The advantage of small-fruited tomatoes, in addition to their higher nutritional value, is that they create a holiday around themselves. The plant with its filling and ripening fruits stands beautifully; children will certainly choose cherry tomatoes on the table and in the garden bed - they can be eaten whole. Fresh or canned, they decorate both everyday and holiday dinners, turning out to be a delicate appetizer along with gherkins.
Recently, growing small-fruited varieties of tomatoes, which are widely used both in creating festive and everyday dishes and in canning these vegetables, has become incredibly popular among summer residents. Everyone knows the small size of small-fruited tomatoes (like cherry tomatoes), with their unique taste and aroma, attractive appearance, elastic, dense skin, resistant to transportation and allowing long-term storage.
But the main selection of small-fruited tomatoes was carried out in the West in several directions: for small-fruited and short-growing bushes and for small-fruited and tall-grown bushes. The first direction of selection was aimed at placing as many plants as possible on one square meter, so that, accordingly, the yield per unit area would be the same as that of large-fruited tomatoes.
Which greenhouse to choose
Greenhouses differ:
- to size;
- according to the shape of the roof;
- by frame material (aluminum; wood, steel)
- by coating material (glass, polyethylene, polycarbonate);
- by the presence or absence of an automated system for opening/closing windows and doors.
The most durable and easy to maintain are greenhouses made of polycarbonate and aluminum frames. Aluminum is lightweight and rust resistant. Polycarbonate transmits sunlight well and has high strength.
Glass transmits light better, but this material is more fragile. Polyethylene is the cheapest material, but its service life is limited to a maximum of 3 years; it transmits sunlight less well.
Eagle Heart
Large heart-shaped tomatoes have long taken pride of place on the plots of many tomato growers. Take, for example, Ox's heart: the fruits are fleshy, sweet, with delicate skin. However, every year more and more heart-shaped tomatoes appear, which are not inferior to Ox Heart in taste, but surpass this variety in yield: Ox Heart, Bison Heart, Heart of Ashgabat, Eagle Heart...
Eagle Heart is a determinate variety with a medium ripening period. The fruits are large, weighing from 200 to 800 g. The color of ripe fruits is raspberry, the pulp is sweet and juicy. There are few seeds, only 2-3 chambers. Despite the fact that the skin of these tomatoes is thin, they are stored well and can be ripened at home.
It is recommended to form the bushes into one stem and plant them according to the 50×60 pattern. The yield is up to 20 kg per 1 sq.m. The variety is moderately resistant to major tomato diseases and adverse weather conditions.
- From the garden with love: heart-shaped varieties of tomatoes with photos and descriptions
For those gardeners for whom it is important not only “tasty”, but also “beautiful”.
Preparing to grow tomatoes in a greenhouse
Tomato is a light-loving and heat-loving plant. You need to choose an open, well-lit place for the greenhouse. With insufficient light, tomatoes develop worse and produce less yield. In such a situation, you will have to plant the bushes further from each other, which reduces the capacity of the room, reduces the yield, and increases the cost of production.
To grow tomatoes all year round, the greenhouse must be equipped with a heating system: air, gas, electric or steam.
It would not be superfluous to provide an irrigation system in the greenhouse. The most popular now is the drip irrigation system. It can be ribbon or connected to each bush.
Ventilation in a greenhouse is needed to regulate temperature, humidity and improve pollination of plants. The irrigation and ventilation system can be automated by installing special sensors and controllers.
Tomatoes do best in loamy or clay soil. Peat, humus and sawdust are added to it in equal proportions.
It is preferable to change the soil every year. If this is not possible, then before each new season the soil is treated with a hot solution of copper sulfate. 100 grams of product per bucket of water.
Maintaining a stable temperature
Maintaining a stable temperature regime in the open ground does not depend on summer residents. Here it is better to grow hybrid tomatoes that are resistant to adverse external factors. In the greenhouse, it is advisable to avoid temperature drops below 12 °C and extreme heat above 35 °C. Otherwise, the plants will experience stress, which will lead to the formation of small fruits.
To protect against the cold, tomatoes are covered with film, non-woven material, and buckets of hot water or heated bricks are placed in the greenhouse. Extremely high temperatures can be reduced by ventilation, whitewashing walls, watering paths with cold water, and using a sunscreen.
Caring for tomatoes is not difficult, but it must be done regularly to meet the plants' needs for moisture and nutrients. It is also advisable to spray the bushes for preventive purposes with a solution of iodine, garlic, potassium permanganate, and tobacco dust. Plant health greatly affects the quality of the harvest.
