Tomato Ladies' Man: variety description, growing methods, photos, reviews

Origin of tomatoes

The history of the variety begins in 2008, when the agricultural company decided to diversify its assortment and please lovers of a good harvest with new tomatoes. In the same year, “Ladies’ Man” was included in the state register, after which the cultivation of a tomato of amazing quality began in all regions of the country.

Ladies' man pepper: seeds and fruits

Pepper seedlings Ladies' man

Ripening Ladies' man pepper on a bush

Diseases and pests

Problems	Prevention and control measures
Late blight.	An integrated approach to treatment is recommended. You should prepare a solution of milk with iodine in the proportion of 1 liter per 15 drops; you need to water it once every 2 weeks. In addition, it is worth using chemicals: Trichopolum, Ecosil, Fitosporin.
Insect pests.	To avoid infection, you should not feed the soil with mullein after watering, as this attracts parasites. When fighting, use insecticides, for example - Sfera max, Topsin M.
Mosaic virus.	There is no treatment. Infected bushes must be removed from the site to stop the spread of the virus. In cases of damage to individual parts in the early stages, they should be cut off and the bush treated with Trichopolum.

Description and characteristics of the Ladies' Man

Before choosing this variety for planting in your dacha, you need to study its description and characteristics. We will talk about them further.

Description of fruits

If we talk about fruits, they are always of an elongated cylindrical shape, which tomato growers themselves simply call pepper-shaped with a pronounced “spout.” The skin is smooth, has a small thickness and a beautiful glossy tint, which makes tomatoes a truly attractive fruit.

A ripe tomato has a bright red color without unnecessary spots or tints, but an unripe fruit will be simply green without the characteristic spot near the stalk of many tomatoes.

The pulp itself is soft, tender and quite meaty.

Basic qualities of fruits

Due to its low dry matter content, “Ladies' Man” retains its juices and original shape when cut and does not release excess liquid, so the tomato is used both for salads and as a fruit for canning.

The taste is such that sweetness is combined with a slight sourness. The tomato has only 2 seed chambers, which are not large in size or have a significant number of seeds.

“Ladies’ man” cannot be called large-fruited, since its standard parameters are 45-60 g.

The resistance to cracking is quite high, so they cope well with transportation, maintaining their original shape even after a long journey.

Productivity

"Ladies' Man" is distinguished by its high yield. According to statistics from experts, the standard yield per square meter is at least 10 kg. However, such results can be achieved only with the correct planting technique and timely, and most importantly, competent care.

Advantages and disadvantages

Like any other variety, “Ladies’ Man” has both certain advantages and significant disadvantages that should be taken into account at the stage of familiarization and selection. Of the main advantages, it is worth noting the following points:

high yield - with the right approach, you can get a maximum of fruits (about 10 kg per 1 sq. m);
resistance to temperature changes - the variety can be grown in different climatic zones, since it is universal in this regard;
according to GOST, the taste of the fruit is excellent;
tomatoes are actively used for fresh consumption and canning;
tomatoes do not crack and withstand long-term transportation well, making them suitable for growing on farms;
when cut, tomatoes do not release excessive amounts of juice;
Compared to competitors, they are quite easy to maintain.

If we talk about the disadvantages, then the main ones are these characteristics:

the presence of voids - they are small, but for some this is a problem;
Doesn't really like a lot of sunlight.

What are the additional advantages of this variety?

The most important description is that it is not only early ripening, but also tall. If a person is engaged in this business for the sake of sale, then such a variety is the best thing that can be imagined, because the timing of the appearance of fruits is so fast that one cannot help but take advantage of the opportunity to improve not only one’s social status, but also one’s diet.

The height of the bush is about 1.7 meters.
Its leaf has a dark green color and is large in size.
The shape of the fruit is beautiful, about 120-150 grams.
Another advantage is that the fruits are adapted to constant transportation.
For four weeks, the product is able to maintain its high-quality appearance without losing any of its beneficial properties.
The variety is rich in many vitamins, it is sweet, original, tender and juicy in taste.

