Vegetable growing » Tomatoes
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Kira Stoletova
Experienced vegetable growers and farmers who grow vegetables in their fields always have the opportunity to cultivate new varieties. But novice tomato lovers can be advised to stick to time-tested varieties. One of these varieties that has gained popularity may be the Apple tomato and its varieties. These are universal tomatoes that have no connection with apples, but which taste good and can be stored for a long time.
Description of Apple tomatoes
By growing vegetables, a skillful and diligent housewife will provide her family with fresh vitamins. And canned assorted assorted vegetables, with added seasonings, add variety to the kitchen table in the winter. The apple variety is ideally suited for this purpose, because its fruits tend to be stored for a long time. This means that when the season of fresh vegetables has passed, you will have beautiful red tomatoes on your table.
Characteristics of varieties
When you first learn about the Apple tomato variety, you might think about a hybrid of an ordinary tomato and an apple. But a tomato, at its core, is a berry, and an apple is a fruit tree. Of course, the wonders of modern genetics have made it possible to create genetically modified organisms. But this does not apply to our familiar vegetable.
Varieties of the Apple Tomato variety have a similar characteristic:
- The height of the fruit bush varies from 50cm to 1 meter.
- The fruit is round in shape and red in color.
- In terms of ripening time, Apple tomato is classified as medium early.
- Plants are grown using a universal method.
- Products can be consumed fresh or processed.
All of the listed qualities are ideally suited for the cultivation of these vegetables throughout almost the entire country. The southern regions can provide planting with heat, which means that there is an opportunity to grow tomatoes in the open air. In the north of the middle zone, plants must be planted in greenhouses. Sometimes, if there is a sudden cold snap, greenhouses need to be heated.
Winter in the name of tomatoes
If the name of a variety contains the word Siberian, such as the Siberian Apple tomato, this does not mean that it should be planted in the Far North. It can be grown in the middle zone and further south. When planted, the plant is formed into two stems, on which the stepsons must be constantly removed. The productivity of tomato, both the Siberian Apple and the Apples on the Snow variety, is very high.
But the last variety differs from the previous one in that it grows short. On a determinate bush, 60 cm high, up to 35 fruits ripen, yielding a total of up to 3 kg of produce. The berry is small, about 50 grams, evenly colored, without a spot of a different color at the stalk. The variety is distinguished by its fresh shelf life when tomatoes and green apples are added to the salad, but it is also ideal for winter preparations.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of the variety include the following qualities:
- great taste;
- high sugar and vitamin C content;
- the commercial qualities of the fruits are preserved for a long time both on the bushes and during storage;
- good transportability of tomatoes;
- high productivity;
- resistance to various diseases and viruses that affect tomatoes;
- high growth - saves space in the greenhouse.
Apart from the need for formation, the Siberian apple variety has virtually no disadvantages, and therefore is very popular among vegetable growers.
Description of indeterminate varieties
Tomato Apple Lipetsk and Apple Minusinsk are tall tomatoes. Both plants can grow indefinitely, but must be pinched back, limiting the height to 1.8 meters. Each species is best grown in two stems. Stepping must also be carried out.
Fruit characteristics differ slightly between varieties. The Lipetsk apple tomato variety has fruits that are round in shape, red in color, and without spots. The taste is real, tomato, with sourness and sweetness. The only disappointment is that its yield is small - 4 kg per bush, which is not typical for tall species.
There are several varieties of apple variety
The productive Crimean Apple variety is also very interesting, with large crimson fruits reaching 300 grams. This tomato is a long-liver, more than 80 years old, which means that it has been enjoyed by several generations. From one bush, with proper care, you can harvest more than 12 kg of produce per season.
You can name a few more tall tomatoes related to the name apple. Among them will be Adamovo, which can be grown both in a greenhouse and in the field. Products of this type are suitable for processing and consumption in green, very tasty salads, when red tomatoes are combined with apples. A hybrid of Black Apple and Blue, these tomato varieties are similar in fruit color. When ripe, they are colored in shades of chocolate and purple, but their flesh is standard, red, with a characteristic sweet taste.
Apple - a tomato of the twenty-first century
You won’t find any variety of tomatoes among the nightshades. These are very small bushes a little more than 20 cm high and huge weaving vines eight meters long and higher. The fruits range from very tiny, like a currant berry, to large ones, weighing one kilogram or more.
Tomatoes differ in fruit shape and color. There are even diamond-shaped, square and many others. And there are also ripe emerald-colored tomatoes that do not make you salivate just by looking at them, but for connoisseurs and breeders this is a great value.
Various types of tomatoes
The Yablochny and Izumrudnoe Yabloko varieties were bred by Russian breeders and are real pearls among thousands of well-known tomato varieties.
Russian breeder variety
The tomato variety is very young, bred by Russian (Altai) breeders at the beginning of the 21st century. Refers to mid-early tomato varieties. From sowing of seeds to full ripening, 101–110 days occur.
The variety is indeterminate (the stem does not stop growing, but grows further, forming a bush up to 2.5 m high), and has a harmonious taste. In the southern regions it is successfully grown without cover, in the middle zone - in greenhouses.
