Universal-to-use and easy-to-care miniature tomatoes “Honey Fingers”: growing wisely

Vegetable growing » Tomatoes

0

1809

Article rating

Kira Stoletova

Gardeners, especially vegetable growers, are often looking for new, interesting varieties to add to their collections. Tomato lovers are attracted to large-fruited hybrids, the fruits of which can be prepared according to various recipes. But there are also plot owners who prefer small-fruited tomato varieties. An interesting hybrid in this regard will be the tomato Honey Fingers f1, which can be seen in numerous photos.

Tomato variety Honey Fingers f1

Tomatoes of this variety are distinguished by unusually high fruiting. We learned about the Honey Fingers tomato variety relatively recently. This new, very young species was created by Russian scientists. After field testing, it was entered into the State Register. This happened in 2010.

Description of the variety

The variety is small-fruited and is grown both in open ground and in greenhouses. Honey fingers is a hybrid, resulting from the merger of other tomato varieties. As befits a hybrid, it has high immunity to diseases and insect pests.

Distinctive features

The bushes are indeterminate, that is, they are not limited in growth. The height of the bush is about 1.5 m. They are easy to care for, but require regular staking and pinching. Otherwise, the stems will break due to the many ripe tomatoes. Honey fingers are a mid-season variety; summer residents harvest approximately 100 days from planting.

Fruit characteristics and yield

The fruits have an elongated round shape, the average weight of one varies from 50 to 80 g. The color is attractive, yellow-orange. The pulp is juicy, tasty, honey-pink in color. The skin is medium thick, smooth.

Honey fingers are a high-yielding variety ; per season, gardeners consistently receive about 14 kg of vegetables per 1 sq.m.

Characteristics of tomato Honey fingers

Honey fingers are a mid-season hybrid: the fruits are formed in less than 4 months from the moment the seeds are planted. By this time they reach the stage of technical ripeness. It is not necessary to pick the fruits from the bush - they will have time to ripen on the branch. Fruiting is extended over time, lasting from July to the end of August.

Tomato productivity Honey fingers and fruiting

The hybrid is very productive - up to 4-5 kg ​​of fruit can be collected from 1 bush. Some sources give an indicator of 12-14 kg per plant. However, this value is valid in terms of 1 m2.

*It is recommended to plant 3 Honey Fingers tomato bushes per 1 m2, or 4 plants for denser planting.

Maximum yield can be achieved by cultivating tomatoes in a greenhouse, as well as by following certain growing rules:

1. Regular but moderate watering.
2. Application of complex fertilizing.
3. Forming a bush into 2 stems, pinching.
4. Tying to a support.
5. Preventive treatment for diseases.

To obtain the greatest yield, Honey Fingers tomatoes are recommended to be grown in a greenhouse

Area of ​​application of fruits

Tomatoes are mainly suitable for salads, sandwiches, slicing and preparing various preparations:

• soups;
• vegetable caviar;
• lecho;
• whole-fruit canning (salting, pickling).

The only limitation is that the fruits are not suitable for making tomato juice. They are small in size, so the yield of the final product will be small.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The immunity of this hybrid is quite good - it is resistant to most Solanaceae diseases. However, plants may suffer from phomosis, and the risk of the spread of other diseases cannot be ruled out. Therefore, it is important to follow preventive measures:

1. Treat the seedlings with a fungicide a few days before transplanting.
2. Ventilate the greenhouse.
3. Do not over-wet the soil.
4. Destroy insects with insecticides and folk remedies at their first appearance.
5. Weed the soil regularly.
6. Do not plant tomatoes in the same place for several years in a row.

How to grow seedlings

Experienced gardeners prepare seedlings 55-60 days before planting in the ground. To prepare high-quality seedlings that are resistant to external factors, follow a number of simple but important rules.

Seed preparation

Purchase hybrid seeds only from trusted sellers, carefully read the recommendations and tips on growing.
To begin with, the seeds are disinfected using the drug “Maxim” or “Fitosporin”. The material is placed in liquid for several hours, during which time the product kills dangerous bacteria on the surface of the seeds. After this, the material is checked for germination: seeds are poured into a jar of water and stirred clockwise. Those seeds that have sunk to the bottom are suitable for seedlings. The remaining copies are thrown away.