Seedling growing method

Purchasing seedlings is a rather expensive process, and no one knows whether the seeds were grown correctly and whether all care rules were followed. If they have extra time, gardeners prefer to grow seedlings on their own, but you need to understand that “Ladies’ Man” requires a serious approach and careful care.

Seed preparation

The first step on the path to a big harvest will be preparing the seeds. If they are purchased from the manufacturer, then disinfection is not required. In other cases, this stage of preparation must be carried out before planting.

To do this, prepare a solution of manganese and water in a ratio of 1 g per 100 ml. Wrap the seeds in gauze or a piece of bandage and place in the resulting solution for 15 minutes. Experts advise adhering to such a time frame, since the similarity of the material after planting may be greatly affected.

Next, the seeds must be washed with regular running water. Many believe that soda solution seriously increases fruiting.

In addition to manganese, you can use baking soda in a ratio of 0.5 g per 100 ml, but the material will have to be kept for a day.

For disinfection, “Fitosporin” is also used, which is diluted with water in a ratio of 1 drop (half a teaspoon, if powder is used) per 100 ml, after which the seeds are kept in it for an hour to two.

Experienced gardeners recommend using a solution based on aloe juice in a 1 to 1 ratio, since it not only disinfects, but also significantly increases the immunity of future plants. You can use aloe juice either purchased or prepared yourself. The seeds should remain in it for at least a day.

Contents and location

Place trays with seedlings in the southern part of the room, preferably on a windowsill, where the plants will receive a sufficient amount of natural light. If this is not possible, then you need to worry about purchasing phytolamps that will replace sunlight.

It is recommended to combine two light sources at once (sun during the day, lamps in the evening) so that the plant is fed with light throughout the day for the first 3-4 days. On the fifth day, you can reduce the amount of time spent in the light to 16 hours a day.

For seedlings, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of 18 to 25 degrees during the day and from 12 to 15% at night. In order not to worry about the temperature, it is better to place the seedlings close to the battery. This way they won't freeze.

Seed planting process

Before planting, you need to disinfect the soil. To do this, it is kept in the oven for 10 minutes at a temperature of 200 degrees or disinfected with boiling water. After disinfection, at least 12 days must pass before planting.

For planting, you can use any container, be it peat pots or cassettes. Half the container needs to be filled with soil, then watered with soil, and then small grooves 1 cm deep must be made.

Leave a distance of about 1-2 cm between the grooves. If the container is quite large (let’s say a box), then the distance can be increased to 3-4 cm. Next, plant the seeds, add a little soil and moisten the soil again.

There is another planting method. With it, the seeds are laid out in rows, and then sprinkled with soil. It is important to moisten the soil before and after planting, but the main thing is not to overdo it with moisture.

After these manipulations, cover the seedlings with cling film, a cut plastic bag or glass to fit the container. Thus, high humidity is maintained and the microclimate is maintained, and the film allows light to pass through.

Find out the pros and cons of planting seedlings in peat pots from the video below:

Watering

Maintain high humidity, but this should be done not by watering, but by using a spray bottle. Spraying is carried out twice a day, but if you don’t have free time, you can use a humidifier.

It is important that the humidity temperature is at 80 or 90%.

Seedling care

Seedlings should not drown in water, but drought in the container should also be avoided. If there is excessive humidity, open the container and wait until it dries to the required level.

Sometimes mold may appear on the surface, but it is easy to combat. It is simply removed, and then the soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or antifungal agents.

The temperature should be moderate without major changes or sudden changes. Too high a temperature can kill plants. The film is removed two weeks after planting. At this point, the stem should already have 2 or 3 leaves.

As the seedlings grow, you need to increase the amount of watering, temperature and light.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground

When the stem of the plant becomes thick and strong, and its growth reaches 30 cm, it is time to transplant the seedlings into the ground. It is important that during this period the seedling has 6-7 leaves, short internodes and flower clusters.

