Characteristics and description of Date tomatoes
Hybrid f1 Yellow date - the development of Russian breeders. It can be grown in all regions except the northern ones. In the south, the crop is grown in open ground, and in the middle zone - only in a greenhouse.
Distinctive features
The type is semi-determinate, height from 90 to 150 cm. The plant is able to adapt to short-term light frosts, but in this case the yield is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is planted in the ground only in early June.
The species is medium late, 120-130 days pass from the moment of sowing the seeds to full ripening. The crop requires obligatory garter, since there are so many fruits that the leaves are practically invisible. Plants are formed into 2 or 3 stems, planted up to the first cluster.
The variety is highly resistant to many diseases of the nightshade family.
Fruit characteristics
The fruits are small, date-like, oval, slightly elongated in shape. Average weight - 20 g, color deep yellow. The taste is sugary with a fruity tint, the flesh is dense and juicy. The peel is durable and does not crack during storage and transportation.
Juicy pulp and thick skin allow you to preserve ripe vegetables without losing their appearance. They look great in glass jars, especially assorted vegetables. The fruits are also used for drying and fresh consumption.
Due to their high glucose content, these tomatoes are loved by children. In addition to children's food, tomatoes are also used in dietary nutrition.
The photo shows Yellow Date tomatoes.
Growing
Any type of vegetable or fruit has its own growing technology, and the yellow date is no exception.
The standard procedure for preparing seedlings is proper preparation of seeds, their disinfection and feeding with nutrient mixtures.
Seed disinfection is carried out using a weak solution of manganese. The seeds are soaked in this solution for 20-25 minutes. After which, for better seedling growth, the seeds need to be fed with nutrient mixtures, soaking them in the product of your choice.
Interesting! There are many gardening mixtures for feeding seeds that are sold in stores. But you can also prepare these mixtures yourself, for example, from aloe juice or potatoes.
While your seeds are disinfected and saturated with useful substances, you can prepare soil for seedlings. For high-quality seed germination and further growth of seedlings, you need to mix soil, diluted mullein and you can add a little wood ash. Then, in the prepared soil, we make holes 1.5-2 cm deep and sift the seeds.
To prepare seedlings for transplanting into open soil, it is necessary to harden off the plants. 14 days before transplanting, seedlings should be taken out into fresh air for 20-25 minutes daily.
Plants are planted in open soil 65 days after sowing the seeds, somewhere in early June. A distance between bushes of at least 70 cm is best suited for this variety.
Care
Although this variety is considered small-fruited, due to the large number of fruits and high growth of the bush, it requires special care.
One of the main aspects in caring for such tomatoes is their garter. To do this, you can use vertical sticks, peaks, trellises as support.
This type of tomato needs good water soaking, weeding, fertilizing with fertilizers and growth stimulants. You can extend this look up to the first brush, but you don’t have to do this.
How to grow seedlings
Growing seedlings begins with sowing seeds in mid-late March, 2 months before planting in the ground.
Seed preparation
Preparation of seed material includes 3 stages:
- Seed rejection. After careful inspection, non-viable specimens are disposed of.
- Checking for emptiness. The seed material is placed in a saline solution for 10 minutes. Only those grains that have sunk to the bottom are left for sowing.
- Seed disinfection. After disinfection, the grains become more resistant to infections and pests. For disinfection, dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and place the seeds in it for 30 minutes. They are then washed with running water and dried.
To increase germination, the seeds are soaked for 10 hours in a growth stimulator - for this, not only specialized preparations are used, but also traditional methods, for example, aloe juice or honey water.
Container and soil
The soil is prepared from a mixture of garden soil, peat and river sand in equal proportions. Potassium fertilizers are added to saturate the soil with useful substances. After thorough mixing, the resulting mixture is poured with a hot solution of dark potassium permanganate.
In this way, disinfection is carried out, destroying pathogens. The cooled soil is laid out in planting containers, filling them two-thirds.
Reference. Potassium fertilizers improve metabolism.
You can plant them in a common wooden box or in individual containers. The main thing is not to forget to make small drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture, which causes rotting of the roots.
For disinfection purposes, prepared containers are treated with a manganese solution.
Sowing
The seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm with a distance of 2 cm from each other, sprinkled with soil on top and lightly compacted. Moisten with a spray bottle with warm, settled water and cover with film to create greenhouse conditions.
The seeded containers are left in a warm and bright room at a temperature of 24 °C. Periodically remove the film for ventilation.
Seedling care
When seedlings appear, the containers are moved to the windowsill. Daylight hours should be at least 13-14 hours. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of additional lighting.
