Mini tomatoes Rapunzel: what is special about the variety and how to grow it?

Gardeners grow tomatoes all over the world, so breeders annually release new tomato varieties and hybrids to the markets. Some of them are amazing with their characteristics.

One of the most unusual hybrids is the Rapunzel tomato. It is interesting not for the color and shape of the fruits, but for its tall bushes from which long clusters with a large number of berries hang. Those who have seen this variety of tomatoes will agree that the lashes really resemble the hair of a fairy-tale princess.

Description of Rapunzel

The new hybrid is distinguished by its non-standard appearance: the branches grow unusually long, with several fruits on the sides. They hang down under the weight of the fruit.

The stems grow up to 2 m in length. The bushes are considered tall and require free space.

This is an early ripening variety. Its growing season from germination to fruit harvest is up to 75 days.

Tomato fruits are not large, round in shape, elastic, with a glossy skin. The size of a tomato is no larger than a walnut, and its color is bright red. A brush branch can hold 40 fruits.

Migi tomatoes have a sweet, pleasant taste. Due to the increased content of nutrients, they are classified as dietary products.

General description of the hybrid

The Rapunzel tomato is a hybrid that has become a real curiosity for gardeners in our country. It was bred by American breeders. The first presentation of this variety of tomatoes took place in the USA in 2014.

The new hybrid has not yet been included in the Russian register. It has only recently become available to farmers in our country.

This is interesting! At first, gardeners thought that the described variety of tomatoes reproduced exclusively by vegetative means. However, later Rapunzel seeds appeared in stores in European countries.

Hybrid seeds can be purchased in online stores. It will be available in gardening stores soon.

Features of Rapunzel tomatoes

The main feature of the Rapunzel tomato is its unusual bushes. They form lashes that reach a length of 2.5 meters, with 30-50 fruits.
You can see how they look in the photo. The fruits of Rapunzel are cherry. These are small tomatoes, each of which weighs no more than 25 g. The berries of this hybrid are considered dietary. Although low in calories, they are high in nutrients. Choline is especially valuable because it lowers blood cholesterol levels.

Rapunzel is a salad hybrid. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption. Due to their thin skin, they crack when preserved.

Another distinctive feature of this variety of tomatoes is the ability to grow not only in the garden and greenhouse, but also on the balcony.

Note! The appearance of the Rapunzel tomato allows it to be grown not only as a fruit crop, but also as an ornamental plant. During the fruiting period, it can become a real decoration of the garden.

Characteristics

Hybrid Rapunzel has excellent performance. It amazes not only with its appearance, but also with its yield.

Description of hybrid characteristics:

Varietal qualities

Rapunzel is a productive variety. Its small fruits are neatly and compactly attached to the branches. They are located one opposite the other. There are also other features of the variety:

• The culture has practically no barren flowers. Each flower produces a fruit.
• The tomato has another peculiarity - it is difficult to grow in open ground. It grows well on balconies and loggias, as well as in greenhouses.
• At home, tomatoes grow in pots, containers and other containers. It can even be placed on a windowsill.
• The length of the shoots reaches 2.5 m, which distinguishes it from other varieties. There are few partitions inside tomatoes. They have a juicy, fleshy interior. The size of the fruits is approximately the same.
• Thanks to their breeding properties, tomatoes are less susceptible to diseases and pests. The most important condition for their active growth and fruiting is good lighting. Otherwise, the plant will wither and die.

Comparative characteristics: pros and cons

Rapunzel cherry tomatoes are a variety with extremely high yields, which is less typical for domestic selection products. Thanks to this, unusual tomatoes quickly gained popularity and recognition from experienced gardeners. Advantages of the variety:

• the plant has virtually no empty flowers, since each flower produces a fruit;
• possibility of growing on balconies;
• excellent immunity and resistance to pests;
• the variety belongs to dietary products;
• fruiting does not depend on climatic conditions;
• early ripening of tomatoes;
• suitable for commercial purposes;
• the harvest ripens in whole bunches;
• no need for frequent watering.

However, despite the positive characteristics, the variety has a number of disadvantages. Thus, tomatoes have a short shelf life and poor transportability. In addition, the variety will not produce high yields in open ground. Rapunzel is a hybrid, which means it will not be possible to collect seeds for planting, since they do not inherit varietal characteristics. Difficulties may arise with lighting - the variety is extremely light-loving, and therefore it will require 10 hours of artificial or natural lighting. And another problem is that the seeds are not yet available for sale.

See also Favorable days for planting tomatoes in March 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Rapunzel tomatoes have high quality characteristics:

• good fruit set;
• resistance to most nightshade diseases;
• excellent taste and dietary properties;
• high productivity;
• lack of dependence on climate conditions;
• rapid fruit ripening;
• no need to water frequently.

The disadvantages include the following:

• short shelf life of tomatoes;
• indoor crop cultivation;
• high lighting requirements;
• increased growth of bushes;
• poor development of the root system;
• lack of seeds for free sale.

