general information
This tomato was bred by Russian breeders. The characteristics and description of the variety indicate that its purpose is to grow in film-coated or glazed greenhouses in open areas.
Tomatoes of the Gardener's Dream variety have low bushes (determinate). Ripening begins quite early, so these tomatoes are the dream of any gardener. The growing season is only 95 to 100 days.
The height of a tomato bush can reach approximately 60 – 70 cm. The foliage is average. The ovary is formed on brushes of 4–6 pieces. One bush can have up to 5 brushes. With proper care of the plant from 1 sq. m you can harvest up to 6.8 kg of tomatoes. The harvested crop is well stored and does not deteriorate during transportation.
The fruits of this tomato variety have a rounded-flattened shape. The surface is smooth, glossy without pronounced ribbing. As tomatoes ripen, they acquire a bright scarlet hue. The average weight of one tomato is 180 g. Tomato pulp has a pleasant taste, moderately dense and juicy consistency. The peculiarities of taste are due to the increased content of sugar and lycopene. In a tomato, most of the volume is occupied by seed chambers.
Tomatoes of the Gardener's Dream variety are consumed fresh, prepared in salads, sauces, and added to soups. Ripe tomatoes are used to make juices.
Tomato Gardener's Dream: characteristics and description of the variety
A gardener's dream is an early ripening hybrid. From the moment of germination to the beginning of ripening, an average of 95 to 105 days pass. The bush grows no more than 70 cm high. The leaves are small and dark green in color.
Tomato Gardener's Dream
One cluster bears up to 4–6 fruits. The tomato has a glossy skin and the entire surface is smooth. As the green fruit ripens, it acquires a pink tint, and when ripe the color becomes uniformly red. An average tomato weighs approximately 140–180 g.
You can note the juicy pulp and sweetish taste.
The yield of the variety is at the highest level - from 6 to 8 kg of fruits are expected from 1 m2.
Growing rules
The process of planting tomato seeds of the Gardener's Dream variety to obtain seedlings begins in the second half of March. Immediately before sowing, the seeds of the variety are treated with a special growth stimulator. This ensures rapid germination and enhances plant immunity.
Soil consisting of compost, turf soil and river sand is poured into containers prepared for planting. To disinfect the soil, it is calcined in the oven or generously watered with a low concentration solution of potassium permanganate.
The temperature of the room in which the containers with germinated seeds will be located should be about +23 degrees. The container is covered with film or glass. Only after seed germination and the appearance of the first shoots, the temperature is lowered by 2 - 3 degrees, and the containers are placed in such a way as to provide access to sunlight for 12 - 14 hours. The container cover must be removed.
Bush care
Basic measures for caring for the “Gardener’s Dream” variety:
- Watering as the soil dries with warm and settled water;
- Regular weed control;
- Loosening the soil in a plot with tomatoes;
- Mulching beds.
Tomato plantings are fed 3-4 times per season with fertilizers high in potassium and phosphorus.
A compact bush must be formed into 1-2 stems. It is recommended to remove deformed flowers and buds, as well as side shoots.
Seedling lighting
If natural light is insufficient, additional lighting is provided with fluorescent lamps to stimulate photosynthesis. It is impossible to carry out illumination throughout the day without interruption, since necessary biological processes also occur in the dark.
At this time, watering the tomatoes is carried out using a watering can, settled with heated water. After the first true leaves appear, the seedlings are planted and the first fertilizing is carried out with mineral complex fertilizers.
2 weeks before planting seedlings in the ground, they are hardened off. To do this, pots with tomato seedlings are taken out into the open air.
Farmer reviews
Based on the positive reviews of those who planted the crop in their garden, one can judge its popularity. Here are some opinions:
Ksenia, Taganrog: “I planted it for the first time 2 years ago on the advice of a friend. She spent practically no effort or time on care. The plants have formed strong and powerful. I picked my first tomatoes at the end of June and immediately fell in love with their taste. That’s when I realized: I won’t plant any large varieties.”
Margarita, Syzran: “I love this tomato for its ease of care and the unusual taste of ripe vegetables. I've been planting them for years and am always happy with the results. The variety does not get sick, does not require special attention - this is exactly what I need. I use the fruits not only for summer salads, but also make juices from them for the winter.”
Planting seedlings in the soil
Transplanting into a greenhouse begins in early May, and replanting them under film takes place a little later. It is necessary to ensure that the soil at the time of planting has a temperature of at least 14 degrees at a 15-centimeter depth. Seedlings are planted in areas where onions, parsley, zucchini, carrots, and cucumbers previously grew.
Experienced gardeners advise adding wood ash and superphosphate (1 tbsp) to each hole. Tomatoes of this variety are planted in the ground so that their number per 1 sq. m did not exceed 4 plants.
See also
Description of the tomato variety Yellow Pearl and cultivation featuresRead
Although the bushes of the variety are not tall, they have quite a lot of stems, so pinching is required. The stepsons break off when their size reaches approximately 4 cm. Usually for 1 tomato bush it is enough to leave 1 - 2 main stems, the rest must be removed in a timely manner.
Description
This is an early ripening variety. The growing season lasts 90–105 days. Tomatoes can be grown:
- in open ground;
- under the film;
- in greenhouses of various types.
The plant belongs to the determinant type. Its height does not exceed 60–70 cm. The first inflorescence is formed at a height of 5–7 leaves. The next ones are formed after 2. Up to 5 brushes are formed on the stem. After which it stops growing. The fruits ripen in clusters of 4–6 pieces each.