The transplantation process should be postponed in case of strong winds or excessive solar activity. Experts advise replanting seedlings on a calm, cloudy day.

The holes are placed at a distance of 30-40 cm and 2-3 cm deep, which will strengthen the root system. The soil is fertilized in advance with peat, and after planting, each seedling is watered with warm water under the stem.

How to grow seedlings in your personal yard?

After purchasing the seeds, they must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate or aloe juice. This will strengthen the immunity of future plants and make it possible to disinfect the seed fund from some diseases that are dangerous for nightshade crops.

For normal seed germination, the soil must be prepared. It should not contain a high level of acidity. Therefore, it is recommended to use soil for tomatoes. It is sold in specialized stores.

To plant seeds, you need to select containers with a diameter of 15 cm, and then fill them with a mixture of earth, peat and sand in equal proportions. It is recommended to treat homemade soil with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The depth of planting seeds in the container should not exceed 20 mm.

The distance between individual seeds is chosen to be at least 15 mm. After the sprouts appear in 5-7 days, it is recommended to water them with warm water, and then add organic fertilizers (manure, peat) to the soil. When 1-2 leaves develop on the seedlings, the plants dive.

They are transferred to permanent soil when the sprouts are 55-65 days old. They can first be hardened for 7 days, but since the Ladies' Man tolerates sudden temperature changes well, this operation can be skipped. The bushes are planted according to the scheme 0.5 (0.6) x 0.6 m. The optimal time for this operation is the second and third ten days of May.

Seedless growing method

To grow "Ladies' man" you can not use seedlings, but plant the seeds in open ground. With the right approach and care, you can get a luxurious harvest.

Open ground conditions

It is advisable to choose a place for planting that is not shaded by other plants and buildings, and it should warm up well. In open ground, water more often than is necessary in a greenhouse.

You need to understand that in a greenhouse sometimes plants do not receive enough light and this leads to a small harvest. It is important to fertilize the soil with peat fertilizers in a 1 to 1 ratio before planting.

Planting seeds in the ground

As a preparatory step, it is advisable to place the seeds in a growth stimulator, where they will remain for 8-12 hours. Thanks to this stage, the wait for seedlings will be halved and the first seedlings will sprout after 3-4 days.

Leave distances between rows from 60 to 80 cm, between seedlings 30-40 cm, and the depth of the hole should not exceed 3-4 cm. When sowing, actively moisten the soil and place no more than 3-4 seeds in the hole. After planting, the seeds are covered with soil.

This video shows how you can grow tomatoes without seedlings - by sowing in the ground:

Watering

The first watering of seedlings is carried out exclusively after the first shoots. In the first two weeks, seedlings are watered under the stem, which provides good nutrition to the root system.

If the soil dries out, the seedlings will begin to wither and will simply die over time, but daily watering should be avoided, because waterlogging leads to the appearance of fungus. For one sq. m. you need to use 3 liters of water and regularly spray the bushes with EM solution during the first week.

To make watering easier, it is advisable to use a drip system.

Landing

The time for planting seeds depends on the end of frost. Depending on the area, this time period is from February to April. Accordingly, seedlings are transferred to the ground after 55-60 days - in May-July.

Preparing seedlings

Since the variety is natural, its seeds can be used for germination. After collection, they need disinfection and drying. Store-bought seeds are planted without additional manipulation. For inexperienced gardeners, it is more convenient to use ready-made seedlings.

The collected seeds are pre-soaked in one of the solutions:

soda;
phytosporin;
potassium permanganate;
aloe tincture.

The land is prepared in advance, 3 weeks before planting. Disinfect with the same solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water and dry.

The ideal place for seedlings is the south side of the house. The pots can be placed on the windowsill near the radiator - this way the seedlings will receive enough light and heat. To create the necessary microclimate, the seedlings need to be covered with film for the first time. It is important to maintain high humidity. To do this, use spraying or a humidifier.

In 2-3 weeks the first leaves should appear. At this time, the film is removed and picking is carried out.

