Ampel tomatoes are gaining more and more popularity every year. Miniature varieties of tomatoes have excellent taste, are distinguished by beautiful lush foliage and are similar in their properties to cherry tomatoes.
Most varieties bear small, neat fruits that are perfect for making salads and a variety of snacks.
What are ampel tomatoes and their features?
Canopy varieties include varieties of tomatoes bred for growing indoors. Such tomatoes are suitable for people who do not have a garden plot, but want to have high-quality and fresh vegetables at home. Their taste properties are not inferior to large greenhouse varieties, and one bush can bear several kilograms of fruit.
In addition, miniature tomatoes are used for decorative purposes. Such bushes effectively decorate balconies. Most often they are planted in hanging pots. They are also grown in garden plots - the lush branches of tomatoes beautifully weave around hedges and are suitable for creating landscape design.
Read about different varieties of tomatoes, not just hanging ones, that can be grown indoors in the following articles:
- Tomato Balcony Miracle: description, planting, care, comparison, reviews;
- Tomatoes on the balcony: step-by-step instructions on how to grow;
- Growing tomatoes in buckets.
Balcony charm
This mid-season self-pollinating variety was bred in Germany. It stands out for its high productivity. During the season, one bush produces up to 4.5 kg of fruit. It belongs to the ornamental varieties and is grown as a potted plant.
It is not ampelous in its pure form, because has no lashes. But under the weight of tomatoes, the shoots often hang down. The height of the bush is 50 cm. The tomatoes are round in shape, small, with a smooth surface. They are tied in large numbers, weigh 60 g each. Their color is bright red.
Varieties of ampel tomatoes
Beginners usually choose unpretentious species. When choosing, the appearance of the bushes also matters, since hanging tomatoes are used to decorate windows. Each variety has its own characteristics. The following varieties are in greatest demand.
Mascot
This type of hanging tomatoes is popular because of its decorative qualities - branched bushes and small fruits (up to 20 grams) serve as an interesting and unusual decoration for rooms.
Refers to early ripening. Suitable for growing in a greenhouse or in open ground.
City dweller F1
The fruits of this variety are larger than those of other ampelous tomatoes, weighing 30-50 grams. The bush grows up to 0.8 m, so a large container is needed for planting.
It has high productivity. Needs regular grooming. Juicy raspberry tomatoes ripen in 100 days.
Cascade F1
A neat miniature plant, the height of which does not exceed 0.5 m. Unpretentious, suitable for beginners.
There are varieties with both red and yellow tomatoes.
Garden pearl
A low, light-loving bush, which is intended for growing on windowsills.
Produces small red small tomatoes weighing up to 20 grams. Does not require complex care.
Red abundance
The fruits of this type of ampel tomatoes are similar in taste and appearance to cherry tomatoes.
Does not require pinching and is characterized by rapid growth.
brindle
An early ripening, miniature variety (trunk height is only 15-20 cm), bearing unusual striped fruits with excellent taste.
Ampel mixture
This type of tomato has beautiful and lush foliage that hangs down in hanging pots, creating the effect of a green waterfall.
Often, lovers purchase an ampelous mixture of yellow and red tomatoes.
How to form bushes
How to care for hanging begonia and form a bush
The formation of a bush of ampelous tomatoes while growing at home occurs independently by the plant itself. When planting in open ground, gardeners themselves take measures for convenient placement and growth of the bush. To do this, use special vertical structures along which tomatoes grow upward. This helps in convenient harvesting in the future. Also, when grown in this way, tomatoes receive more natural light for growth and ripening.
In hanging containers, the bush is formed in a natural determinant way. Falling down from pots and boxes, the plant branches well, the branches are usually thin and long, on which fruits grow and ripen in the form of clusters. The fruits are small and round.
Rules for planting ampelous tomatoes
To grow healthy plants and get a rich harvest, gardeners prepare seeds and soil in advance. Treating the soil against pests allows you to avoid many diseases to which indoor tomatoes are susceptible. To disinfect the soil, use special means or spray it with a solution of potassium permanganate.
Planting seeds and seedlings
Ampelous tomatoes are grown using two methods. The first involves preliminary planting of seedlings, which are later transplanted into large containers. But some people prefer to plant the seeds in pots right away. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages.