Seed selection
When choosing varieties of tomato seeds and hybrids for a greenhouse, you should opt for disease-resistant, self-pollinating species with a growing season of up to 4 months.
Self-pollinating varieties and hybrids of tomatoes for a greenhouse are a guarantee of obtaining a harvest, because it is not always possible to place more insects for pollination indoors.
If the height of the structure allows, preference should be given to the seeds of tall tomatoes for the greenhouse in order to make maximum use of the space inside it.
To get a harvest in the shortest possible time, you must definitely choose early tomato seeds for the greenhouse. It is also worth planting mid-early varieties or hybrids in order to harvest in stages.
The best varieties of low-growing tomatoes for the greenhouse:
- Valentina;
- Banana legs;
- Oak;
- Aphrodite F1;
- Benito;
- Amur standard;
- Swamp.
The best tall tomato varieties for a polycarbonate greenhouse:
- Mystery of nature;
- Cho-chio-san;
- Evpator F1;
- Black icicle.
By choosing the best tomatoes for the greenhouse, you will ensure a large harvest in the future.
Growing seedlings
Tomato seedlings can be grown in a greenhouse or other suitable room with good lighting. To grow tomato seedlings, you need to make or buy a ready-made special soil mixture.
It should contain:
- peat - 1 part;
- turf soil - 1 part;
- humus - 1 part;
- river sand - 1 liter jar;
- ash - 1 tablespoon;
- superphosphate - 1 tablespoon.
Seeds are sown in February-March, in boxes or directly in separate pots. When sowing in boxes, the grooves are made at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other, the seeds are laid out in them at intervals of 1.5-2 cm.
Before sowing, if the seeds are not coated (without a special shell), they can be soaked for several hours in a solution of a growth stimulator. The spread seeds are sprinkled with soil and compacted.
The best temperature for seed germination is 22-24 degrees Celsius. While waiting for germination, it is necessary to ensure that the soil does not dry out. The top of the box can be covered with glass or polyethylene to reduce moisture evaporation. If you notice condensation on the glass, you should open the box slightly for ventilation, otherwise the seeds may rot.
After germination, the glass or polyethylene on top must be removed. If the seedlings were grown in a box, in the phase of 2-3 true leaves they should be picked into separate containers.
Tomato bushes should be well lit from all sides so that they do not stretch out. If there is a lack of natural light, special phytolamps will come to the rescue.
Seedlings are transplanted into closed ground in late April-early May. The soil temperature should be at least 13 degrees Celsius.
Effective preparations for the growth and development of tomatoes
You can feed the tomatoes so that they are large using ready-made products.
Ovary
A universal drug for stimulating flowering and fruit formation.
Tomaton
The product helps fruit set, prevents the ovaries from falling off, and increases productivity.
Potassium humate
Mineral-organic fertilizer improves immunity and promotes the development and growth of tomatoes.
Sudarushka
Complex fertilizer stimulates growth, prevents the ovaries from falling off, and makes the fruits large.
Vitalizer NV-10
Provides the plant with all necessary substances, activates the immune system, increases productivity.
Ready-made stimulants do not contain harmful chemicals. They contain microelements in the correct ratio. The products prevent leaves from falling. Thanks to stimulants, the number of ovaries increases, the fruits grow and ripen quickly. In addition, the drugs repel pests and prevent tomato diseases.
Growing in a greenhouse
Low-growing varieties of tomatoes are planted in protected soil at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other. A distance of 50-55 cm should be maintained between the rows.
It is recommended to form tall tomatoes into 2 stems. When planting, the distance between plants should be maintained at 50-60 cm, between rows - 75-80 cm.
Determinate and standard varieties are planted at a distance of 20 cm from each other, row spacing is left 45-50 cm wide.
The bushes in the holes should be oriented so that the inflorescences are directed towards the passage and the leaves do not shade them.
Pay attention to the photo of growing tomatoes in a greenhouse - this arrangement of plants is the most optimal for better development and greater yield.
The most delicious large-fruited varieties of low-growing fleshy tomatoes
Among the low-growing tomatoes there are a fairly large number of large-fruited varieties. I will tell you about those that pleased me with their large yields and wonderful taste.
Tomato Summer resident
An early ripening standard variety for open ground, ripens 96-105 days after germination. Very unpretentious, it has a stable harvest in both rainy and dry years.