10-12 days before transferring the seedlings to the ground, hardening is carried out. To do this, reduce the ambient temperature to 15 degrees. The day before transplanting, the seedlings are taken outside. Planting in the ground is carried out after the appearance of the first flower cluster.

When purchasing ready-made seedlings, you should pay attention to the following criteria:

All seedlings are the same age, about 50-60 days.
Height is about 30 cm.
The thickness of the stem is about the size of a pencil.
There are 11-12 leaves on the stem.
The seedlings are placed in boxes or pots.

Strong, healthy seedlings are halfway to a good harvest.

Landing in the ground

“Ladies' Happiness” can be planted both in a greenhouse and in the open air.

The soil has been prepared since the fall. To do this, it is fertilized with organic matter - manure, compost or mullein. It’s good if carrots, cabbage, legumes, cucumbers or onions grew in this place in front of the tomatoes. The site should be located in a sunny place. The soil is slightly acidic and disinfected.

Greenhouse requirements:

Air temperature 20°C.
Ground temperature 12°C.
Sunny side under transparent film or additional lighting.

It is better to plant seedlings in calm, cloudy weather.

According to the description, the bush should be formed from 1 stem, but experienced gardeners form it from 2-3 stems. The distance between seedlings is 30-40 cm. The stem is tied to a support.

It is important to keep a lump of soil on the roots of the seedlings during replanting, or deepen it to the cotyledon leaves.

After transplanting, water with warm water.

During growth, the lower leaves are removed to improve access to air and light.

Landing technology

To obtain a good harvest, planting technology is important. Each point must be strictly taken into account so that the seeds produce a truly worthwhile shoot and please the gardener with a good result.

Selection of seedlings

If you cannot grow seedlings yourself, you can easily purchase them on the market. This process should be treated with special attention, since both in the market and in stores there are often unscrupulous sellers who deceive not only with the quality of seedlings, but even with the variety.

Buy plants that have already reached 45-60 days, and the seedlings should be of the same age for the beds, as this greatly simplifies the care process. In terms of height, they should reach at least 30 cm, have 11 leaves on each stem, leaves of a bright green hue, a stem as thick as a pencil and be in boxes.

Before purchasing, carefully inspect the leaves: if they are curled down, this indicates an excessive amount of nitrogen fertilizer.

What should the soil and soil be like?

The soil must be prepared in advance. It should be loose and at the same time flavored with peat. The soil where cabbage, carrots, onions, cucumbers or legumes previously grew is ideal for growing tomatoes.

You should not plant seedlings where eggplants, potatoes or peppers grew, as they reduce the nutrients in the soil. Soil that is neutral in acidity is required, although slightly acidic soil is acceptable if no other options are available.

Planting Tips

When planting, you should avoid shade, as the plants will not receive enough light and will simply wither over time. The variety is highly resistant to winds and cold, but at the same time loves light and solar heat.

How to sow seeds correctly to obtain seedlings

To obtain high-quality, healthy seedlings, it is necessary to sow seeds in late March - early April. Before placing them in the ground, they should be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. The container is then placed in a warm place. During this period, lighting is not needed, and the temperature should be approximately 25-30 degrees.

After the appearance of small shoots, which still resemble small hooks, the boxes should be moved to another place. Here they need to be illuminated using a fluorescent lamp, and the temperature is lowered by 2-3 degrees.

In the phase of 1-2 true leaves, plants are picked. To do this, use either a more spacious container for everyone, or each bush is planted in a separate cup. During this period, the plants should be fed approximately 2-3 times with a complex of fertilizers.

Approximately 7-10 before the intended planting in the ground, the bushes must be hardened off. To do this, either open the windows or take the seedlings outside for a short time.

Important! All of the above manipulations are performed exclusively on sunny days. Drafts should also be avoided.

Tomatoes should be planted in open beds at the age of 55-70 days. It is important that the threat of frost has passed. Around the beginning of June.