The right time for sowing seedlings is early March. Although later sowing is possible under indoor conditions, sowing in early spring promotes rapid ripening of the crop. Before planting, the seeds are poured with aloe juice or a solution of potassium permanganate and left for an hour. Peat or humus are suitable as soil. The soil should be light, capable of allowing air to pass to the roots.
To get a rich harvest, plants are planted in containers with a volume of at least 5 liters. The bottom is covered with drainage, since stagnation of moisture leads to the development of diseases and the appearance of fungi. When the soil is prepared, small holes are made in it for seeds (1.5-2 cm). Each seed is carefully placed in a hole and sprinkled with a small amount of soil.
The sprouts are placed in separate containers after the second leaf grows on them. The bottom of the containers is covered with a small layer of small pebbles and fragments of bricks, and the top is covered with soil. This helps prevent moisture accumulation.
Preparation
Capacities
The good development and condition of the plant and its roots, and subsequently the quality of the fruit, depends on the correct selection of the container for planting.
Each bush needs a separate pot . The volume of such a pot should be at least 5 liters. But for shorter varieties, a three or four liter pot may be suitable. It should also be wide and cylindrical in shape so that the roots can fit freely into it. The width, not the depth, of the container is of great importance. Such a container should have drainage holes to prevent water stagnation.
When choosing a container for planting tomatoes, pay attention to the material from which it is made. It is best to choose pots that will not heat up quickly, such as clay or ceramic. If your choice falls on a plastic pot, then it is better to choose a white or light shade so that it does not attract a lot of sun.
Selection of tomato seeds
It is worth taking the choice of planting seeds very seriously . The seeds must be large and whole, without spots or darkening.
Low-growing varieties are suitable for growing in pots on windowsills. The choice of variety depends on the size of the windowsill on which they will grow.
For the window sill
Small dwarf varieties of tomatoes are suitable for a small windowsill.
Minibel
Up to 30 cm high, compact clusters of 8-10 fruits weighing 20-40 grams. Tomatoes are incredibly tasty and juicy .
Florida Petite
Bush 30 cm high, bright red, sweet tomatoes weighing 30-40 grams. One bunch contains 15-20 fruits.
Balcony miracle
Early ripening home variety with pink tomatoes weighing 20-30 grams. Harvest after 80 days .
We invite you to watch a video about the Balcony Miracle tomato:
Balcony red
The height of the bush is about 30 cm , on which there are small bright red, sweet and aromatic fruits.
We invite you to watch a video about a red balcony tomato:
Bonsai
The yield from one 30 cm bush is 500-600 grams of small red tomatoes. Despite their size, the tomatoes are very tasty .
We invite you to watch a video about the Bonsai tomato:
Bonsai micro
A 15 cm bush with tiny fragrant fruits.
Pinocchio
The best variety for home growing in pots. The Pinocchio variety is unpretentious and grows well .
We invite you to watch a video about the Pinocchio tomato:
For the balcony
For an insulated, wider one with a large area for placing pots, varieties of larger tomatoes are suitable:
Balconies Yelou
The bush grows up to 45-50 cm . The fruits are sweet and sour, yellow in color.
Pearl red and yellow
Height up to 50 cm. Has sweet fruits weighing 50 grams.
Hermitage
The weight of these tomatoes can reach 100 grams.
Native
An early variety with large crimson fruits weighing up to 180 grams.
Igranda
A variety with round, fleshy bright red tomatoes weighing up to 150 grams.
Russian troika
The bush is 60 cm high, the fruits are very large, fragrant, up to 300 grams.
To choose the right variety of tomatoes for you to grow, you need to plant several varieties and watch their behavior during growth.
The soil
The soil can be purchased at a special store or prepared independently . It is better to stay on the soil that you prepare yourself. You need to take equal parts of black soil, sand and peat. This composition is also enriched with minerals. Sifted charcoal works best. The soil is first disinfected by dousing it with boiling water.
If you decide to buy ready-made soil, then choose the “Universal” soil.
Features of planting seedlings and caring for hanging tomatoes
In May, seedlings are planted in a permanent place - this can be a pot on the balcony, a flowerpot in the room or a bed in the garden. If tomatoes are grown at home, they are shaken from time to time.
