Is it worth growing the “Princess” tomato: the opinions of summer residents and the secrets of obtaining a rich harvest of aromatic tomatoes

Description of the variety

Summer residents of the southern regions grow tomatoes in the open air, while representatives of the north of the country and the middle zone prefer to plant the Princess in greenhouses or hotbeds. The variety loves fertile soil and fertilizing.

The bushes are indeterminate and are not limited in growth. Princess is a mid-season variety , and is characterized by high yields.

Distinctive features

The bushes grow up to 1.5 m high. Most often they require staking and pinching, since the fruits are large and heavy. The plant is formed into 2 stems. The foliage is medium, the leaves resemble potato leaves in appearance. The bushes are powerful and have a developed root system.

Fruit characteristics, yield

Smooth tomatoes have an oval shape and thick skin. The color is rich red, the aroma is classic. The average weight of a tomato is about 200 g, in greenhouse conditions the figures increase to 400 g. If you follow the rules for caring for 1 square meter. m harvest about 14 kg of juicy tomatoes.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Princess is an unpretentious tomato variety that has the following advantages:
• undemanding and easy to care for;
• good resistance to diseases characteristic of nightshades;
• excellent adaptation to new environmental conditions;
• versatility;
• resistance to drought and temperature decreases;
• the possibility of cultivating tomatoes in almost any climatic zone;
• high productivity;
• excellent taste.

• The variety is not without some disadvantages, among which vegetable growers note:
• the need for mandatory gartering and pinching;
• the need to purchase new seed material every year.

How to grow seedlings

Seedlings are prepared 55-60 days before planting the plant on the site. For the best harvest, gardeners are advised to follow basic agrotechnical rules.

Seed preparation

High-quality seeds are the key to a good harvest. When purchasing material, inspect it carefully for stains and other uncharacteristic signs. Buy seeds only from trusted places.

The main stage of seed preparation is germination. Before doing this, harden them by placing them in the freezer for 10 hours. Low temperatures destroy larvae and dangerous microbes. Then disinfect the seeds by placing them in a solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Hydrogen peroxide is also suitable for this.

Sprout the seeds in damp gauze or a cotton pad. For convenience, place them on a plate and place them in a warm and dry place. Germination will show the overall germination of seeds and will also speed up the appearance of the first shoots.

Important ! For the most powerful effect, use “Solution”. This universal plant remedy kills harmful microorganisms, saturates the seeds with essential microelements, and helps to quickly adapt to external conditions. “Solution” is sold in any gardening store.

Container and soil

To save time and effort, gardeners purchase ready-made soil in the store, for example, “Universal” soil or “Krepysh” mixture. Their compositions are already enriched with all the necessary elements and correspond to the required acidity level. Such soil is an ideal soil for seedlings.

Any container for seeds can be used, for example, plastic cups or flower pots. The main thing is that the container is dry and clean. Stores sell special plastic cassettes and containers for seedlings.

Sowing

We list the stages of planting seedlings:

• pour soil into the container, filling 1/2 of the container;
• make small grooves about 1 cm deep;
• put seeds in each;
• sprinkle soil on top and gently pat down;
• pour in plenty of warm, settled water (never from the tap);
• cover the top with a lid or cling film;
• make a marking (write the date and name of the variety on a sticker), so it will be easier for you to navigate by planting time.

Growing and care

The growth of seedlings depends entirely on proper care:

1. Compliance with light conditions. Place the containers in the brightest place in the house, for example, on a windowsill or loggia. The recommended light level is at least 14 hours a day. If there is a shortage, arrange additional lighting with fluorescent lamps.
2. Watering mode. Tomatoes are watered for the first time 10 days after planting. Make sure there is not too much moisture, otherwise the risk of fungus and infections will increase. Water should get directly under the root, bypassing the stem and leaves.
3. Temperature conditions. The ideal air temperature is at least 22 degrees. Harden off the seedlings 2 weeks before planting the seedlings in the ground. For example, place it on the balcony every day, increasing the hardening time. First it will be 1 hour, then 1.5 and so on. Hardening creates immunity in tomatoes to sudden weather changes. This is especially true for gardeners who grow Princess in open ground.
4. Fertilizers . The first fertilizing is applied after 15 days. To do this, use liquid chicken manure or a solution based on garlic and onion peels. In the future, fertilizers are applied at intervals of 15-20 days. In addition to organic matter, do not forget about mineral nutrition in the form of nitrogen-containing substances.

Important ! At the seedling stage, it is important to create favorable conditions for tomatoes to develop. Use growth stimulants: “Silk”, “Epin-extra”, “Zircon”. These drugs will give the Princess the necessary amount of potassium and phosphorus, develop immunity to diseases, and increase productivity.