The bush is very powerful, not too leafy, tall; in a greenhouse, other specimens reach a height of up to 2 meters. In open ground 1.5 - 1.7 meters. The apple tomato needs support not only for the stem, but also for the clusters with formed fruits.
Formation into two stems is ideal for this variety. The bush has a beautiful appearance and fruits with high taste.
Characteristic
- Covered with a red peel.
- The fruits are round, smooth, shiny, very beautiful.
- They have a meaty and aromatic texture and a unique sweet and sour taste.
- They are stored for a long time and maintain their high commercial qualities.
- They are often used fresh for preparing salads and decorating dishes.
- The average number of cameras is typical.
How to grow an Apple tomato. Recommendations
Tomatoes are grown by seedlings; they love fertile soils and can be grown in any region of the country. It is important not to forget that before planting, disinfect the seeds in a solution of potassium permanganate and then rinse with clean water.
At the end of March or beginning of April, the seeds are planted as seedlings and deepened into the soil by 2-3 cm.
During seedling growth, it should be fed three times with complex fertilizers. At the stage of two or three permanent leaves, Apple seedlings dive.
Apple tomato on the bush
A week before planting seedlings in the ground, they must be hardened off. It is planted in a permanent place of growth at the age of two to two and a half months. Planting pattern between tomato bushes 70x30-40 cm.
The plants are tall and require staking and formation into one stem for good fruiting. Water with warm water and regularly feed with complex fertilizers. Proper care will provide gardeners with a rich tomato harvest.
The fruits, unusual in their color, have an amazing delicious taste and high content of nutrients, were bred by Russian breeders. The color of the Emerald Apple tomato is rich green with a bronze tint. The bush is indeterminate, tall, well-leafed, needs shaping.
3 or 4 ovaries are formed on one flower brush. An adult and mature bush can produce up to 10 kg of tomato. The harvest takes place in July - September. The tomatoes are large, weighing up to 300 g. The shape is round with slightly noticeable ribbing.
The pulp is dense, juicy, unusual emerald color, fleshy, very pleasant, sweet, with notes of sourness, somewhat reminiscent of the taste of ripe actinidia. The amount of sugars and beneficial amino acids is higher than that of any variety of tomatoes. Tomatoes are recommended by doctors for dietary and baby food.
The Emerald Apple tomato is one of the tastiest and most aromatic varieties of green tomatoes, ideal for slicing into sandwiches and as a base for delicious purees.
Tomato Emerald apple
Description of medium-sized tomatoes
These tomato varieties have a height of:
- Apple robin, up to 1 meter;
- Apple Spas, up to 80cm;
- Golden Apple, up to 1 meter.
The name Malinovka speaks for itself, because its berries are raspberry-colored. This vegetable is grown in two stems, and up to five kilograms of tomatoes ripen on them. The quality of the product is excellent, it is suitable for all types of culinary processing.
Apple Spas standard tomatoes are incredibly disease resistant. Fresh vegetables are used in salads and as a decoration for other dishes. Tomatoes are also suitable for freezing and canning. They last a long time and can be transported over long distances. The Golden Apple plant burns brightly with yellow lanterns of round tomatoes. Suitable for its cultivation, both in a greenhouse and in a field, but in the southern regions of the country. Among plants of this species, you can feel as if you are in a magical garden of love, where you are surrounded by paradise. The fruit stem is hidden from human eyes by the bright green leaves and extravaganza of gold.
Interesting types of tomatoes
An apple variety of tomato that surprises is the amazing Emerald Apple tomato. These tomatoes are somewhat reminiscent of unripe, deep green apples. Reviews from gardeners about it are characterized by delight and love. And not because the original shade attracts with its unusual appearance, but because it is a tasty and versatile hybrid to use. Salads whose recipes include green tomatoes and red apples make interesting and tasty salads.
Cherry and Paradise Apple tomatoes are small-fruited varieties, but they are incredibly popular. When you look at the sleepy bush, it seems that this is a neat apple tree spreading its branches, completely covered with tiny berries. Descriptions of these varieties and their photos can be seen on the pages of tomato lovers who leave positive reviews, and it is impossible not to fall in love with them. Even the Siberian region finds an opportunity to purchase products that are especially popular with children. Children's dishes can be prepared very colorfully if you combine tiny tomatoes with miniature apples.
Farmer reviews
To choose the right varieties of tomatoes, it is good to familiarize yourself with all the varieties and their characteristics. But it’s better to study the reviews of other vegetable growers to take advantage of their experience and effective advice.
Lyudmila, Vladivostok: “The Siberian apple variety is very productive. Tomatoes ripen early and finish bearing fruit only by September. The tomatoes themselves are smooth, neat, as in the photo on the packet with seeds, very beautiful and tasty! The variety does not suffer from anything, so I will definitely plant more.”
Evgeniy, Tver: “Last season I decided to plant a Siberian apple and in the end I was satisfied with the experiment. I grew tomatoes not only in a greenhouse, but also in open ground, and got an excellent harvest in both. Thanks to its high yield, the Siberian apple variety is excellent for sale.”