Planting in the greenhouse takes place a little earlier - May 15-20. Planting is carried out according to the 70x30 or 70x40 pattern. Plants need regular watering.

Important! Only warm water should be used for irrigation.

It is necessary to feed tomatoes during the period of flowering and the beginning of fruit set. And also when a slight redness appears on a green tomato. This is necessary to improve fruit formation.

The appearance of the bushes will tell you what they are missing.

If the plant lacks nitrogen, the leaves on the bushes become very pale and the upper leaves do not curl.
With an overdose of nitrogen, the leaves on the bushes become very dark in color. The top leaves curl and do not unfold all day. In this case, a small number of ovaries is noted, since the plant spends its energy on growing leaves and stepsons.
If the plant receives nitrogen in sufficient quantities, then the bushes have a typical color for their variety, and the leaves have the correct shape and size.

In order for fruits to plump, they need potassium.

Important! It is worth considering that regular fertilizing will make the tomatoes on the bushes sweeter. But they can become much smaller.

Maintenance and care of plants

It is preparation, combined with proper care, that produces good fruits that every gardener can be proud of.

Loosening the soil and weeding

For "Ladies' Man", like most varieties of tomato, loose, light soil is important, so this procedure should be carried out after each watering. If this is not possible, then do loosening once every two weeks.

Loosening mainly affects row spacing, while weeding is carried out simultaneously to get rid of weeds. In the first month, the loosening depth reaches 10-12 cm, and after a while it must be reduced by 5-8 cm so as not to damage the roots of the seedlings.

Stepsoning

A large number of stepsons leads to the fact that the bush is overloaded and nutrition is dispersed throughout all the branches, and the fruits do not receive enough nutrients. To prevent a decrease in the quantity and deterioration in the quality of fruits, it is necessary to promptly trim off excess stems, leaving only the main ones.

The pinching procedure is carried out after watering, if excess stems become noticeable.

Garter

To have a rich harvest, gartering must be carried out without fail. It allows you to correctly position the upper stems so that the plant is easier to spray and they receive a sufficient level of light. In this case, the fruits will be at the top and will not be damaged by mechanical methods during weeding or from excess moisture in the hole.

For the first time, this procedure is carried out after 2-3 weeks. To do this, use stakes 2-2.5 m high, wooden cages of the same height, and caps made from scrap materials.

Top dressing

Fertilize in sunny weather, but if this is not possible, you need to do foliar feeding. During the growing season, you need to carry out 3 to 4 procedures. 3 weeks after planting, the first is carried out with mullein or bird droppings, the second during the flowering period with ammonium nitrate and potassium sulfate, the third two weeks later, after the second with mineral fertilizers, and the fourth during the fruiting period with superphosphate, which is sprayed on the plants.

Read how to fertilize tomatoes at the seedling stage here.

Growing and care

For proper planting, you need to figure out where you will plant the seedlings in a permanent place and take into account your climatic conditions. In southern latitudes, sowing seeds should begin at the end of February, in the central part of our country - from mid-March to the first days of April, and in northern latitudes - in the second ten days of April. In any case, seedlings are planted in already warm, heated soil, without the threat of frost. Readiness of seedlings after sowing is 65-70 days.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Ladies' man tomato seeds can be bought in specialized stores or used from last year's successful harvest:

Look through the seeds and discard those that are obviously defective. Test for germination in a container of salted water.
Disinfect the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 15 minutes. Rinse and dry.
Treat seeds in Fitosporin solution according to instructions to protect against diseases and stimulate growth.
You can increase the protective powers of future plants by keeping them in a diluted solution of aloe juice.
Prepare the soil for sowing: disinfect by baking in the oven and fertilize. After this, the soil must stand for at least a week before sowing.
Sow the seeds in moistened soil in grooves 1-1.5 cm in size, about 0.5 cm deep, and sprinkle with soil.
Cover the seedlings with film or glass and maintain light and temperature (+23-25°C) conditions. At the very beginning there should be a lot of light; it is best to keep the seedlings on a sunny windowsill.
A small greenhouse should be ventilated periodically, ensure that there is no mold, and maintain moisture by spraying.
After about 12-14 days, the first two leaves appear; the film must be removed.
It is necessary to carefully plant the seedlings into separate containers (preferably made of biodegradable materials) with prepared soil, 500 g in volume, two plants in each container. When the seedlings reach 15 cm in sprouts, they need to be tied with a thread, wait for fusion and pinch the weaker seedling.
At the same time, it is necessary to feed the seedlings with organic fertilizers in small quantities.
Harden off seedlings 2 weeks before planting tomatoes. Ladies' man.