Having understood the features of the Rapunzel variety, you can proceed to the technological side.

Description and characteristics of tomato Rapunzel F1, reviews, photos

Early maturing , tall, cluster tomato hybrid from the British company Flora Nova.

A bush of indeterminate type, 1.8-2.4 meters high , requires tying to a support and pinching. The manufacturer recommends forming the plant into 1 stem, removing all side shoots (stepchildren).

This hybrid is suitable for picking fruits with brushes.

Basic qualities of fruits

The fruits are collected in long, beautiful clusters. It was precisely with its magnificent trusses and the simultaneous ripening of fruits that this tomato with the fabulous name Rapunzel attracted the attention of gardeners.

The tomatoes are round, smooth, glossy, at the ripe stage, bright red in color , with a good tomato taste. These tomatoes are universally used - suitable for both fresh consumption and for decorating dishes, whole-fruit canning and processing.

The size of the fruits in the clusters is almost the same.

To get a good harvest, this tomato needs fertilizing .

Planting and growing seedlings

Before sowing purchased seeds, they must be prepared. The recommendations below will help you do this correctly.

Seed preparation

This procedure includes several steps:

1. Place the seeds in a container with high walls and fill with a weak salt solution. Leave in a warm place for 12 hours. Empty, unusable seeds will float to the surface. Collect and discard them, and strain the remaining through a sieve and rinse with clean water.
2. Dry the remaining seeds and treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate. This procedure disinfects them and improves germination. To do this, dissolve 10 mg of potassium permanganate in 50 ml of water. It is better to take hot water, since manganese does not dissolve well in cold water. Cool the solution until warm. Wrap the seeds in 4 layers of gauze or thin cotton cloth and dip them in the resulting solution for 20-25 minutes.
3. After the procedure, rinse the wrapped seeds with clean water.
4. The last stage is drying. Place the wet seeds on a dry cloth and place in a well-ventilated place. Place them away from direct sunlight.
5. Dried seeds are ready for planting.

The above method of preparation is the most accessible. If desired, you can use biostimulant preparations from the store. However, we must remember that not everything that is used for soil varieties is suitable for this variety.

How to properly germinate seeds is described in more detail here.

Landing

Sowing is done from mid to late March. For these purposes, prepare suitable containers. There are special cups and containers for growing seedlings on sale.

The soil must be selected carefully. Only slightly acidic soil is suitable for Rapunzel tomatoes. Sowing is carried out in several stages:

1. Before sowing, make sure the soil is not cold. Make small grooves in the seedling container with a pencil and sow the seeds in them. You can do this in another way: scatter the seeds evenly over the surface of the soil in a container.
2. In both cases, sprinkle the seed with a small layer (4 mm) of peat or soil.
3. Pour warm water on top.
4. In order for the sprouts to hatch faster, it is necessary to create favorable conditions: air temperature up to +30°C and high humidity.
5. You can cover the top of the container with film after watering. This will create a greenhouse effect.
6. The first shoots will hatch in 4-7 days. Be sure to remove the film at this time.

We recommend that you read additionally about how to properly plant tomatoes for seedlings in this article.

Care

The basic rules of care look like this:

• As soon as the first shoots appear, be sure to take care of their lighting. For this, an LED lamp is used, which will have to be turned on for 16 hours every day.
• The air temperature in the room should not fall below +20°C. Sprouts constantly need warmth, otherwise they will die.
• Don't forget to water the seedlings. This should be done as the soil dries. Watering should not be too frequent. This will lead to rotting of the roots and death of the seedlings.
• When the first 3-4 leaves appear on the sprouts, it is necessary to make a pick. Prepare containers with soil with a volume of 250-500 ml. Carefully plant the seedlings, each in a separate container. There they will grow until planted in the ground.
• Care remains the same. Only the air temperature requirements are slightly reduced. Seedlings are allowed to be placed on the balcony if the air has warmed up to +18°C.

Further care

Rapunzel tomatoes are a rather demanding and capricious variety. Therefore, to obtain a good yield, it is necessary to follow all recommendations for further crop care.

Watering tomato beds

Watering the plants should begin 10 days after planting the seedlings in a permanent place. The first irrigation is recommended to be carried out together with the addition of a solution against late blight (for this, a weak solution of potassium permanganate is added). It is worth considering that Rapunzel cherry trees do not like waterlogged soil. Therefore, watering is carried out as the top layer of soil dries out. Irrigation is often required once every 5 days. On rainy days, the beds are not watered at all. Yes, the beginning of flowering consumes 4 liters of water per 1 sq. m. During the formation of ovaries, up to 12 liters of water will be required. The liquid should not be too cold - this is stressful for the bushes. Water at the root so that water does not fall on the leaf part. The preferred type of irrigation is drip.