Next, the seeds are germinated. This is necessary so that when planting in the ground, young and not yet strong seedlings do not freeze. For germination, use a damp bandage or cotton pad in which the seeds are wrapped. For the fastest growth, use the growth stimulator "Kornevin". It has a beneficial effect on the development of the root system and improves the plant’s immunity.

Container and soil

For seedlings they use: wooden boxes, flower pots, peat tablets and even cardboard milk cartons. The main thing is to thoroughly wash and dry the container before planting. Containers must have drainage holes. It is better to store containers on special pallets on the windowsill.

Ready-made soil or soil from the garden is used as soil. In the second case, this is the composition of earth, peat, wood ash and sawdust (in a ratio of 4:1:1:1). This mixture must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate or boric acid. The ideal soil for seedlings should be loose and nutritious, with the required level of acidity.

Sowing

Pour the prepared soil into a clean container and lightly compact it. Small holes are made at a distance of 10-15 cm from each other and seeds are placed in them. Sprinkle the top with soil and water generously with settled water at room temperature. Store seedlings in the warmest and brightest place in the house.

Attention! Keep seedlings away from small children or pets.

Growing and care

To ensure that the seedlings do not die or grow prematurely, but develop gradually and correctly, gardeners follow a few simple rules when growing them:

• water every 5 days with warm filtered water;
• never use cold tap water;
• 10 days after planting, organize the first organic feeding;
• mineral complexes are added every 2 weeks;
• use growth stimulator “Zircon”;
• maintain an air temperature of at least 22 degrees;
• organize daylight hours of at least 9 hours for seedlings;
• 2 weeks before planting, seedlings are hardened, for example, taken out to the balcony every day for a couple of hours.

Growing seedlings

They prefer growing Honey Fingers tomatoes in seedlings. This allows the crop to become stronger and develop a viable root system before being transferred to a permanent location, which will allow it to quickly adapt to new conditions. The time for sowing seeds is early or mid-April.

The soil for seedlings must be fertile, crumbly, and disinfected. Garden soil, ash, humus, peat, sand or fine sawdust and complex fertilizers are added to it. It is not necessary to disinfect seeds before sowing: producers carry out a complex of their treatment in advance.

Sometimes the growth of planting material is additionally stimulated by soaking it in “Kornevin”, water with aloe juice, etc.

The seeds are placed in common containers or separate pots to a depth of 1.5-2 cm, carefully sprinkled with soil, and sprayed with warm water from a spray bottle. The boxes are covered with transparent polyethylene and sent to a warm but dark place until the sprouts appear.

Having noticed the first shoots, remove the cover from the container and transfer it to a well-lit place with a stable temperature (18-20 °C). Exceeding the norm of the thermal regime threatens to stretch the seedlings, and their hypothermia can provoke the occurrence of diseases and death of seedlings.

How to grow tomatoes

Hybrid Honey Fingers shows high yield on sandy loam nutrient soils. To make tomatoes tasty, much attention is paid to the planting site.

Landing

In the fall, the beds are dug up and all the garbage is burned. It is best to plant tomatoes after cabbage and legumes; it is not recommended to use beds of cucumbers or potatoes. In the spring, before planting, the soil is dug up again, a layer of straw is laid out, or humus is added. Planting begins on a windless, cloudy morning: furrows are made in the bed, the distance between which is 40-50 cm.

Since the variety needs gartering, a wooden peg is installed near each hole. Place 1-2 seeds in each hole, cover with soil and moisten.

Care

To water 1 bush, use 1-2 liters of water. The amount of watering depends on weather conditions. In dry and hot summers, tomato beds are watered every 5-7 days, in cool and rainy summers, every 10 days.

It is important that the water gets directly under the root, and not on the stem and leaves, otherwise the risk of developing fungal diseases and viral infections increases.

Periodically, the bushes are watered not with water, but with a solution of nettle or onion peel. These folk remedies protect Honey Fingers from pests and improve the taste of tomatoes.

Important! Traditionally, before watering, the beds are loosened to improve oxygen access to the roots and make the soil more nutritious. Along with loosening, weeds are removed that interfere with the healthy development of Honey Fingers.

A mandatory stage of care is mineral and organic fertilizing. The hybrid develops well if it is fertilized with liquid manure, ash, yeast, and the Zdraven preparation once every 2-3 weeks. Nitrogen-containing fertilizers especially have a positive effect on the variety, without which it is impossible to obtain a rich harvest.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Since honey finger bushes are not limited in growth, they are tied to supports. Most often these are the wooden stakes mentioned above, to which the stems are tied using strips of fabric.