Reference. If there is a lack of light, the seedlings will begin to stretch and weaken.
As the top layer dries out, the soil is moistened with warm, settled water using a shallow watering can. After watering, the soil is loosened superficially with a regular fork or wooden stick.
When two true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked, planted in containers with a diameter of at least 15 cm. After picking, an increased growth of lateral roots occurs and they will be cramped in small containers. When transplanting, only strong and healthy specimens are left for further development.
If growth is weak, then young bushes are fed with liquid fertilizer for tomato seedlings.
Two weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are hardened off. This procedure helps them quickly take root in open ground after transplantation. To harden, plants are taken outside during the daytime for 40 minutes. Gradually, the time spent outdoors is increased to 13 hours, while the night temperature is reduced to 13 °C.
Features of cultivation
Like all late-ripening varieties, Date tomatoes are sown as seedlings in March. For seedlings, you need light soil from a mixture of garden soil, peat and river sand; for greater nutritional value, superphosphate, potassium fertilizers and wood ash are added. The seed sowing depth is no more than 1 cm .
Seedlings need additional lighting and careful watering with warm water. After the formation of 2 true leaves, the seedlings are planted in separate pots. Transplantation into a greenhouse or open ground is carried out at the end of May, when the soil has warmed up sufficiently. Before planting, the holes are spilled generously with hot water.
Tomatoes require tying to supports or trellises . Stepsons are recommended, but several lower stepsons can be left; they will also bear fruit. Abundant watering is necessary during flowering and fruit formation; it is better to use warm water. To speed up ripening, open tanks with diluted mullein are installed in the greenhouse.
At least 2 times a week, tomatoes need root feeding with organic matter or mineral complex fertilizers. The soil needs to be loosened frequently, being careful not to injure the roots.
When growing tomatoes, it is important to know what type of plant each variety belongs to. Read all about indeterminate varieties, as well as determinate, semi-determinate and super-determinate varieties.
How to grow tomatoes
After 2 months of the seedling period, the root system is fully formed and is able to take root in open ground. At the end of the spring frosts, the seedlings are ready to be planted in the ground.
Landing
Two weeks in advance, prepare holes 20 cm deep. Place a little peat on the bottom and fill it with water. Transplant seedlings on a cloudy day or in the evening hours after sunset. After transplanting, the holes are compacted and watered again with warm, settled water. When planting, young plants are buried down to the cotyledon leaves.
Planting pattern: 40 cm – distance between seedlings, 65-70 cm – distance between rows. For 1 sq. m place 3-4 seedlings. Until the young bushes take root in a new place, they are not watered or fed.
Further care for tomato Date yellow
The crop needs abundant watering during flowering and fruit formation. Before this, water with moderately warm, settled water at the root of the plants, at least twice a week. If moisture gets on the leaves, a serious burn can occur, especially if watered during the day.
The culture responds well to drip irrigation. To do this, place a plastic bottle without a bottom in the root system and fill it with warm water. Thus, moisture gradually penetrates to the roots.
After watering, the soil is loosened and weeds with roots are removed. Weeds take a lot of nutrients from the soil, so their proximity to tomatoes is undesirable.
On dry days, the beds are mulched, thereby retaining moisture. Peat, straw or sawdust are used as mulch.
The hybrid is fed every two weeks, alternating a full range of mineral fertilizers with organic matter. During flowering, they are fertilized with phosphorus substances, and during fruiting, potassium salts are added for faster fruiting. From organic matter, mullein infusion or bird droppings are used in a ratio of 1:15.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
A large number of developing ovaries require a mandatory garter. It is most convenient to install trellises and fix them to a horizontally stretched wire. Both the stem and fruit-bearing branches are tied up, otherwise they will not support the weight of ripe vegetables. Gartering on a trellis is also convenient because the soft fabric tapes used to tie up the bushes do not injure the plant at all.
They plant up to the first flower cluster, leaving the remaining shoots. Stepping out is not a mandatory procedure, but if you leave the lower shoots, then as they grow, the plantings may become denser, which will hinder full development. In addition, with constant contact with wet beds, the lower leaves may rot and the spread of fungal diseases.
Diseases and pests
By following the rules of crop rotation and performing simple agrotechnical procedures, gardeners thereby carry out prevention:
- disinfection of tomato beds with a manganese solution - pathogenic flora is destroyed;
- spraying young bushes with infusion of onion peels or nettle decoction;
- treatment with fungicidal preparations (if there is a real threat of disease).
Dangerous insects include slugs and whiteflies. To combat them, ammonia and strong solutions of manganese are used. But you should not overuse a strong concentrated solution of manganese, as the leaves can get burned.