The seedlings need feeding. Plants are fed with mineral fertilizers (a mixture of nitrogen and potassium). This procedure is carried out twice before moving the tomatoes to permanent soil. Before each transplant, the soil is saturated with suitable fertilizers.
Many varieties require pinching. To keep the bush lush, it has two stems. Watering is done as the soil dries out. Excessively wet soil poses a danger to plants, so the bushes are watered with a small amount of liquid. The water should be settled, free of foreign impurities, slightly warm. Watering is carried out in the evening. Leaves and stems are not sprayed. Two hours after watering, the soil is loosened - this ensures air flow to the root system.
Once every two weeks, the soil is fertilized with a mineral mixture. Complex preparations that are sold in specialized stores are well suited as fertilizers. For 1 kg of soil take 5 grams of the mixture. Fertilizing is done during watering.
During flowering, tomatoes need room temperature, but until the first ovaries appear, they are kept in a slightly cool place. In the room with tomatoes, maintain good lighting and maintain humidity levels to prevent the development of fungal diseases. Regular ventilation helps prevent excessively humid air, and place a bucket of water in the room to prevent dryness.
To maintain optimal lighting, sodium or LED lamps are placed near the bushes. Specialized stores also sell phytolamps created specifically for caring for plants.
Tomatoes grown at home require artificial pollination. This procedure is carried out in the morning using a soft brush. The pollen is carefully collected and transferred to the pistils. For bushes growing in open ground, artificial pollination is not required.
Low-growing tomatoes: Cherry Cascade - Cherry Falls
French variety of ampelous cherry tomatoes. From one hanging basket, up to a thousand sweet and aromatic tomatoes the size of wild cherries are harvested. They are simply strewn with fruits. They look very nice on open terraces, balconies and patios. They don't take steps. They also grow well in a creeping form simply on ridges under temporary cover made of non-woven material. Early ripening.
Cherry Cascade (click on photo to enlarge).
Cherry Waterfall (click on photo to enlarge).
Diseases and pests
Improper care leads to the appearance of fungus and the development of diseases. Also, some varieties are susceptible to pest attack.
In most cases, it is impossible to save a diseased plant, but to save the rest of the crop, preventive procedures must be carried out.
| Symptoms | Disease/pest | Elimination |
| Darkening on leaves and fruits. | Late blight | The disease quickly spreads to neighboring bushes, so to save the crop, the diseased plant is dug up and burned. Unripe tomatoes are plucked from the branches and placed in hot water for a minute, after which they are left to ripen. |
| The appearance of rot in the roots of seedlings. | Blackleg | For preventive purposes, the soil is treated with Trichodermin. The cause of the disease is excessive watering, so they try to protect containers with seedlings from excess moisture. |
| Root rotting in tomatoes of different ages. | Root rot | Affected plants are dug up and destroyed. They also throw away the soil in which they grew. |
| Fruit rotting. | Gray or brown rot | To avoid the spread of the disease, the bushes are destroyed along with the tomatoes. |
| Insect infestation. | Whitefly, spider mites, aphids | Special chemicals are used against pests (Aktara, Aktellik and others). Whiteflies are treated with garlic infusion. |
Growing ampel tomatoes is accessible to almost every person.
Beautiful branchy bushes can replace the usual potted flowers, and fresh tomatoes will be an excellent addition to salads and holiday cuisine.
Kishmish F1
This hybrid of domestic selection will feel great on your windowsill. It is named so due to the small size of bright red tomatoes that resemble grapes on a branch.
They reach ripeness in 3.5 months. On one bunch there are 30 or more tomatoes weighing 20 g each. Their shape is round or oval.
This species is susceptible to late blight. The fruits can be stored for a long time and are suitable for transportation.
Sowing tomato seeds for seedlings
Standard, like regular greenhouse tomatoes.
You can sow in a common container and then transplant into separate pots for seedlings, or you can sow in peat tablets.
We sowed our tomatoes in a common container. For sowing, we took 4 different varieties of container cherry tomatoes.
Any soil for sowing tomatoes is suitable, for example universal for seedlings or special for tomatoes. You can read everything about sowing tomatoes for seedlings in our other material.
Briefly it looks like this:
- Pour the soil into the container, water and lightly compact.