The main thing is not to tie the fabric in a knot, otherwise the fragile stems may break. Thanks to tying, all the nutrients that the plant receives from fertilizing go to the development of tomatoes, and not to the growth of the stem.

Every 2 weeks, tomatoes are pruned, that is, excess shoots are removed from the bushes. Experienced gardeners recommend doing this with gloves, as tomatoes have caustic greens that stain your hands and have a negative effect on the skin. Too long shoots are removed using small scissors.

Diseases and pests

Even strong hybrids that are resistant to negative factors are occasionally attacked by insect pests.
Many gardeners notice in beds with Honey Fingers huge numbers of whiteflies that gather on the inside of the leaf and suck the juice from the plant. As a preventive measure, spraying with a soap solution, which includes 100 g of grated soap and 10 liters of warm water, is used. The procedure is carried out once a week.

Sometimes Honey Fingers suffer from root rot, which appears due to excessive humidity and an excess of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. Root rot destroys the roots, which soon causes the bush and fruit to die.

To prevent rot, summer residents treat the beds with ash and a solution of potassium permanganate.

Important! Late blight is recognized as the most common disease of tomatoes. Appears as brown spots. This is a dangerous fungus that can destroy the entire crop. To avoid it, follow planting rules and disinfect seeds and soil in a timely manner. If the tomato is already sick, then the infected bushes are eliminated, and the remaining ones are sprayed with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

When growing in a greenhouse, gardeners regularly ventilate the structure. The fact is that the greenhouse climate is specific. There is increased humidity, which can become fertile ground for the development of dangerous microbes. Ventilate the shelter using special vents. Particular attention is paid to the microclimate in hot summers.

When growing Honey Fingers in open ground, it is important to give the plant all the necessary vitamins and microelements in a timely manner. If this is not done, the leaves will take on a limp appearance and begin to curl. After some time, the fruits will lose their elasticity and taste. Ash, potassium magnesium, and ammonium nitrate are used as mineral fertilizers.

Varietal characteristics

The most sought-after characteristics of Honey Fingers are productivity, disease resistance and low maintenance. The variety has a very attractive quality - extended fruiting. The first harvest of ripe tomatoes is ready for harvest 95 days after planting. Then the fruits ripen gradually.

Important! Don't wait until the whole brush is ripe.

Tomatoes should be harvested as they ripen. Otherwise, the top ones will become overripe and lose their taste and elasticity. According to the description, the Honey Fingers tomato is very productive, as in the photo:

Vegetable growers harvest up to 14 kg from one bush during the season when grown in greenhouses. In open ground the yield is lower - about 5 kg per bush. The decrease in the indicator depends on the period of fruiting and growing conditions. In a heated greenhouse, tomatoes bear fruit much longer. It is also important to provide the variety with sufficient lighting.

The variety is rarely affected by major crop diseases. Diseases from which the plant needs to be protected are phomosis and dry spotting.

Honey fingers are very demanding in terms of lighting and heat. Therefore, they can be grown in open ground in the southern regions. The conditions of the middle zone, as well as the northern regions, are not suitable for such cultivation. Vegetable growers need to equip greenhouse areas and supports for tying.

Pros and cons of the variety

The hybrid is quite young. But many vegetable growers have already managed to grow the variety and share their impressions. Among the advantages of small-fruited tomatoes are:

1. High stable yield.
2. Duration of fruiting.
3. Resistance to crop diseases.
4. Excellent fruit taste.
5. Ability to withstand transportation well.
6. Keeping quality, possibility of long-term storage.
7. Versatility of use.

The disadvantages of the tomato Fingers Honey vegetable growers consider:

1. Mandatory stepsoning and shaping.
2. Inability to use collected seeds.

At the same time, everyone who grew the variety on the plot noted the high responsiveness of the tomato to improving the agricultural background. If you follow the recommendations of the originator, then the Honey Fingers fruits fully correspond to the description.

Harvesting and application

Vegetables are collected as they ripen. As soon as the crop begins to produce its first results, the fruits are picked every 3-5 days. For long-term storage, the Honey Fingers variety is picked at the ripe stage, when they just begin to acquire a yellowish tint. The fruits are not washed with water, but simply wiped with a dry cloth and stored in a cool, dry place.