See also: Nuances of growing and characteristics of the French bunch tomato

Top dressing

Fertilizers should be applied once every two weeks. For feeding, special preparations are used: Emerald, Ideal, Gumate. Fertilizing is done after abundant moisture: a solution of chicken droppings or manure is added. The best fertilizer for tomatoes will be organic-based preparations.

Garter and bush formation

Rapunzel tomatoes definitely need a garter, since the stem is simply not able to withstand an abundance of fruit. As the plant grows and develops, the gardener should attach new shoots to the trellis. The hybrid bush is formed into one stem. In rare cases - two. You will also need to pinch the growth point and remove the stepsons.

Preventative treatments

The Rapunzel cherry tomato variety is reliably protected from various fungal and viral diseases, as well as from the invasion of harmful insects. However, breeders are recommended to carry out preventive treatments in any case. Bordeaux mixture is suitable for this purpose. The plant should also be sprayed with an infusion of garlic and onion with the addition of laundry soap. In addition, you can use other recipes with folk remedies: a decoction of pine shoots, urea with the addition of milk, a decoction of onion peels, boric acid. Calcium nitrate treatment is used against blackleg and fungus.

Planting Rapunzel tomatoes in the ground

When the threat of night frosts passes, the grown seedlings need to be planted in the ground. This period falls at the end of May. By this time the soil warms up to 15°C.

At least 50 days must pass from the time of sowing the seeds.

The landing process is divided into several stages:

1. In the fall, dig up the area with manure or mineral fertilizers.
2. In the spring, also dig up the soil and remove weeds.
3. Before planting, apply mineral fertilizers or organic matter.
4. Loosen the soil well.
5. Plant the bushes at a distance of 50 cm from each other and to a depth of 10 cm.
6. Leave 70 cm between rows.
7. The bed must be equipped with trellises and posts for tying up the stems.
8. It must be planted in soil that has been previously watered.
9. After planting, water the plants generously.
10. Spray the bushes to prevent diseases.

You can grow tomatoes outdoors in warm southern regions. In other areas they are grown on balconies and in greenhouses. Find more information about growing tomatoes in open ground here.

Growing tomatoes

The seedlings are planted in a permanent place when the soil reaches the optimal temperature. In most regions, this procedure is recommended to be performed at the end of May. In the north of our country - in the first half of July.

The seedlings are prepared 3-5 days before planting. To do this, plants are watered and fed abundantly.

Planting plants in a permanent place

The beds for tomatoes are prepared in the fall. They are dug up and cleared of plant debris. Compost and ash are added to the soil. Then check the acidity of the soil with litmus paper: if it is elevated, add lime.

In the spring, the soil is dug up again, cleaned of plant roots and treated with a disinfectant solution.

Dig holes, add 1 tbsp to each of them. l ash. The distance between the holes must be at least 40 cm. The holes for planting plants are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.

Before planting, seedlings are removed from the pots, placed in holes, deepened by 10-15 cm. The holes are covered with earth.

You need to work with tomatoes very carefully. It is important not to damage the roots.

A high support is placed near each plant. Trellis are often used for this variety.

Tomato care

The Rapunzel tomato needs a garter. As it grows, new parts are constantly attached to the support. Otherwise, the thin stems will not withstand the weight of the fruit.

Hybrid bushes are formed into one or two stems. In the first case, the harvest will appear earlier, and in the second it will be more abundant.

An important step in caring for plants is removing excess shoots. This procedure is carried out in the morning or evening.

Rapunzel is a hybrid that requires watering. The soil is moistened regularly as it dries. After each watering, the beds are loosened.

Tomatoes are fertilized for the first time 2 weeks after planting. For this, it is recommended to use complex fertilizers. In the process of growing Rapunzel tomato, it is recommended to alternate mineral fertilizers and diluted manure.

Nuances of cultivation

The Rapunzel tomato is a difficult hybrid to care for. Therefore, every gardener needs to know a few nuances:

1. Requirement for heat. If the air temperature after transplantation is below 20 degrees, the plants will begin to get sick and die.
2. It is important not to let the soil dry out. The hybrid needs regular watering. However, you should also not flood the soil - this will increase the risk of developing tomato diseases.
3. Requirement for light. For tomatoes, choose the most illuminated area of ​​the garden.

Diseases and pests

The Rapunzel tomato is resistant to major tomato diseases. Even during epidemics, it is rarely affected by fungal and viral pathogens.

Despite good immunity to tomato diseases, prevention cannot be neglected. It is important to disinfect the soil, containers and garden tools used to grow plants.

During the growing process, it is important to follow the rules of caring for tomatoes: regularly weed and loosen the beds, do not skip watering and pruning.

Insects carry viral and fungal diseases. They also damage the tomato bushes themselves. To prevent infection by them, plants are regularly sprayed with Bordeaux mixture or soap solution.