Best reviews from our readers

• This is the first year I’ve been growing them, the fruits are good, 5-6 pieces per cluster, fleshy, the skin is not rough, they set very quickly, the bushes are tall, the leaves are prone to curling, they were the first to get brown spot, they didn’t like the taste, there are varieties that are much tastier, ordinary tomatoes, nothing remarkable. If anyone is interested in yield, take it, but if anyone is looking for taste, then these are not the tomatoes for you.
• I liked it very much and will plant it again. I want to try this year and plant it in the OG.
• I bought the seeds by chance, I liked the photo. The variety is very productive, I grew it with 2 stems, no photo, but the fruits are beautiful and stored for a long time. I have released my seeds and will definitely plant them in 2022.
• I have been growing tomatoes for a very long time, I have tested about 180 varieties. Every year I buy 2-3 new varieties. Princess - opening in 2013. In the greenhouse, the height of the plant, as stated, is 1.45-1.6 m. The fruits are elongated, red, fleshy. A variety of extended fruiting, productive.
• The taste is excellent. Both fruits and tops are tender. Sweet, meaty. Not many seeds. The height corresponds to the declared one. The color of the fruit is not red, but crimson. Productivity is average (in 2016 in greenhouses in our region it was worse than in open ground). I will continue to grow it. I didn't take pictures. But the shape of the fruit and bush is justified (except for color)

The juicy shade and elongated borders of ripe tomato fruits make the neat bushes a stand-out masterpiece of gardening art. The Princess tomato, well known among summer residents, is a universal variety, the fruits of which easily lend themselves to any culinary manipulation.

Fleshy tomatoes, shaped like neat ovals, are used by housewives as future preserves, for decorating the main dish, as one of the main elements of a dietary snack, and as a raw material for aromatic juice.

How to grow tomatoes

The Princess is unpretentious in care; even a novice gardener can reap a good harvest.

Landing

The morning or evening of a cloudy and windless day is perfect for planting. Plant the bushes at a distance of 50 cm from each other. Immediately near each bush, place a wooden peg for the future garter. Place the seedlings in the ground carefully, without harming the still fragile stem. After all the seedlings are in the beds, water them generously with warm water.

Care

Caring for the Princess variety is as follows:

1. Watering mode. Water the bushes every 7-10 days. If the summer is rainy, reduce the amount of water; if it is hot and dry, on the contrary, increase it. It is better to water the tomatoes in the morning or evening, when the sun is not very hot - this will prevent sunburn. Plus, it is recommended to avoid getting moisture on the bushes, since bacteria and microbes develop especially actively in conditions of high humidity.
2. Loosening the earth . Loosen the soil every 10-12 days, this rule is especially important when applying fertilizers. The procedure saturates the soil with oxygen and makes it more airy.
3. Removing weeds . Extraneous grass especially likes to appear after rains. Weeds feed on tomatoes, which is why the latter lack the strength to develop. Remove weeds with bare hands or gloves as they grow.
4. Gartering of bushes is required when the first tomatoes form on the clusters. For the garter, in addition to wooden stakes, you will need twine. When tying up bushes, be sure that the twine does not injure the stem. Also, never tie the twine around the stem more than once.
5. Plant tomatoes every 7 days. Plants form additional shoots (stepchildren), which take some of the nutrients from the tomatoes. When removing them, it is important not to damage the stem. If the shoots are still small, use scissors.
6. Fertilizers for tomatoes. Wood ash, milk, eggshells, liquid mullein, and aloe juice are suitable organic fertilizers. Among the chemicals – “Fundazol”, “Kornevin”, “Rival”. To achieve the best effect, gardeners recommend alternating fertilizing.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Before planting a crop, pay special attention to disinfecting the soil. In the fall, collect all the garbage and plants and burn them. Dig up the beds and place a “blanket” of hay on them. In the spring, 2 weeks before planting, water the soil with a manganese solution. If you plan to plant tomatoes in a greenhouse, treat the structure with the solution: walls, doors, windows, and so on.

Also, do not forget about foliar feeding. We are talking about spraying bushes for preventive purposes. For example, Bordeaux solution, consisting of water, lime and copper sulfate, is recognized as an effective remedy against pests. Spraying with the product is carried out three times per season. The strong effect of the drug normalizes metabolism and helps avoid infections. Before working with the solution, be sure to prepare gloves, protective clothing and goggles.

Diseases and pests

Princess tomatoes may develop blackleg or root rot. The infection penetrates deep underground and destroys the roots, slowly “eating” them. As a result, the bushes do not receive nutrition from the soil and die. For prevention purposes, use a solution based on milk or whey. Such sprays are safe for both plants and humans.

Other enemies of roots are wireworms and mole crickets. Pests also penetrate deep underground and destroy roots. The leaves fade, turn yellow or white, and the development of tomatoes slows down. For prevention purposes, use eggshells. Just scatter it on the garden bed, and the tomatoes will be under reliable protection.