The Honey Fingers variety makes delicious side dishes, fresh and pickled salads, cold savory appetizers, and sandwiches. The sweet and juicy taste goes harmoniously with meat and fish, vegetables and spices. Plus, tomatoes are delicious fresh.

Interesting! Due to their small size, tomatoes are ideal for whole-fruit canning and pickling. Beautiful yellow tomatoes look delicious in a jar. Unusual recipes are especially popular, such as winter preparations from tomatoes, apples and cucumbers. Pickles will not only decorate the dinner table in winter, but will also give the body much needed and healthy vitamins.

Characteristics of the variety

The beloved tomato variety Honey Fingers is indeterminate.

This means that his height will constantly increase, reaching the height of a man or even higher. Such plants can live for more than a year, producing a harvest of a huge number of clusters. But this means that it is advisable to grow these varieties in heated greenhouses.

From the moment of planting, little time passes before the fruit begins to color. This period is, on average, three months, as the variety is classified as mid-season. The yield of each bush can be about 14 kg per season. Tomato fruits are real Honey Fingers: orange, elongated, neat with a small nose.

Bushes

Features of the variety bushes:

• plant height up to 1.8 meters;
• fruit weight is about 80 grams;
• period until the first colored tomatoes - 95 days;
• The yield of the bush is high.

It is recommended to grow the Honey Fingers tomato in the central part of the country in greenhouses. In the southern regions, it is cultivated not only in closed soils, but also in the field: in vegetable gardens. But when planted outdoors, the height of the bush will be smaller and the stems of the plant will be more resilient. Clean air and bright sun, together with sufficient humidity, will make it possible to obtain tomatoes of excellent quality.

When planting the Honey Fingers variety, you need to remember that only with proper care will it confirm its description.

And its characteristics will correspond to the State Register. Standard, tall bushes are very decorative in any period of growth. It is like a small forest that completely hides a tired traveler. On the stems of the bush, brushes with 5 to 10 tomatoes are alternately located.

Beautiful clusters of fruits hide the mother stem underneath. Reviews from gardeners about the Honey Fingers tomato are the most enthusiastic, despite its young age.

When the time comes for ripening, the f1 tomato simply burns in the sun with its bright fruits. They are honey-colored, with a hint of pink. A fully ripe tomato is decorated with orange stripes. The shape of the fruit is elongated, sufficient for them to be called fingers. Each tomato is decorated with a small nose, which is easy to see in the photo. Tomatoes of the second wave of ripening are slightly smaller and weigh around 60 grams. A cross section reveals two or three seed chambers.

Taste qualities of the fruit

In terms of taste, the Honey Fingers tomato occupies a high level, close to ideal. The fruit variety has a sweet taste, unusual for tomatoes. Honey notes, with a fruity aroma, attract children. Some kids call them finger-licking sweets.

Salads decorated with tomato slices like flowers are especially bright and colorful. Winter preparations also look original. When the Honey Fingers tomato is combined with other varieties and herbs and seasonings are added, it is impossible to take your eyes off them. The result is an elegant assortment that is even a pity to eat.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the advantages of the Honey Fingers variety, gardeners note its appetizing appearance and long shelf life. Tomatoes are universal in use and show consistently high yields. The variety is immune to common crop diseases and is rarely exposed to insect pests.

The negative aspects include the need to tie up and trim bushes. This takes a lot of time and effort, especially if summer residents are faced with such procedures for the first time.

Varieties of the variety and their description

Feodosius Tarasenko developed his own agricultural technology for growing tomatoes, which promotes long-term fruiting and increased productivity. Varieties bred in Ukraine are taking root and delighting gardeners in Karelia, gardeners in Siberia, and farmers in the southern regions of Russia with a tomato harvest.

Hybrid Tarasenko 1

The first representative of the series, created by an amateur vegetable grower, is distinguished by its early ripening. Tomato bushes with strong roots grow up to 2 m in height. Ribbed cream has a rich classic color, one tomato weighs about 75 g, and larger specimens are also found. The variety was bred for planting in a greenhouse, where it produces high yields, but cannot withstand temperature fluctuations and is demanding on lighting.