Planting and further care

We plant seedlings when 7-11 leaves appear on them, but do not overexpose the seedlings; a sprout up to 30 cm is just right.

With the first flower cluster, we plant it in well-prepared, fertile soil.

The day for planting should be rather cloudy, but not rainy. It is desirable that it be cool.

When planting in open areas, in late May-early June, you need to choose sunny places. In closed greenhouse conditions, plant in the second ten days of May and remember the tallness of the bush, monitor normal humidity and temperature indicators.

Plant according to the 70*40 or 30 cm pattern.

Immediately organize supports for further tying, based on the growth of future bushes up to 1.8 meters, because the fruits are expected to be large. Do the actual tying with nylon ropes three weeks after planting.

To avoid small-fruited shoots, pinching of additional shoots should be done 10 days after planting and then every ten days.

Form a bush in open ground with 1, and in closed ground with 2-3 stems.

The plant loves regular watering. Water about twice a week in open beds and at least once in greenhouses, with warm water, at the root, protecting the stems and leaves. The watering norm is three buckets per 12m. You should not water less often and in large quantities or daily - severe waterlogging can lead to the development of fungal diseases of Ladies' Man tomatoes. You need to focus on the condition of the soil and weather, and on dry summer days increase the watering rate.

On the day of watering, loosen by 8-10 cm, protecting the root system, and at the same time weed from weeds. We also recommend mulching the soil around the roots with rotted straw on very sunny days. These measures are very helpful in pest control.

Use regular feedings: there should be at least two, and preferably three, for the entire season. At the same time, alternate organic matter with inorganic fertilizers: at the very beginning, nitrogen fertilizers, at the beginning of flowering with organic available means, when setting the first fruits, it is good to add phosphorus and potassium mixtures.

Remove the lower leaves to prevent pests and diseases.

Disease and pest control

"Ladies' man" is susceptible to late blight, which causes the leaves and fruits to turn black. It occurs when there is excessive humidity or low temperature.

It is not possible to get rid of this disease, so prevention is necessary (after planting and as it grows). For this, ash, Trichopolum, copper sulfate, milk with honey, Fitosporin, Ecosil are used. In case of disease, the crop and seedlings are completely destroyed, and the land is carefully cultivated.

Mole crickets, ticks and whiteflies may also appear, but if agricultural technologies are followed, this can be avoided.

Tomato care

After planting the seedlings on permanent soil, excess side shoots (stepchildren) are removed from the plants. In this way it is possible to increase the tomato yield by 20%.

The bushes need to be watered 1-2 times a week. If the weather is hot or drought is expected, then the frequency of irrigation is increased. For this purpose, warm water kept in the sun is used. It is recommended to water before sunrise or after sunset.

Weeding the beds is necessary to destroy weeds that can infect tomatoes with various diseases. It is done 1-2 times a week. Loosening the soil allows you to ensure a flow of oxygen to the root system of plants and destroy insect larvae parasitizing on the roots of tomatoes.

Plants are fed at the first stage with nitrogen and organic fertilizers. When flowering begins, the bushes are fed with potassium nitrate and organic matter. After the fruits appear, it is recommended to feed the tomato with phosphorus and potassium mixtures.

If aphids, Colorado potato beetles or other dangerous insects appear on the leaves of the Ladies' Man, they are destroyed using traditional methods (copper sulfate, soapy water) or using toxic chemicals that can be bought in the store.