Features of planting in a greenhouse

The main features of planting in a greenhouse are:

1. Seedlings should be planted in a greenhouse in early May, when there is no threat of frost.
2. In the fall, add manure or superphosphate to the soil for digging.
3. In the spring, dig up the place for the beds not deeply and apply fertilizers.
4. Prepare greenhouse beds in advance. Equip them with tall, strong posts for gartering bushes. Trellis and wire work well.
5. Water the soil first; it is better to do this a few hours before planting.
6. Choose a place for tomatoes that is well lit and ventilated.
7. When planting, be sure to add organic or mineral complexes.
8. Planting depth 10 cm, distance between plants 50 cm, distance between rows 70 cm.
9. Then, water and spray the plants.

Formation of seedlings

Rapunzel tomatoes are best grown in seedlings. Seeds are planted at home, and after they germinate, certain conditions are created for the tomatoes. Grown tomatoes are transferred to a greenhouse or left to grow on the balcony.

Planting seeds

Rapunzel tomato seeds are planted in March. First, the planting material is processed to increase its germination. The seeds are placed in salted water. If the grains remain on the surface, they are rejected.

The remaining tomato seeds are placed in gauze, which is folded in several layers and placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 30 minutes. Then the fabric is washed with running water and left in a plate for a day. It is important not to let the seeds dry out and add warm water.

Important! The soil for planting seeds is prepared independently or purchased ready-made.

To obtain a substrate for tomatoes, mix equal amounts of peat, sand and humus. In gardening stores you can purchase soil intended for tomato seedlings. An alternative option is to use peat pots.

The soil is treated in a water bath or kept in the cold for 2-3 months. This gets rid of harmful fungal spores and pests. The prepared soil is poured into boxes or cups. When planting in separate containers, there is no need to pick seedlings.

Rapunzel tomato seeds are placed every 2 cm and covered with a 1 cm layer of peat. The greenhouse effect created by glass or film will help speed up germination. The containers are left in the dark at temperatures above 20°C.

Conditions for seedlings

When the sprouts appear, the Rapunzel tomatoes are moved to a windowsill or other lighted place. Tomatoes should receive continuous lighting for 12 hours. In short daylight conditions, install backlighting and turn it on in the evening.

Additionally, tomatoes need:

• daytime temperature from 21 to 26°C;
• temperature at night from 15 to 18°C;
• keeping the soil moist;
• ventilation of the room.

When the soil dries out, water the tomatoes with warm, settled water. It is more convenient to add moisture using a spray bottle. Water should not come into contact with leaves and stems.

When 2 leaves develop, Rapunzel tomatoes dive into larger containers. The soil is used with a similar composition as when planting seeds.

After a month, the tomatoes begin to adapt to natural conditions. First, open the window for several hours, but protect the plants from drafts. Subsequently, the tomatoes are transferred to the balcony or loggia. Before planting in the greenhouse, tomatoes should be outdoors all day.

Aftercare during cultivation

It is necessary to properly care for the Rapunzel tomato. This will help you get a good harvest.

Watering plants

Rapunzel tomatoes do not tolerate excess moisture. Therefore, they should be watered sparingly as the soil dries out. The optimal frequency of watering is every 5 days.

In open ground, watering depends on weather conditions. On rainy days there is no need to water at all.

Water for irrigation should not be very cold. This will stress the plant. When watering, direct the stream of water under the bush. Under no circumstances should tomatoes be watered over the top. This method will lead to leaf diseases.

The best irrigation method is a drip system. It can be used in the greenhouse and in the garden. At the same time, the soil under the bushes remains loose and water is supplied evenly. It's also a good way to save water.

Fertilizer application

It is necessary to feed the bushes every 14 days. To feed, make a solution of manure or chicken droppings. For this:

1. Add about 1 liter of manure or droppings to 10 liters of water and stir. Leave to infuse for 3 days.
2. Add the resulting mixture to water for irrigation at the rate of: 0.5 liters of mixture per bucket of water. The mixture can be watered only on damp soil.

For fertilizing, you can use chemical mineral fertilizers. In addition, organic-based preparations have appeared in stores, which are successfully used for feeding tomatoes.

Bush formation

Large yields are achieved due to the correct formation of the bush:

1. During growth, tomatoes, in addition to the main stem, grow additional ones - stepsons. They appear in the axils of leaves and branches. Break them out as soon as possible.
2. The growing point of the main stem must be pinched. This significantly increases the yield and reduces ripening time.

Protection from diseases and pests

To protect tomatoes from diseases and pests, the following measures must be taken:

1. Spray the bushes every 2-3 weeks. The first spraying is carried out immediately after planting the seedlings. This variety is resistant to diseases, but prevention will not hurt. For spraying, use home remedies or store-bought preparations.
2. If tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse or garden, it is important to carry out crop rotation every 3 years.
3. Avoid thickening of plantings and unhealthy leaves on bushes. Pick off such leaves and take them outside the site.