Does not require pinching or tying. But due to the heaviness of the fruit, the stems may not be able to stand it and break or even fall completely to the ground. I usually tie it up for peace of mind. Fruiting is extended. The fruits are round with slightly pronounced ribbing near the stalk, red in color, weighing 80-130 grams. The variety is resistant to blossom end rot and fusarium. Designed for cultivation in risky farming areas.
Tomato Raspberry giant
Early tomato - the first fruits can be harvested 110 days after planting the seeds for seedlings. Determinate, widely spreading plant grows up to 90 cm in height and requires staking. The leaves of the plant are very similar to potato leaves.
Produces crimson, large, flattened fruits. Fruit weight is 500-600 grams, the first fruits are slightly smaller - about 200-400 grams, the pulp is juicy, sweet, sugary. The fruits are formed on clusters of 4-8 pieces. The variety is productive; up to 6 kg of fruit can be harvested from one bush. Resistant to major diseases. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and canning.
Tomato Fat Jack
A medium-early tomato variety with a short fruiting period - the crop ripens 100-115 days after the first shoots. The height of the bush is 40-60 cm, the plant is powerful but requires tying to a support, since it can collapse under the weight of the fruit.
The plant bears clusters on which there are 3-4 flat-round red fruits weighing up to 200-300 grams each. During the season, you can remove about 30 fruits from a bush. The main advantage of the variety is the rare combination of early ripening and large-fruited, unpretentiousness to growing conditions.
Tomato Yamal
The variety belongs to the early tomatoes of Siberian selection - the first fruits begin to ripen after 95 days. The most promising high-yielding variety for risky farming areas. The height of the bush is up to 50 cm. The leaves are large, dark green in color.
Has very high resistance to low temperatures. Even in very rainy summers it retains high fruit set. It is distinguished by the friendly yield of the harvest - a considerable part of it is harvested already in the first ten days. The fruits are red, weighing up to 180 grams. Inside the pulp is quite juicy and fleshy. The taste is excellent. This variety is universal, as it is very good in salads, it can be canned and processed into juice.
Tomato Orange
An early-ripening, high-yielding new variety of tomatoes. The period from germination to fruit ripening is 105-110 days. Bush 35-50 cm high. The highlight of the variety is its high yield.
The fruits are very beautiful, flat-round, orange, large, 100-150 grams. The taste is excellent, with a high content of carotene. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption and canning. Characterized by disease resistance.
Caring for tomatoes in a greenhouse
Basic care consists of watering, loosening the soil and removing weeds and shoots.
Tomatoes need staking; for this, next to each plant, a support is placed in the ground - reinforcement, wooden stakes, metal rods.
It is better to tie tall tomatoes to trellises. When using a trellis garter, the side shoots from the bushes do not need to be removed. As the seedlings grow, they are gradually tied to supports.
Stakes should be inserted into the ground either before or simultaneously with planting seedlings to avoid injury to the root system.
The first stepsoning of tomatoes is carried out before planting in the greenhouse or immediately after (if the stepsons have managed to grow by this time).
In the future, stepsoning is carried out constantly, as the stepsons grow. The shoots should not be cut with scissors, but broken out, leaving a stump of 2-3 mm. It is better to carry out the procedure early in the morning.
Tomato bushes should be watered at the root, without touching the foliage, as dropped drops of water can cause burns on the leaves.
Suitable fertilizers
Summer residents can themselves provoke a deterioration in the quality of the crop if they continue to apply nitrogen fertilizers and manure after flowering begins. As a result, the bushes will begin to grow green mass to the detriment of fruiting. Starting from the moment the buds form, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers are applied to the tomatoes (40 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium sulfate per 10 liters of water).
It is very good to feed with wood ash at this stage - one liter jar per 10 liters of water, leave for a day. Ash can also be added in dry form, adding 2 tbsp under each bush. spoons of fertilizer. In the future, this feeding can be repeated every 2 weeks.
Standard tomatoes: 8 varieties that will delight you with the taste and abundance of the harvest
Fertilizing with yeast also has a positive effect on fruit size. The solution is prepared from 1 pack of fresh yeast and 100 g of sugar per 3 liters of warm water. When the concentrate bubbles, it is diluted in a proportion of 1 glass per 10 liters of water and used for irrigation. This fertilizing improves the structure of the soil and stimulates the development of beneficial soil microflora. As a result, plants respond with increased root growth.
Fertilizing with boric acid has a good effect on fruit set and growth. It is carried out after flowering brushes appear on the bushes. For 10 liters of water, 2 tsp are consumed. boric acid, the composition must be thoroughly mixed, since the crystals slowly dissolve in water. The solution is applied to the leaves from a spray bottle in cloudy weather.