When there is a large concentration of pests, insecticides are used. Otherwise, insects will harm many plants.
Agricultural technology
Landing
- When preparing seeds for planting, you need to pay attention to their disinfection. To do this, you can soak the seeds in a weak solution of manganese (disinfection should be carried out for up to 25 minutes);
- Next, the seeds need to be properly fed. For this purpose, products that can be purchased ready-made are often used;
Gooseberry Date
Interesting. In addition to industrial products, gardeners often and quite effectively use fertilizers prepared independently, for example: ash solution, aloe juice, mushroom decoction, potato juice, etc.
- Preparing the soil for sowing seeds for seedlings. For this, garden soil is used, to which a little superphosphate is added. In addition, it is recommended to add wood ash and prepared potash fertilizers;
- Seeds are sown in the prepared soil. To do this, you need to make small holes (from 1 to 2 cm), and then place the seeds there;
- It is recommended to pick the Yellow Date tomato at the moment when the plant has formed 2 full-fledged leaves;
- Transplantation of seedlings into the ground is carried out on average two months after sowing the seeds. Typically, seedlings are transplanted into the ground at the end of May or beginning of June. It should not be forgotten that the soil must warm up sufficiently.
Important! When planting, you should pay attention to the density of the bushes. Planting too often can reduce the yield of tomatoes, so it is recommended to plant bushes at a distance of at least 70 cm. On average, per 1 sq. m. There should be no more than 3 bushes per meter.
Growing Date Tomato
Care
The Yellow Date tomato needs some care. It should be watered and fed sufficiently. The frequency and volume of watering depend on various factors. In the interval between planting a tomato in the ground and its flowering, you should not water the plant too often; it is enough to limit it to once a week. When the fruits begin to form, the intensity of watering should be increased to 2-3 times a week. In hot weather, an additional increase in watering frequency may be required; In this case, you should focus on the degree of drying of the soil under the bush. It is recommended to water at times when the soil moisture remains as long as possible, this can be in the morning or evening. Sometimes water with dissolved mineral fertilizers can be effectively used for irrigation.
To improve oxygen access to the roots, as well as to retain moisture in the soil for a longer period, it is necessary to regularly loosen the soil. At the same time, you can pull out weeds.
To improve the quality of the crop, attention should be paid to pinching; it should be carried out when the bushes are still quite small.
Since the hybrid has a fairly large number of fruits on each bush and is quite large in size, it must be tied to a vertical support.
The yellow date can resist various diseases quite well, such as: different types of rot (gray, white or basal rot), late blight, etc. In order to prevent diseases, you can add ash to the water.
The hybrid is susceptible to the negative effects of various pests: aphids, slugs and many others. Therefore, attention should be paid to protecting yellow date tomatoes from insects and harmful microorganisms. To do this, you should loosen the soil and mulch.
In the event that an infection does occur, it is necessary to use non-toxic drugs against pests.
The main feature of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, as opposed to cultivation in open ground, is the need to organize good air circulation in it.
Date tomato in a greenhouse
Important! It is not recommended to use insecticides after tomatoes bloom, as this may negatively affect future fruits.
Nuances for open ground and protected structures
The date species can rightfully be considered a decorative decoration for the garden. The photo shows numerous branches decorated with small yellow tomato-dates. The hybrid grows up to 1.5 m in a greenhouse; in open beds its height does not exceed 1 m.
The height of the bushes does not affect the yield or taste of the fruit. Short frosts can reduce the quantitative indicator of fruiting. The hybrid will not die, but there will be significantly fewer fruits.
Tomatoes are successfully grown at home, on the balcony. It will take root well in tubs and become an unusual decoration for your home interior.
But residents of Siberia will only be able to grow a hybrid in heated greenhouses. The culture is not adapted to harsh conditions.
Planting seeds
The boxes are filled with sand, peat, garden soil with the addition of superphosphate, potassium and ash. If you prepared the mixture yourself, then fry it for an hour in the oven at 200 °C to eliminate pathogenic fungi and bacteria.
Seeds are sown in boxes in early March. First, put it in a gauze bag and lower it for 20 minutes. into a solution of 1 teaspoon of potassium permanganate and 1 liter of clean water. Seeds are planted in the soil to a depth of 1 cm.
Water the plantings with a spray bottle and cover with film. Before the first shoots, it is necessary to place the boxes in a room with an air temperature of about +23 °C. When sprouts appear, remove the film.
When 1 - 2 true leaves grow, plant the seedlings in separate peat cups. Be sure to extend their daylight hours by illuminating the tomatoes with lamps.