Important ! The Princess variety has high immunity to common fungal diseases - late blight and septoria. This is one of the main advantages of tomato.

Tomato

Home comfort April 6, 2017

Tomato is everyone's favorite vegetable. It contains useful substances necessary for the body and has a pleasant taste. This culture has many varieties, one of which is the “Lentyayka” variety. Read about the cultivation, advantages and disadvantages of this variety in the article.

Tomato "Lazy": description of the variety

The tomato belongs to the Solanaceae family and is the closest relative of the potato. This variety was bred by Siberian breeders and is rightfully considered a people's favorite. Tomato “Lentyayka” is an early, productive variety with low bushes and large fruits that ripen 95–100 days after planting. It is grown both in open ground and under film cover.

The pinching continues until the first brush appears. A tomato of this variety has an interesting feature - the formation of a large number of fruits occurs on numerous lateral stepsons.

The vegetable has a high yield. From one bush you can collect up to four kilograms of large, tasty, bright red fruits weighing up to three hundred grams.

The tomato has a round, smooth, heart-shaped shape and tender, sugary pulp.

Advantages and disadvantages of "Lazy" tomatoes

Tomato "Lazy" is endowed with the following advantages:

• High yield.
• Active fruiting.
• Beautiful appearance.
• Long shelf life.
• Wide range of uses.
• Strong immunity.
• High frost resistance.

The Lazy Man tomato is not without its drawbacks. Here are some of them:

• Plants cannot tolerate extreme heat.
• They need strong support.
• Demanding on soil composition.

Video on the topic

Growing tomatoes in seedlings

Some summer residents who devote a lot of time to growing vegetables prefer this method. They grow seedlings for their own beds.

Before planting seedlings, stakes are driven into the ground at a distance of one meter from each other, and a rope is pulled along which holes are dug.

Seedlings are planted in them, which must be tied to a rope stretched between the stakes.

The lower leaves of the seedlings are removed, leaving only the upper ones (several pieces). Then the cup with the seedlings is turned over, the plant is removed from it along with the soil and transferred to the hole. After this, it is sprinkled with earth and watered abundantly so that the soil is compacted.

Immediately after planting, the ground around the plant trunk is mulched with leaves, manure or sawdust. This will save the owner from loosening the soil and weeding. The layer should not be large, ten centimeters thick is enough. Thanks to mulch, the root system does not overheat and does not dry out. The mulch will begin to rot over time, while simultaneously saturating the soil with nutrients.

Growing tomatoes without seedlings

Many summer residents prefer to have Lazyka tomatoes on their plot. Growing vegetables in seedlings is not always included in the plans of the owners, as it takes a lot of time. What to do if you want to grow a Lazy Tomato, which has the most positive reviews? There is a way out - plant tomatoes directly in the ground.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

When growing in open ground, the best place for planting is eggplant or cucumber beds. Do not plant tomatoes after potatoes and peppers. For the Princess, select the brightest and most spacious place in the garden. Avoid being near the above-mentioned potatoes. The best neighbors for tomatoes are legumes. In addition, gardeners advise planting basil or marigolds next to vegetables. It has been established that they improve the taste of tomatoes.

If tomatoes are planted in a greenhouse, do not forget to ventilate it regularly. The fact is that the structure is characterized by high humidity and high air temperature, which negatively affects the development of tomatoes . Ventilation is provided through vents and open doors.

Important ! Use a drip irrigation system both in the greenhouse and in the open ground. It directs water directly to the roots, bypassing the stems and leaves. Root fertilizers and top dressing are also applied using a drip system.

Characteristic

"Princess" belongs to the hybrid varieties. The bushes are of an indeterminate type; in the garden they grow up to 1.6 meters, in the greenhouse it is higher. The ripening period is medium-late, tomatoes ripen 100-110 days after seedlings appear. With proper care, you can harvest up to 14 kilograms of tomatoes from one square meter.

The bushes are medium leafy, the foliage is large, dark green. The inflorescence is simple. Tomatoes have a cylindrical shape, unripe fruits are green, there is a spot near the stalk that disappears when ripe, ripe tomatoes are colored red. The weight of one tomato can be from 150 to 280 grams. The skin is smooth, dense, the flesh is tender, and the taste is sweetish.

The fruits of this variety have a wide variety of uses: they can be used for salads, added to various culinary dishes, and also preserved in the form of ketchup, dressings, juice and salads. You can also freeze it and add it to pizza, stews or tomato soups during the cold winter months. Transportation over short distances is possible, shelf life is average.

Advantages

• The tomatoes have excellent presentation.
• Rich taste.
• Versatile.
• Possibility of cultivation throughout the country.
• Resistant to low temperatures and diseases.
• Drought resistance.