Breeding and cultivation regions

An interesting and very unusual variety of Rapunzel tomatoes was bred in 2014 by British breeders. And since 2015, seeds of this variety have become available to consumers in online stores. At the moment, Rapunzel is not in the Russian State Register and acquiring it is quite problematic. Today, only two American agricultural firms are engaged in selling the hybrid. Cultivation of the hybrid is allowed in almost all regions of Russia, since the variety is resistant to temperature changes.

Harvest dates and rules

With proper care, 2.5 months after germination, Rapunzel bushes will bring a bountiful harvest. However, the fruits themselves spoil very quickly. Therefore, do not leave them on the bushes for a long time, but collect them in a timely manner. Immediately sell the harvested crop, otherwise you will lose some of the fruit.

For transportation, collect fruits at the stage of milk ripeness. In this form they are stored for up to 2 weeks. They must be transported in a ventilated container, in small layers up to 10 cm. At the same time, make sure that no moisture gets into the luggage.

How to grow a Rapunzel tomato on a balcony, in a greenhouse, in unprotected soil

The plant feels good on loggias, balconies, greenhouses; in the southern regions it can be grown in open beds. It bears fruit on balconies and in heated greenhouses all year round with proper care.

Since growing Rapunzel tomatoes requires a lot of attention, gardeners study all the intricacies of the process in advance. The hybrid has a lot of vagaries :

1. The soil for planting it should be slightly acidic.
2. Tomatoes need a lot of space due to their tall growth and long vines must be tied to supports, otherwise they will touch the ground and part of the crop will rot.
3. The plant needs abundant sunlight, regular fertilizing, and high air temperatures (at least +22 degrees during the day and + 17 at night) so that the beautiful tomato braids do not wilt.
4. If the sun rarely comes out, additional illumination with special fluorescent lamps is required.

Seed material of the Rapunzel variety is sold only by 2 agricultural companies from the USA - Tomato Growers and Totallу Tomato; you can buy it in foreign online stores.

Features of sowing seeds

Sowing of seedlings is carried out from mid to late March.

Preparing seeds for planting does not differ from the standard preparatory work carried out for all nightshades:

1. Separate the empty seeds by placing them in a saturated saline solution and stirring. Good seeds suitable for germination will sink to the bottom. Those that float are thrown away, the rest are washed and dried.
2. Etch with potassium permanganate for disinfection in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 20-25 minutes.
3. After processing, the seeds are rinsed and dried again in a well-ventilated, shady place.

Rapunzel tomato seeds purchased from the manufacturer do not require preliminary preparation.

They have already been disinfected and treated with growth stimulants, as evidenced by their orange or greenish color. Processing information is indicated on the packaging and should be read carefully.

Peat cups or containers are suitable for seedlings. Prepare the soil by mixing 2 parts of peat, 1 part of garden soil and humus, adding a glass of ash. Pour into the selected container, but not to the top, but leaving 4-5 cm. Carefully make shallow grooves with a pencil or stick at a distance of 3 cm from each other. Scatter the seeds evenly and lightly sprinkle with peat. Water or spray with warm water. Cover with film and put in a warm place where the temperature averages +25. Every day, open the mini-greenhouse for a few minutes for ventilation so that the seeds do not rot.

Seedling care

If you follow all the rules of agricultural technology, sprouts will appear in 4-7 days. After they peck, the cover is removed and the container is transferred to a warm, sunny windowsill.

For young seedlings:

1. Provide 16 hours of daylight. If there is not enough sunlight, the plants are illuminated with phytolamps.
2. The temperature is maintained at least +20 degrees.
3. Water the seedlings as the top lump of soil dries out, preferably with a spray bottle so as not to over-moisten the soil. Rapunzel does not like moisture; with too much moisture, tomatoes quickly rot and die.

When 3 true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted, transplanted into separate large pots, and continued to be cared for in the same way.

Tomato transplant Rapunzel

Seedlings are planted in the ground when the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to +15°C. This is mid to late May. At least 50 days must pass from sowing the seeds. Choose a sunny place for planting. The soil in open beds or in a greenhouse is prepared in the fall by digging, adding superphosphate and manure. In the spring, the beds are dug up again, organic and mineral fertilizers are applied, and they are loosened shallowly. Install supports for further gartering of tall plants.

For seedlings, prepare holes 10 cm deep, placing them at a distance of half a meter from each other. Leave 70 cm between the rows. Carefully plant the bushes, sprinkle them with peat or fertile soil, carefully press them down and water them.

Caring for tomatoes after transplantation

To obtain a good harvest, Rapunzel tomatoes at home strictly follow agrotechnical nuances. The variety does not tolerate waterlogged soil; water it moderately, once every 5 days, directing the stream under the bush.