Fertilize for the first time 10 days after emergence. Pour 100 g of bird droppings or 300 g of manure into a ten-liter bucket of water. Leave it for a day. After a day, water the seedlings at the roots, being careful not to get them on the leaves, as this can cause burns.
60 - 65 days after sowing the seeds, growing seedlings continues in open ground or in a greenhouse.
Harvesting and application
At the beginning of July, the first ripe tomatoes are harvested. When tied to a trellis, harvesting is not difficult. The main purpose of ripe vegetables is fresh consumption and drying.
Among fresh dishes, summer salads stand out especially, where tomatoes perfectly complement the taste of other vegetables. The high sugar content allows them to be used for baby food. Also, yellow tomatoes are suitable for dietary nutrition, replacing red ones.
Not all tomatoes can be dried. Only small fruits with a strong skin are dried. But there is one more nuance: many tomatoes do not retain their taste when dried. But the Yellow Date tomato does not lose either its beauty or taste.
Reference. Drying is a national Italian technology. Sun-dried tomatoes are an integral part of the Mediterranean diet.
Ripe tomatoes can be stored for a long time and can withstand transportation over any distance.
Characteristics of culture
This plant:
- tall;
- late ripening;
- has small, light green leaves;
- has excellent taste;
- low maintenance;
- resists diseases well.
Ripening period
The fruits begin to ripen 130 days after planting. The tall trunk of the plant has some foliage, but it needs to be thinned out so that the tomatoes ripen faster. When grown in greenhouses, it is necessary to create a trellis garter, then the hybrid will receive a lot of sun, the fruits will ripen sweet, filled with the warmth of the sun's rays.
In open ground, you should also use a garter to prevent the fruits from sinking to the ground, becoming infected with pathogenic bacteria.
Drought resistance, frost resistance
The Yellow Date tomato is a frost-resistant hybrid that does not like sudden temperature changes. According to reviews, the variety has a long fruiting period and is not too sensitive to high humidity and its decrease.
Appearance of plant and fruit
Tomato fruits:
- yellow color;
- slightly oblong in shape;
- smooth and dense with a shiny, dense, but not thick skin. During the period of ripeness, the skin does not crack, maintaining the commercial qualities of the fruit;
- tastes sweet with a fruity aftertaste and juicy pulp.
They are eaten fresh, used for salads and canning. When the fruit is cut, dense pulp with small seeds is observed. Yellow dates are suitable for fresh consumption and canning.
You can cook from tomatoes:
- salads;
- culinary decorations;
- dishes for children.
Productivity
Due to their properties, the fruits are perfectly stored and can be transported to different distances. On average, the fruits weigh about 20 g. There can be up to 9 pieces on each fruit cluster.
Advantages and disadvantages
Let's start with the advantages of a hybrid:
- simple agricultural technology;
- immunity to many tomato diseases;
- high fruiting rate;
- excellent taste;
- unusual shape;
- suitable for dietary and baby food;
- high glucose content;
- preservation of presentation;
- good keeping quality.
The advantages include the possibility of breeding on the balcony at home. This is especially important for those who do not have summer cottages.
The hybrid has few negative aspects. These include:
- obligatory garter;
- impossibility of cultivation in the northern regions.
Reproduction methods
The variety can be grown by seedlings and by sowing in the ground. The second method is used exclusively in the southern regions. There the summer is long and the tomato has time to ripen. In the central regions of the country, growing seedlings is recommended, and in the northern regions, it is planted exclusively in greenhouses. Sowing seeds for seedlings should be done in the 1st half of March.
In addition to unusually beautiful, sweet and aromatic fruits, the hybrid of Russian selection is distinguished by good yield and protection from many diseases and pests common to tomatoes. The agricultural technology for growing it is simple and even an inexperienced gardener can receive this miracle as a reward for his work.
Red date tomato
In addition to the yellow variety, Russian breeders also developed a red date hybrid based on cherry tomatoes. It is similar to the yellow hybrid both in terms of cultivation and the appearance of the fruit. The red date belongs to the semi-determinate type with medium ripening periods.
It takes root in greenhouse conditions in warm and temperate climates. It is resistant to dangerous diseases such as late blight and tobacco mosaic. The culture requires mandatory gartering and pinching. To increase productivity, plants are formed into 2 or 3 stems.
Ripe red date tomatoes are practically no different from yellow ones. Perhaps they do not have such a high sugar content, so they are less sweet.
They are used mainly for fresh salads and cocktails; they are stored for a long time without losing their presentation.
