Fokusnik
Tomato "Fokusnik" (The Magician) is a rare, collectible large-fruited variety bred by the famous Kazakh breeder Vitaliy Alifirov. The variety got its name due to a peculiar "trick": the bushes look quite thin and slender ("flimsy"), but at the same time, they manage to produce and hold a huge harvest of heavy, giant fruits.
Main Characteristics of the Variety
- Bush type: Indeterminate (tall). In the open ground, it grows to about 1.5 meters; in greenhouses, up to 1.8–2 meters. The plant structure is thin and compact, with regular-type leaves.
- Ripening period: Mid-season (about 105–115 days from germination).
- Yield: Very high, with abundant and extended fruiting over time.
- Pruning and training: Requires mandatory suckering (pazarīšu izgriešana) and reliable staking of both the bush and the heavy fruit clusters. It is recommended to grow the plant with 2–3 stems.
Fruit Description
- Color and shape: The fruits are oblate (sometimes transitioning into a wide heart shape), with slight, neat ribbing near the stem. The color of mature tomatoes is a rich, vibrant pink or crimson-red.
- Weight: A true large-fruited giant. The average weight is 300–600 grams, and individual fruits can reach 800 grams or more with good care. Notably, the fruits on the upper clusters often do not get smaller, remaining just as large.
- Taste qualities: The flesh is dense, with a "watermelon-like" texture, very fleshy and juicy, with almost no seed cavities. The taste is rich, very sweet, with a barely noticeable, harmonious hint of acidity or entirely without it.
- Usage: Ideal for fresh consumption and salads. Thanks to its dense flesh, it makes excellent thick juices, sauces, homemade ketchups, and tomato paste.