- Make grooves and distribute the tomato seeds.
- Lightly sprinkle the seeds with soil, spray and sprinkle vermiculite on top.
- Cover the container with a lid, glass or film.
When the sprouts appear, remove the film and plant the seedlings in individual pots.
The order of sowing tomatoes for seedlings, March 3
Picking of seedlings is carried out at the stage of 2-4 leaves. The soil can be used the same as for sowing.
Caring for young tomato seedlings is standard: watering and fertilizing once every 2 weeks.
March 31, tomato seedlings on the window
Low-growing tomato variety: Red Robin - Red Robin
Red Robin is one of the shortest varieties of cherry tomatoes. Very sweet, aromatic. Can be grown both in pots and in the ground under temporary cover.
Red Robin (click on photo to enlarge).
Red Robin (click on photo to enlarge).
brindle
An unusual hanging variety, more reminiscent of a vine plant rather than a tomato. The variety is early ripening, so with its help you can get a harvest much earlier than the first tomatoes ripen in the garden.
The Tiger tomato got its name for the unusual coloring of the fruit: they are decorated with light stripes, and this attracts the eye to them. But you need to remember that the dimensions of the above-ground part are small - up to 20 cm, and the tomatoes are also small, each weighing no more than 50 g. Children love it very much for its miniature size, and besides, such dimensions allow you to grow a bush even in conditions of acute shortage of space.
Related article:
Treatment of tomatoes with iodine and milk against late blight
Low-growing tomatoes: Micro Tom - Tiny Tom
20 centimeters tall! And it feels great in a pot! Cherry tomatoes are very sweet, but you don’t want to pick them. It turns out that sometimes beauty is more important than taste)) This variety will grow well on a sunny windowsill, balcony or terrace. It also does not feel bad in the garden bed under a low film cover made of non-woven material. Early ripening. Does not form stepchildren.
What covering materials are used for beds: (read more)
Micro Tom (click on photo to enlarge).
Tiny Tom (click on photo to enlarge).
More good indoor and balcony varieties of tomatoes
Less popular, but good varieties of tomatoes for growing on a windowsill or balcony are also the following:
- Arctic.
- Balcony red F1 (there is also Balcony yellow F1).
- Cherry waterfall.
- Mikron-NK.
- Philippok.
- Florida Petit.
- Miracle at the window.
- Japanese indoor.
Questions for readers:
- What varieties have you already tried to grow at home?
- Which ones worked out and which ones turned out to be completely unsuitable?
Harvest and storage
The harvest in hanging containers can be obtained a little earlier than from the garden.
Tomato or ampel tomato - varieties, description and characteristics
It is recommended to pick the fruits before they turn completely red or turn golden, depending on the variety. They can be kept in a warm place until completely reddened. This is done in order to lighten the bush, which at this time is completely covered with beautiful clusters, making it possible for other fruits to reach maturity.
Advice! If ampels are grown to decorate a balcony or window sill, then the fruits can be left on the bushes until fully ripe.
You can store the harvest you grow yourself in the refrigerator. If the harvest is rich and does not fit in the refrigerator, the fruits should be placed in a box or basket. Lay hay, straw, burlap on the bottom. Place the tomatoes with the stalk facing up, sprinkle each layer with sawdust or paper.
The top of the container with tomatoes should be covered with a dark cloth so that light does not fall on them. Place the box with tomatoes in a cool place where the air temperature is about 10 degrees and there is good ventilation.
Fruits must be picked before they become ripe
Baskets with fruits can also be hung, this promotes good ventilation. Then they can lie for a long time.
Green tomatoes should be stored in the same way as red ones. Small tomatoes last much longer than large ones.
Growing ampelous tomatoes does not require special knowledge, experience, time and effort.
Low-growing tomatoes: Liliput Yellow - Yellow Liliput
Incredibly compact bushes of Yellow Lilliput will decorate a window sill facing the sunny side and an open terrace and balcony. This variety is almost 100 years old! Our great-grandparents raised it. Choose a sunny place for it and a pot with good nutritious soil with a volume of at least 5 liters. And it will delight you for a long time. Sweet, delicious. Does not take stepson, early ripening.
Liliput Yellow (click on photo to enlarge).
Yellow Lilliputian (click on photo to enlarge).