Series of tomato varieties "Date"
The Date variety was developed in Russia. Its subspecies are the Red Date, the Yellow Date and the Orange Date. All of them refer to cherry tomatoes. All are characterized by small fruit sizes, high taste, and the ability to grow both in open ground and in a greenhouse. Moreover, in temperate latitudes, greenhouse cultivation is more preferable for all three subspecies. The difference between them lies in the color of the fruits, although they all have a rather attractive appearance.
The Date tomato variety is distinguished by its small fruit size and very distinctive taste. The taste of these tomatoes is generally quite sweet, while in shape they resemble Crimean dates. After harvesting, the fruits are stored for quite a long time and are characterized by good taste both fresh, pickled and salted.
The fruits of this variety belong to the group of F1 hybrids. This is a mid-season variety. Often the height of a bush reaches 150 cm, but there are bushes only 90 cm high. Such bushes are dwarf and have a compact shape. The number of leaves and side shoots is small. Thus, this variety can be considered moderately leafy. One bunch usually produces from six to eight ripe medium-sized tomatoes.
The Date tomato variety has a long fruiting period; tomato harvesting lasts from July to September. These tomatoes are primarily suitable for greenhouses, but in the southern regions they can be planted under film.
Tomatoes have the shape of an elongated oval with a pointed tip. A finally ripe tomato is scarlet in color. The skin is quite dense and is not subject to cracking, so the fruits can easily be transported and are preserved for a long time. The average weight of one tomato is 20 g. The taste is quite sweet and the aroma is subtle. These tomatoes are used for salads and canning.
Farmer reviews
There are many reviews about the tomato and almost all of them are positive. Here are some opinions from experienced gardeners:
Svetlana, Nizhny Novgorod region: “The crop was grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse. I planted yellow and red hybrids and wanted to make multi-colored preserves. The tomatoes did a great job. Everything is as chosen, sweet, with a strong peel that does not crack during heat treatment. Now I’ll be with tomatoes all winter.”
Natalya, Ivanovo: “The best tomato for children! In the morning they run to the garden and pick their favorite tomatoes. I have been growing dates for more than one year. This was my first time trying to dry fruits. I was very pleased with the result. Real jam!".
Reviews
Svetlana: “I’ve long wanted to try an Italian recipe for sun-dried tomatoes. To prepare this recipe, I chose the “Yellow Date” variety. After preparing the desired dish, I was pleased with the result. Real jam".
Antonina: “After introducing complementary foods for her son, my grandmother decided to grow the Yellow Date tomato variety for him.” Now the boy is already 5 and still yellow, our little tomatoes are any size. We really love decorating our son’s dishes with these tomatoes.”
Landing
The seedling method is used to grow tomatoes. To ensure a sufficient number of seedlings, it is better to buy seeding material from reliable sellers, carefully reading the description on the package. It is advisable to grow seedlings with your own hands.
The seed material must be of high quality. It is necessary to carefully inspect the seeds and remove damaged, empty or too small samples. To do this, you need to take water into a container, salt it and pour tomato seeds into it. It is better to throw away any seeds that float to the surface. The rest can be used for sowing. They need to be washed and kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. and dry.
Sowing seeds to obtain seedlings
The best time for sowing is the beginning of March. The optimal temperature is +21-25°C. To begin with, the soil is prepared. You need to mix garden soil with sand and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. Peat tablets can be used to grow seedlings.
Seeds are placed in prepared containers, covered with a layer of soil and watered. After 7-10 days, sprouts will appear and it will be possible to reduce the room temperature to +15°C. This is done in order to stop the sharp growth of tomatoes and activate the synthesis process.
After a week, the temperature can be increased again. This is done gradually until the indicator reaches +22-24°C. Containers should be moved to a well-lit place. If necessary, you can additionally connect fluorescent lamps. Watering is carried out 1-2 times a week. It is advisable to use melt or rain water for these purposes.
Picking and transferring plants to open ground
Stronger plants with the first leaves can be planted in separate containers. Transplanting to open ground is possible when the height of the stems is 25-30 cm. At this time, the number of leaves on them will reach 6-9 pieces.
A few days before transferring the seedlings to open ground, the ground is prepared. It needs to be dug up to a depth of about 12-14 cm. Complex fertilizers should be added to the soil. The seedlings are planted in pre-prepared holes, taking into account a 50x40 cm pattern. As a result, 3-4 bushes will be placed per 1 m².
After this, the soil around the holes needs to be compacted, watered and covered with a layer of mulch (10 cm thick). It is better not to touch the seedlings for 10 days. The formation of bushes is done in 1-2 stems. Be sure to place a support for the garter next to the plantings.