Carrying out three feedings:

1. The first fertilizing in the greenhouse, on the balcony and in open ground is carried out on the 11th day after planting the seedlings. The hybrid is fed once every 2 weeks with organic fertilizers. If chicken droppings or manure are used, prepare a solution by diluting a liter of organic matter in 10 liters of water. They insist for 3 days. To feed, 0.5 liters of solution are diluted in a bucket of water, applied under tomato bushes, after watering them with regular water and loosening the soil.
2. The plants are fed a second time during active flowering with the same amount of fertilizer.
3. The third feeding is required at the beginning of fruiting, and then once every 14 days. The concentration of fertilizer for them is increased by 2 times.

For such tall plants, the formation of a bush is mandatory. This increases yield, reduces the amount of green mass, and shortens ripening time. The bush is formed into 1-2 stems. If you leave one stem, the harvest will ripen earlier, and if you leave two, it will be more abundant. The stepsons growing in the axils between the main branches are promptly removed and the growth point of the main stem is pinched.

Regular garter is also necessary. As the plants grow, new parts of the tomato stems are constantly attached to the trellises, otherwise the long thin vines will break under the weight of the fruit.

The plant begins to bear fruit 2-3 months after the seedlings peck. At this time, carefully watch the bushes. According to the description, the Rapunzel tomato belongs to the salad varieties. The fruits spoil quickly, so they are collected at the stage of milk ripeness and canned. Ripe, and especially overripe tomatoes are not suitable for canning; their thin skin immediately cracks. They are consumed fresh in preparing delicious vitamin-rich salads, vegetable stews and casseroles.

How to grow a Rapunzel tomato on the balcony

Rapunzel grows beautifully on balconies and loggias, decorating them with emerald cascading stems with clusters of bright scarlet tomatoes. There is no particular difference from growing in soil. Before growing Rapunzel tomatoes on the balcony, make sure that its area is enough to accommodate a two-meter giant. It is good if the loggia is located on the southern, sunny side, so that the plant has enough sun during the day, and at night the air temperature does not drop below +15°C, and during the day it stays at +25°C.

To grow on balconies, bushes are planted in 5-10 liter buckets, flowerpots, tubs. There’s no point in forcing everything into plants; they need space. A couple of bushes are enough.

The containers are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection for 30 minutes. Drainage is poured at the bottom (expanded clay, pottery shards), then soil for tomatoes and peppers is poured, seedlings are planted, deepening them to 15 cm. Water with warm water. Otherwise, caring for Rapunzel is the same as in a greenhouse or open ground. Be sure to tie them to supports and form a bush. Feed the plants on the balcony once every 2 weeks, using complex fertilizers for peppers and tomatoes (Zdraven, Kristallon), diluting them in accordance with the instructions.

The Rapunzel tomato is a hybrid variety that was bred quite recently, but has already attracted the attention of many gardeners and gardeners with its unusual appearance, for which it is called “tomato grapes.” Long vines with tassels of small, bright red tomatoes really resemble grapevines with juicy clusters. Going down in an emerald-ruby cascade, they look beautiful on balconies, in open ground, in a greenhouse, attracting attention and pleasing the eye.

Rapunzel's Destination

Tomatoes of this variety are suitable for canning only if the fruits are freshly picked. For these purposes, it is better to collect milk-ripe fruits.

This variety is not suitable for sale as it is poorly stored. When fresh, small tomatoes are very tasty. They can be chopped into a salad or eaten whole. This is a dietary product, so it is useful for sick people.

Description of plants

I would like to note right away that it is not easy to get planting material of this variety and it is difficult to find it in regular stores. But if you succeed, you definitely won’t regret it. So, for the first time, this variety became known quite recently - in 2014, the creators from the Spring Trials company presented it at an exhibition in America.

Tomatoes were not only displayed there, but also tested, and I was lucky to get there. I was very surprised - a tall tree, from which numerous small tomatoes and dense foliage descended on powerful branches

Outwardly, they really resembled Rapunzel’s braids and immediately attracted a lot of attention from all exhibitors.

The tomatoes themselves turned out to be very tasty and I decided to get these tomatoes into my collection by any means necessary. I succeeded and now I will tell you about them.

Small tomatoes and dense foliage hang on the shoots like a bunch of grapes

Such an unusual appearance often makes this variety a decoration for the garden and attracts everyone's attention and interest.

So, Rapunzel tomatoes can be planted in open ground or in greenhouses. In general, you can even grow them on a balcony - the main thing is that the height allows and the conditions are suitable.

The variety is indeterminate and hybrid - that is, essentially sterile. Therefore, propagating it using seeds is completely useless - you need cuttings or ready-made seedlings. This is also associated with difficulties in purchasing plants of the variety.

Tomatoes of this variety ripen quickly - on average in 75 days, but this figure may vary depending on the specific region and climatic conditions.

Comparison of Rapunzel with other varieties

We present to your attention a comparative description of different varieties of tomatoes:

Characteristics of the variety and growing conditions

Having passed field tests in 2022, the Rapunzel tomato, shown at a breeding exhibition in the USA, has been exciting the imagination of summer residents, gardeners and winter garden lovers on balconies, loggias and windowsills for 2 years with its originality and decorativeness. Qualitative characteristics of the variety:

Formation of a tomato bush of the Rapunzel variety

The description of the variety should be supplemented with a reference to the hybrid nature of the new selection, i.e. its seeds are still difficult to obtain in the usual way.