Hybrid Tarasenko 2

Many summer residents, having planted this tomato for testing, every year buy its seeds at the kiosks for sowing, despite the fact that the bushes need to be tied up like a vine and stepsoned. One bunch of plants produces up to 4 dozen tomatoes, which is more than 2 kg. The fruits are valued:

• for excellent taste;
• delicate aroma;
• original form;
• excellent keeping quality.

Round tomatoes have smooth skin, a cute nose, and canned whole, since they weigh no more than 70 grams. After heat treatment, tomatoes do not burst and can hang on the branches for a long time without spoiling at all.

Hybrid Tarasenko 3

When properly formed, the tomato, whose height approaches one and a half meters, surprises with huge clusters with a large number of fruits weighing about 200 g, ripening in the middle period. Tomatoes have an interesting cube shape, a dense consistency, and there are no voids in the pulp. The fruits are fermented in barrels, sealed in jars, and used to make juice. Even after heat treatment they are cut into even slices. The variety is immune to fungal infections and is not affected by viruses.

Hybrid Tarasenko 5

In creating this mid-season tomato, Feodosius Makarovich used the Raketa variety, known at that time. On powerful bushes about 2.5 m high, tomatoes of a beautiful oblong shape are tied in clusters. The fruits, which weigh about 100 g, are harvested 108 days after planting in the ground.

Characteristics of the hybrid tomato variety Rosemary and agricultural cultivation techniques

Read

Hybrid Tarasenko 6

The mid-early variety is valued for its resistance to fungal and bacterial infections and drought; in the southern regions it is grown without seedlings. Strong tomato bushes are slightly taller than a meter, but this is not an obstacle to excellent productivity. Bright red tomatoes weigh more than 300 g, have a round shape, are stored for a long time, and are not damaged during transportation.

Hybrid Tarasenko 6

A tomato of a determinate variety does not stretch upward, but grows as a bush, which still has to be tied up, since about 1 kg of fruit ripens on one bunch. Gardeners value them for their real tomato taste. The tomato does not suffer from diseases, tolerates unfavorable conditions, a large number of ovaries appear even in dry and hot weather. It is interesting that on one plant fruits ripen of approximately the same weight, about 100 g, but of different colors and shapes. Both pink and red tomatoes, elongated and round, are picked from the bush.

Tarasenko Yubileiny

Feodosius Makarovich began creating vegetable crops when he was already over 40. For his 75th birthday, the amateur developed a unique tomato, the powerful root of which grows not in depth, but in width. The weakly leafy branches of the bush stretch up to 3 meters. The main stem produces 5 racemes with a large number of flowers. Such a bunch of fruit weighs up to 5 kg. Large heart-shaped tomatoes are valued for their juicy, sweet pulp and resistance to cracking. They ripen unevenly, ripen well indoors, and are stored for a long time.

Farmer reviews

Yellow Tomatoes Honey Fingers have won the attention of gardeners across the country.
However, some summer residents expected more from the harvest and were left disappointed. Let's take a closer look at what exactly they say about the Honey Fingers variety. Maxim, Nizhny Novgorod: “In my opinion, the Honey Fingers hybrid is one of the most delicious varieties. The pulp literally melts in your mouth and tastes pleasant and sweet. I’ve been planting this variety for a long time and recommend it to everyone.”

Anna, Ufa: “This variety is real honey! All I can say about the Honey Fingers tomato variety is that it is a first-class and tasty vegetable. There are never any problems with growing, everything is simple and easy. The tomatoes ripen at the same time and are stored for a long time.”

Alexey, Kirov: “I’ve heard a lot about the Honey Fingers tomatoes. I decided to plant it last year, but I didn’t get the expected effect. The bushes turned out to be very leafy, but the fruits themselves developed poorly. The harvested crop did not have the promised sweet taste and aroma. I will try to grow other varieties.”

Diseases and pests

The “Honey Fingers” tomato variety, although quite resistant to many diseases, can still be subject to Phoma. To get rid of this unpleasant phenomenon, the affected fruits must be removed, and the branches of the plant must be treated with the drug “Hom”. You should also reduce the amount of fertilizers that contain nitrogen and temporarily reduce watering.

Dry spot is another disease that can affect these tomatoes. The drugs Antrakol, Consento and Tattu are most often used against it. Of the harmful insects, it can be affected by rusty mites. The drug “Zubr” is often used against it.

If the plant is in a greenhouse, then the invasion of greenhouse whitefly is most likely; the drug “Confidor” is used against it.