally has a short, flattened appearance. Horticulturists refer to the plant as Lycopersicon esculentum and it is considered to be an heirloom variety.

Food Applications

The Cosmonaut Volkov Tomato is generally known to be good for eating raw. The flavor is not generally deep enough to make it a good candidate for rich tomato sauces. Heirloom tomatoes are enjoying a resurgence as many gardeners and food enthusiasts discover that tomatoes developed in different regions of the world have a wide range of flavors and possess superior taste. Trendy restaurants now seek out small scale farmers that grow this type of specialty produce.

Growing Cosmonaut Volkov Tomatoes

These tomato plants are quite hardy and produce an abundance of fruit, even in cooler climates. Fruits mature in approximately 68 days after sowing the seeds. The plants tend to be resistant to most diseases, but can fall victim to some common tomato ailments and pests.

Growing Issues

As with all tomato plants, it is important to ensure that the soil contains ample amounts of calcium. Supplemental calcium can be added inexpensively with the application of crushed eggshells. This can help to prevent blossom end rot, a disease that prevents the formation of fruit.

Cosmonaut Volkov Tomatoes are susceptible to cracking if the plants have been forced to endure infrequent watering. It is important not to over-water in an attempt to make up for prior deficiencies. As the inside of the plant begins to plump up as a result of recent water, the skin may not be flexible enough to stretch quickly, resulting in the cracking of the fruit. Instead, water plants regularly to ensure steady growth and to lessen the possibility of cracking.

Pests

As with most tomatoes, the Cosmonaut Volkov variety is commonly preyed upon by the tobacco hornworm. These large caterpillars can decimate a crop in a few days. Although there are chemical preparations available to address this issue, picking the insects off of the plants by hand is often the most effective. Bugs can then be drowned in soapy water and discarded.

History

Vladislav Volkov, the namesake of the Cosmonaut Volkov Tomato was a Russian astronaut who perished upon re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on the craft known as Soyuz. His remains are interred at the Kremlin to further honor the cosmonaut who is best known for his work in 1971 aboard the very first space station, Salyut 1.

References

• High Mowing Seeds: Cosmonaut Volkov
• Washington Post:: So Little Time, So Many Tomatoes
• Cornell University: Tomato Key
• Mother Earth News: Grow and Sell Heirloom Tomatoes
• University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: The Most Satisfying Vegetable of All

Resources

• Mother Earth News: Best Tasting Tomatoes