Flaws

• Garter to the support and removal of stepsons.
• Since “Princess” belongs to the hybrid varieties, new seeds must be purchased every year; collected seeds are not suitable for sowing.

Harvesting and application

The Princess is harvested immediately after the first ripe tomatoes appear. You can tell when vegetables are ready to harvest by their characteristic rich red color. Tomatoes are collected so as not to damage the stalk. Over-ripening of tomatoes is undesirable, otherwise it will have a bad effect on the overall yield.

Tomato is rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals. Positively affects the nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, tomato is a natural antioxidant.

Tomatoes are used in the preparation of many dishes: pasta, tomato juice, vegetable stew, pizza. Vegetables go well with other foods - meat, poultry or fish.

Basic growing rules

Professional summer residents who have already grown and managed to verify the quality of the taste capabilities of ripe fruits note that it is advisable to sow smooth seeds 3 months before planting in open soil.

The plant loves space; thin sprouts should be planted at a noticeable distance from each other. It is allowed to place up to 4 plants on one square meter; this is the only way the bushes will reach their maximum growth, and the rich fruits will densely fill the thin branches.

Tomatoes of the Princess variety are watered with warm water, the liquid is diluted with growth stimulants and an arsenal of effective fertilizers. The procedure for moistening the soil takes place 1-2 times every seven days.

Reviews from gardeners

Summer residents say different things about the Princess variety:

Valentina, Stavropol: “The quality corresponds to the stated characteristics. There are few seeds, the pulp is juicy and sugary. The yield is average, the taste is delicate. I will grow more."

Alla, Penza: “I planted the varieties for the first time 3 years ago. In the greenhouse, the bushes have grown to 1.7 m. The fruiting period is extended, the yield is high. I use it for winter preparations or pickling.”

Nikita, Moscow region: “The Knyagina variety is tasty, but I was not satisfied with the yield. The tomatoes took a long time to set, the fruits were watery. I doubt that I will plant the Princess variety again.”

Opinions of experienced summer residents. Is the Princess worth the money?

Studying the various reviews that are full of websites and forums, as well as the bright pages of authoritative publications writing about the secrets of the dacha business, it is easy to get confused in the opinions, arguments for and against the royal variety of the Princess tomato.

Reviews from experienced summer residents will help you decide whether to buy seeds of the Princess variety and whether to expect juicy tomato fruits. Some opinions on which you can formulate your own expectations of possible results are provided below:

1. I have never planted hybrid tomatoes, I thought that it was just too expensive chemicals that would not lead to anything good. “Princess” was a gift from my grandchildren, I was surprised by the results! The fruits are red, juicy, fleshy, eating them is a pleasure! I recommend it to everyone!
2. For me, Princess is the best hybrid! I have transplanted countless tomatoes in my life, but I have never seen such results before. There are a lot of fruits, all large and juicy. My wife does so many wonders with them, we gorge ourselves on the whole family!
3. The Princess planted tomatoes a couple of years ago, the harvest was not impressive, the tomatoes were small and somewhat gray, with no taste. I recently decided to try growing the seeds again in a greenhouse, trying not to repeat past mistakes. The princess has grown as big as she can, tall and slender, and the fruits are a fairy tale! I made juices for 10 years in advance, very good.

What does the "chemical" detail of the name mean?

The mysterious element of the name often frightens inexperienced gardeners who have not had time to understand the scientific component of the variety’s characteristics. One of the letters of the Latin alphabet and a number are often found on seed packaging; F1 is a sign of the hybridity of the variety.

The letter F came into the names of numerous varieties from the Italian language; it is with it that the word “Filli” begins, translated as “children”. The numeral in this case is interpreted as “first generation”.

A short note on the packaging indicates that the unique variety was born through the process of crossing two different subspecies of the plant. Such seeds have a number of advantages, including:

1. Resistance to dangerous diseases and prolonged absence of water.
2. Incredible endurance, which allows emerald bushes not to succumb to the attacks of parasites.
3. The fruits are juicy and large, because hybrids embody a successful mixture of the best characteristics received from the parents.
4. In addition, the plant will bear fruit under any circumstances, even if the weather conditions are shockingly unsuitable for growing tomato varieties.

The disadvantages of hybrid tomatoes are not so numerous, among them:

• the cost is higher than that of ordinary seeds;
• it is impossible to obtain hybrid seeds from already ripened fruits; the results of growing such tomatoes can be disastrous;
• It is possible to cross different subspecies of tomato only in the laboratory; summer residents cannot cope with the complexity of the heterosis procedure.

When buying such seeds, you should rely on the integrity of the manufacturer. Often, under the guise of elite F1s, classic subspecies that do not have the enviable characteristics of hybrids are sold.