Growing conditions for Rapunzel are no different from other tomatoes:

Light. It is one of the very demanding light-loving plants. It is necessary to choose a well-lit, sunny place. Warm. The optimal growing temperature is +20…+25°C. Moisture. Taking into account the height and power of the root system required for a large number of clusters and fruits, this tomato variety is demanding of moisture, especially after planting seedlings, during the formation of roots and fruit formation. The soil. Usually acidic or slightly acidic. Disease resistance is high. Distance in the garden. Due to the height of the tomatoes, the distance between them should not be less than 50 cm.

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★★★★★
Alina, 28 years old, manager, Chelyabinsk. I tried it once in the USA.
Just beautiful. I wanted to find it in our country, but it didn’t work out. I ordered it online and they sent me a fake. If you find it, don't hesitate. You will not regret! ★★★★★
Sergey, 42 years old, summer resident, Moscow. They brought me already crushed bushes.
Went out. I didn't expect it myself. They look like grapes. Handsome guys! I have never seen or tried anything like this before. Delicious! ★★★★★
Anatoly, 50 years old, farmer, Canada. I've been living in Canada for a long time.
I'm a farmer. I planted this variety at home. I like it. They grow without problems, even in a flower pot. Water them so that they are warm and light and that’s it. Tomatoes are great, you just need to know how to store them. I recommend it if you can find it. Hide

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The Rapunzel tomato attracts attention not so much for its fruits as a decorative feature, but also as a tasty, interesting fruit that can be eaten fresh, added to salads and made into preparations. Our recommendations will help you grow this tomato correctly and get a high yield.

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Balcony growing

When growing a Rapunzel tomato on the balcony, you need to consider that the height of the plant can be up to three meters. In order for the cultivation to take place expediently, you can first sow it on the windowsill, and then transplant it into a tub, which, as it grows, is lowered lower and lower. This way you will increase the area for shoots to grow in height.

The temperature regime also needs to be taken care of. Night temperatures should not fall below 18°C, and daytime temperatures should not exceed 27°C. At higher temperatures, the ovary will not form and the tomato vines will have a bald appearance.

Shading the plant in the summer heat is a mandatory procedure when growing on a south-facing balcony.

The support for the garter is installed simultaneously with planting the plants, and timely fixation will help prevent bending and breaking of the tomato vines.

There is no point in planting a lot of bushes in a tub for a balcony; they will not produce a bountiful harvest in a cramped area. It is enough to plant two bushes and form each into two stems. Such a tomato “tree” will be elegant and productive.

The variety in question is still very young, but there are enough people who want to grow it. Difficulties in acquiring seeds are most likely temporary. New selections in demand are quickly spreading across the planet regardless of borders, so there is hope in the near future for every gardener who wants to try growing a tomato on his balcony, in a greenhouse or in open ground.

Features of growing on the balcony

Due to its rather large growth, this tomato variety is not suitable for growing in an apartment, but if you still intend to grow it in such conditions, place the pot with it on the floor, which will allow the plant to develop in full force and grow to its maximum size .

If the ceiling of your balcony is low, you can grow these tomatoes in containers suspended from the edges of the window frames. However, for comfortable harvesting of fruits, the top of a bush growing in this way will need to be constantly trimmed until it reaches the size you need.

Strictly control the amount of moisture that gets into the pots of your plants on rainy days, if necessary, cover the soil under them with plastic covers or plastic bags, since excess moisture can cause damage to the root system of the plant, which will ultimately lead to its death.

We hope that now it will not be difficult for you to decide whether you need to breed Rapunzel tomatoes, after reading the description of the variety and the characteristics of their cultivation

Remember that seeds of this variety are still quite problematic to find in our area, but if you wish, you can pay attention to other varieties of cherry tomatoes that are more common and at the same time quite similar to this variety: “Supersvit”, “Apricot Dreams”, “Beads” and “Black Cherry”

Rapunzel is a young tomato variety that is actively winning the hearts of gardeners. It gained its popularity for the possibility of breeding on balconies and loggias. Tomatoes resist fungal diseases well and are characterized by high yields.

How to plant tomatoes

This species is excellent for growing in containers, but it is quite difficult to imagine that such a tall variety can be grown on balconies. In general, the technology for planting these tomatoes is not much different from that of their large-fruited counterparts.

Find out the benefits of cherry tomatoes and how to make jam from these little tomatoes.

Seed selection and preparation

Seeds for growing this variety of tomatoes should under no circumstances be taken from hand; this is due to the already mentioned above and still low prevalence of this variety in our area.

Therefore, you should order seeds exclusively in specialized stores or on the Internet.