Irina, Kislovodsk: “I planted seedlings in an open garden bed. At the same time, I did not treat it with anything against diseases, but as a result, the plant did not get sick, and I got a good harvest. I was especially pleased that the fruits retained their appearance and taste until the New Year.”
Maria, Novgorod: “I first tried to plant a Siberian apple last year. I planted seedlings in a greenhouse. The variety pleased me with its early harvest. I grew it in one stem, cut off all the stepsons and tied the bushes to a support. This helped save space in a small greenhouse.”
Preparing seedlings
When you decide to start growing tomatoes of this type, you need to know its agricultural technology.
Seedlings need to be fertilized
All plants must be planted in a permanent place from seedlings. If it is not a hybrid, then you can collect your own seeds; otherwise, seed material must be purchased at markets or breeding stations. Before planting, the seeds must be prepared for sowing and conditions suitable for development must be created.
First, prepare the soil, which includes:
- garden soil;
- peat;
- humus;
- ash;
- fertilizers
All ingredients are mixed and checked for density using the compression method. If the soil crumbles, it means it is suitable for sowing seeds. The seeds are soaked overnight in a stimulant, plus a weak solution of potassium permanganate. In the morning, they are washed and they begin to plant, placing the seed in prepared containers.
The finished containers are sprayed with water from a spray bottle and covered with glass or polyethylene. The temperature required for germination should be about 25 degrees during the day and within 18 degrees at night. After the shoots appear, you need to wait until the second pair of leaves forms and start picking. When the seedlings take root, you can fertilize them and do this three times in 2 months, until the time comes for planting in a greenhouse or field.
Disease and pest control
According to the characteristics, the variety can be affected by fungal spores and bacteria, the development of which arises from improper care (excess moisture, little light, etc.).
- Late blight. Brown and yellowish spots on the surface of the foliage are caused by a fungus. If measures are not taken, the plant dries out. For prevention, bushes are treated with 1% Bordeaux mixture (10 g per 10 liters of water, every 4-5 days); you can use a 10% solution of table salt.
- Cladosporiosis. Brown bulging stains on tomatoes and leaves, which leads to the death of the plant. Suitable drugs for treatment are Oksikhom (10 g per 5 liters of water), Fundazol (5 g per 10 liters of water).
- Apex rot. A sign of the disease is brown, watery spots on tomatoes, which causes them to begin to deteriorate. Spraying with calcium chloride (0.4%) or Bordeaux mixture will help.
- Macrosporiasis. It affects the bush completely and dies in a short time. To fight the disease, use a mixture of copper and soap (20 g of copper sulfate and 200 g of laundry soap are diluted in 10 liters of water and the bushes are completely sprayed).
- 02 October 2022 21:05:34
The range of hybrid species on the vegetable market is becoming more and more extensive every year, which cannot but please both amateur gardeners and professional farmers. New varieties are appearing that are more resistant to variable weather conditions, less demanding on soils and producing abundant harvests with excellent taste without much hassle. The choice is huge, and expanding the scope of gardening and trying new options is always interesting. It is important to order seeds from trusted and reliable suppliers. Our website presents the most interesting seeds of such varieties with a quality guarantee.
One of the popular varieties is Crimean tomatoes; we’ll tell you more about them.
Plant care
When planting tomatoes in a permanent place, you need to make sure that the weather is warm, but not hot. It is better to do this in the evening. Seedlings are planted in holes: four plants per square meter for tall tomatoes and 6 for medium-sized tomatoes. You can add a handful of ash to each hole and pour warm water over it. The seedling is deepened, covered with soil and, if it is a tall species, tied to supports or trellises.
Further care of the plantings consists of:
- in weeding and loosening the soil;
- in timely watering;
- in stepsoning;
- in a garter;
- in pest control.
Weeding is needed to kill weeds so that the plants have enough fresh air and nutrients.
Watering should be done in the evening and only with warm water; the root system of seedlings suffers from cold water. To combat pests, you can use folk methods and remedies, or you can purchase chemicals and, following the instructions, treat the plantings.
When all the instructions are followed and the plants feel care and attention, they grow quickly, form flower clusters, set fruits and bring the desired harvest to their owners. After the first tomatoes ripen, they should be immediately harvested, processed, or eaten in fresh salads. Farms grow products for transportation and sale to the population. It doesn’t matter so much whether you grew a crop or bought finished products, you need to start processing in order to diversify your homemade dishes in winter.
The nuances of growing in open ground and greenhouses
Tall tomatoes are planted in the middle of the bed in a row or in a checkerboard pattern every 60 cm.
In order for greenhouse tomatoes to set fruit, they must be artificially pollinated. To do this, during the day in sunny weather, shake the flower brushes and then water the soil.
To ensure sufficient oxygen supply, the greenhouse must be regularly ventilated. If drops fall from the ceiling of the greenhouse onto the plants, this will damage the tomatoes.
Tomatoes can be planted in open ground when the night frosts have ended and the ground has warmed up to 15 °C.