The bush is quite leafy. The leaves are small. Shape and color characteristic of tomatoes. The variety requires pinching and the formation of a trunk of 1–2 stems. Responds well to fertilizing with complex mineral fertilizers. Resistant to major diseases - fusarium, blossom end rot, late blight.
Irrigation mode
Watering is carried out as the soil dries. Excessive watering with stagnant water is harmful to tomatoes. This can lead to rotting of the root system of the bush.
During the ripening of tomatoes, watering is limited so that sugar is formed in the fruits and the tomatoes have a richer taste.
During the season, the plant is fed 3–4 times. Phosphate and potassium fertilizers are required.
Nuances when growing tomatoes
Despite the low growth of seedlings, you should not thicken the plantings too much.
When the plants are crowded, they suffer from a lack of light, which leads to negative consequences. In addition, the bushes are not ventilated, which causes diseases. The lower leaves up to the first fruitful branch must be removed so that they do not come into contact with wet beds. Otherwise, the leaves will rot and the plant will become sick.
When growing any crop in a greenhouse, it is best to use drip irrigation. This eliminates many additional difficulties, including high levels of humidity in the beds. For drip irrigation, place a regular plastic bottle without a bottom, neck down, and fill it with water. From it, moisture gradually flows to the root system.
We fight diseases and insect pests
Tomatoes of the Gardener's Dream variety are quite resistant to the occurrence of typical diseases (fusarium, crown and root rot). Early ripening of fruits on bushes ensures resistance to late blight. If there is a risk of late blight infection, spraying with preparations containing copper is carried out.
For the purpose of prevention, bushes of the Gardener's Dream variety are treated with Fitosporin or other similar non-toxic drugs in the amount required by their description. It is necessary to follow the watering regime, remove weeds, and in greenhouse conditions, be sure to ventilate the room to remove high air humidity and minimize the risk of developing fungal diseases. Weekly loosening of row spacing is required.
To cope with possible pests of tomatoes (spider mites, naked slugs, mole crickets, aphids, whiteflies, thrips), the soil is mulched and weeded. The bushes are constantly inspected, and if signs of pest damage are found, they are sprayed with insecticides. According to the experience of gardeners , repeated treatment with such preparations is mandatory.
You can get rid of aphids on the bushes with a soap solution sprinkled on the planted tomato bushes. Slugs are afraid of spraying with water containing ammonia.
How to grow tomatoes
After 2 months, the seedlings are ready for transplanting. They are planted in a greenhouse in early May, and under film covers 1-2 weeks later, when the soil warms up to 17 °C.
Landing
The soil is dug up with humus added and shallow holes are made, at the bottom of which 1 tablespoon of superphosphate or wood ash is placed. The holes are filled with warm water.
Planting pattern: 40 cm – distance between seedlings, 60 cm – row spacing. For 1 sq. m place no more than 4 plants.
After transplantation, the holes are compacted, moderately watered with warm water and the young bushes are left to get used to the new conditions.
Further care
Regular watering is established as the seedlings take root. Water 2 times a week with settled water at the root of the plants. To keep moisture in the beds longer, they are mulched with peat or straw. After watering, the soil is loosened and weeds with roots are removed.
Reference . Mulching prevents weeds from growing.
The danger of weed growth is that they take from the soil a large amount of nutrients necessary for the development of tomatoes. In addition, pathogenic spores and pests multiply in weeds.
Fertilizing is applied 3-4 times per season. They are fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium substances, alternating them with organic matter.
During flowering, they are fertilized with a mineral complex with a high content of phosphorus elements, and during fruiting, potassium fertilizers are applied.
From organic matter, use mullein infusion or bird droppings at a dilution of 1:15.
Features of care and possible difficulties
Despite the determinant type, plants require staking and pinching. Not only the stem, but also the fruit-bearing branches are tied to vertical or horizontal supports. When transplanting, wooden stakes or metal rods are installed next to each bush, to which the plant is fixed.
As for the horizontal support, this is the most practical fixation option. From different sides of the beds, a wire is pulled between metal supports and the branches are fixed to the wire with soft fabric tapes. A garter on a trellis makes harvesting easier.
The formation of a culture is necessary for a full harvest. The plant is formed into 1 or 2 stems, removing all lateral shoots. They take stepsons early in the morning so that by the evening all the wounds have time to heal. The cut areas are sprinkled with ash to prevent infection.
Diseases and pests
In greenhouse conditions, the likelihood of infection by fungal diseases increases. This is due to the fact that protected structures often experience elevated temperatures and humidity levels. Although the culture has proven itself to be highly resistant to such infections, it is recommended that preventive measures be followed without fail.
Prevention includes moderate watering, systematic loosening and mandatory daily ventilation. Compliance with the rules of crop rotation helps strengthen plant immunity.
Before planting, the soil is spilled with a solution of manganese and treated with copper sulfate, which kills fungal spores.
Among the pests that are dangerous for tomatoes are spider mites, aphids, mole crickets and slugs. Treatment with soapy water or ammonia can help prevent slugs and aphids. To scare away the mole cricket from the beds, just plant onions next to the tomatoes or dig crushed cloves of garlic into the soil. The mole cricket is dangerous because it moves underground and is difficult to notice. Therefore, experienced summer residents do not wait until the insect damages the root system, and immediately after planting in the ground they take the necessary measures.
As for the Colorado potato beetle, it is collected by hand, carefully inspecting each seedling from all sides. When there is a large concentration of the pest, the drug “Prestige” is used.
Reference . The Colorado potato beetle is capable of destroying up to 75% of all plantings.