Immediately before the planting process, the seeds should be kept in warm water for several hours, and then treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate to protect against various diseases and pests.

Sowing and caring for seedlings

The best period for sowing lasts from mid-March to early April. Seeds are sown in shallow grooves, which are formed using a pencil, in seedling containers. Next, you need to cover the planted seeds with a shallow (up to 4 mm) layer of fertile soil and generously water the seeds with warm water.

It is necessary to create favorable conditions for seedling germination, which consist of maintaining the ambient temperature in the region of +25-28 ° C and providing 10-12 hours of daylight. When such conditions are created, the first shoots should appear after 5-7 days.

Important! After the first shoots appear, the temperature should be reduced to +20°C; you should not reduce it even more, this can lead to freezing of young plants.

The seedlings need to be watered as the soil dries, but you should not be overzealous with watering, since an abundance of moisture can irreversibly damage the root system of the bushes, which will ultimately lead to the death of the plants.

Picking

The optimal time for picking can be considered the period when your seedlings have 3-4 leaves on each seedling. For picking, you should prepare containers with a volume of 250-500 ml in advance, which must be filled with fertile soil.

The seedlings must be kept in this condition throughout the entire period until the intended planting. In this case, it is necessary to water the plants regularly, but again, do not over-water young tomatoes - this can lead to their death.

During this period, containers with seedlings can already be taken out onto the balcony, but only if the air temperature already reaches +16-18 °C. But even if it is still quite cold outside, a week before the intended planting you will need to start taking them out into the open air for the purpose of hardening.

Description of the variety

Tomato bushes of the Rapunzel variety can be distinguished from all others by their long fruit clusters, similar to the braids of the fairy-tale Rapunzel. On each of them, about forty rich red cherry tomatoes are elegantly and compactly arranged.

Plants of this variety are indeterminate, with unlimited growth of shoots that can grow up to 2.5 m. It can be grown in containers, balcony boxes or flower pots on windowsills.

This variety of tomatoes is resistant to most of the diseases characteristic of nightshades; fruits are almost completely set on the incredibly long flower clusters; the number of flower clusters is difficult to count.

The disadvantages include the short shelf life of the crop.

Rapunzel is one of the fastest ripening varieties registered. The first fruits from the bush are harvested just 75 days after emergence.

The tomatoes are not large, but of the same size, have an unforgettable taste, are dense and shiny. The pulp of the fruit contains an increased amount of sugars, pectins, and minerals, thanks to which tomatoes have dietary properties.

Properly packaged fruits can withstand long-term transportation.

Features of growing Rapunzel tomatoes

As reviews show, the agricultural technology of the Rapunzel variety has much in common with the cultivation of other tall varieties of tomatoes and, nevertheless, the hybrid itself is quite demanding in terms of growing conditions.

1. To grow a hybrid, it is recommended to choose well-drained fertile soils with an acidic and slightly acidic reaction - pH 5.5.

2. To grow seedlings, you can use a soil mixture consisting of 1 part sand, 2 parts each of garden soil and compost, and 3 parts peat.

Rapunzel tomatoes have a short shelf life

3. Before planting, seeds should be treated with growth stimulants to increase their germination rate.

4. It is recommended to additionally cover the boxes with sown seeds with a dark film, which will allow maintaining a special microclimate: high humidity and temperature. When the first sprouts appear, the film should be removed.

5. The optimal temperature required for good plant development is +20-25° C.

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"Rapunzel" is demanding of good lighting, which is especially important to consider when keeping tubs of tomatoes indoors. The optimal daylight hours should be 10-12 hours

As tomatoes grow, they need to be supported

7. When the 3rd true leaf appears, the Rapunzel seedlings should be planted in separate containers. Planting depth – 10 cm.

Advice! To avoid picking, experienced vegetable growers recommend sown the Rapunzel hybrid tomato directly into patio containers. As the seedlings grow, weak plants should be pinched, leaving only the strongest ones.

8. It is recommended to transplant grown Rapunzel seedlings into greenhouse beds in early May. When planting Rapunzel seedlings in greenhouse beds, the distance between the bushes should be 40-50 cm. Basil, lemon balm, thyme, asparagus, and nasturtium will be good neighbors for tomatoes.

9. The bush is formed into 1-2 stems, which are recommended to be attached to a support as they grow.

10. To get a fairly good harvest of Rapunzel tomatoes, you should regularly pluck the side shoots.

Rapunzel tomatoes require regular feeding

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During the period of flowering and formation of ovaries, it is especially important to follow the watering regime. Intensive watering should be carried out in accordance with the requirements of tall varieties of tomatoes

12. During the period of active growth, a tomato requires regular application of complex fertilizers - every 2 weeks.

13. The harvest is harvested as it ripens.

The fertility of the hybrid variety, its decorativeness and resistance to fungal diseases make “Rapunzel” very attractive to vegetable growers and gardeners. Growing them at home makes it possible to obtain fresh fruits throughout the year.