Most people are used to seeing red, pink and yellow tomatoes on their tables. They are available on almost every gardener’s plot and are presented in abundance on store shelves. At the same time, not everyone knows that breeders have developed many varieties and hybrids that are distinguished by more exotic fruits.
Seeds of black, purple and striped tomatoes are available for sale. Perhaps the most unusual of them are the specimens whose berries remain green even at the ripe stage. These include the Princess Frog tomato. Is it just the color that attracts gardeners to this variety? Read on.
General description of the variety
Tomato Princess Frog was bred by domestic breeders. The variety is relatively young, so it is not yet included in the register.
This is interesting! The Frog Princess is often compared to the Malachite Box tomato. This tomato variety is also green at maturity, but has larger fruits.
Distinctive features
The main feature of Princess Frog tomatoes is the unusual color of the berries. At maturity they are green, with a yellowish tint. Therefore, it is difficult to determine when they are ripe.
These tomatoes taste sweet, with a fruity aftertaste. The sourness is weakly expressed. Contrary to expectations, green fruits are soft. In addition to the fact that the berries of the Frog Princess are unusual and tasty, they are also extremely healthy.
Tomatoes contain a large amount of chlorophyll, which has beneficial effects on the body:
- lowers cholesterol and other harmful substances;
- activates metabolic processes;
- improves regeneration processes;
- increases immunity;
- saturates the body with oxygen.
A negative feature of the Frog Princess is considered to be heat-loving. Plants are not resistant to cold weather, so even in central Russia it is recommended to plant them in greenhouses.
Main characteristics
It will be difficult for an inexperienced gardener to grow Princess Frog tomatoes, since the variety is capricious and demanding to care for. It is because of its characteristics that many gardeners are afraid to grow exotic tomatoes.
Description of the Frog Princess:
Parameter | Indicators |
Bush type | Reaches 1.5 m in height. The stems are powerful, thick and durable. The bushes are well leafy and form a large number of shoots. The leaves are bright green and large in size. The inflorescences are simple. The first is formed in the axil of the 7th leaf, the next - after 1-2 leaves. |
Growing method | Heat-loving. In the northern regions it is cultivated only in heated greenhouses. In the middle zone they are grown in greenhouses without additional heating. In the southern part of Russia, planting in open ground is possible. |
Productivity | Average. From 1 sq. m get up to 7 kg of fruit. |
Fruit | Average. The weight of one fruit varies between 160-260 g. There is information about the berries of this variety that reached 400 g. At the ripe stage, the tomatoes are green-yellow, pink and yellow spots may appear. Orange inside, pink in the center. The pulp is green, with yellowish fragments along the edge and dark green seed chambers. The fruits have a lot of pulp and juiciness. They are soft to the touch, sweet in taste, with a fruity aftertaste and slight sourness. Inside each fruit there are 4 chambers with seeds. |
Transportability | Low. The tomatoes are soft, with thin skin. They can be stored for no more than a week and are not suitable for transportation. |
Ripening time | Mid-season variety. The first harvest is obtained 110-115 days after emergence. Fruiting continues until cold weather. |
Disease resistance | It has average immunity to major tomato diseases, but is susceptible to late blight. |
Description and characteristics of the tomato Frog Princess, reviews, photos
Mid-early, productive , green-fruited variety for open ground and greenhouses.
The bush is powerful, up to 1.5 meters high . Requires tying to the support and pinning. The best results were obtained when forming a plant with 2 or 3 stems.
Basic qualities of fruits
The fruits are flat-round, slightly ribbed, emerald green with a bronze tint at maturity, weighing 150-250 grams . The taste of ripe fruits is sweet and juicy. These tomatoes are suitable for fresh consumption and home cooking.
This variety is often compared to the Malachite Box tomato, but the second has larger fruits and a better taste. The similarity is that both varieties are green-fruited and that the fruits are absolutely not shelf-stable. It is very difficult to determine the ideal ripeness of their fruits: if you pick them a little earlier, the taste is sour, if you leave them on the bush a little, the inside is porridge.
This is a natural variety of tomato. Therefore, we recommend taking seeds from a ripe fruit and using them for planting in subsequent seasons.
We recommend sowing the seeds of this tomato for seedlings 60-65 days before the intended planting in the ground. Planting pattern : 40 x 60 cm.
Productivity of the variety: up to 6.5 kg/sq.m. (subject to compliance with agricultural technology).
A site about tomato varieties with truthful reviews from gardeners - Tomatland.
Growing seedlings
Frog Princess tomato seeds are sown for seedlings in March. In all regions they are planted at approximately the same time, since growing this variety in cool climates is possible only in greenhouses.
Preparing seeds for planting
It is important to properly prepare planting material.
This will help the seeds germinate faster and protect them from diseases. Before purchasing, check expiration dates. To check the quality of already purchased planting material, it is soaked in salted water. Only those specimens that have sunk to the bottom are suitable for planting. After half an hour of soaking, the selected seeds are washed.
Most manufacturers produce already treated seeds and indicate this on the packaging. This is also indicated by the color of the disinfected planting material, which is painted orange or green.
To etch the planting material yourself, it is soaked in a special solution. The list contains options that are easy to prepare from available materials:
- Potassium permanganate solution (1 g per 100 ml of water). The seeds are soaked in this mixture for half an hour. After this, they are washed with running water.
- Soda solution (1 tsp soda per 200 ml of water). The seeds are soaked for 12 hours. This composition not only disinfects the seeds, but also stimulates growth.
- Aloe juice is diluted with the same amount of boiled water . Planting material is soaked in the mixture for 12 hours. Aloe juice also stimulates plant growth.
There are also special preparations for treating seeds. The most popular of them is “Fitosporin”.
If a disinfectant is used that does not have the ability to stimulate seed germination, they are additionally treated with a growth stimulant. For this, use “Epin” and other purchased drugs or a solution of honey, aloe juice, etc.
What containers are used and how to prepare the soil
As a rule, seeds are sown in one large container. It should be shallow but wide. Stores sell special wooden boxes and plastic trays. Many gardeners use improvised means to plant seeds.
Separate containers are used for picking tomatoes. There are many variations of special pots. Often, disposable tableware and cut-off bottles are used for these purposes. The volume of the container for picking seedlings must be at least 300 ml.
Note ! Often, exotic tomato varieties are planted in small quantities. Therefore, it is beneficial to use peat tablets for Princess Frog tomatoes. They allow minimal trauma to the roots of plants during transplantation and create ideal conditions for their growth.
For tomatoes, the composition of the soil is important. It should be light, nutritious and slightly acidic. Such mixtures are sold in specialized stores.
Prepare a soil mixture for growing tomato seedlings yourself. The basis of such soil is chernozem and humus, taken in equal proportions. It is useful to add one part of peat to the composition. To make the soil light, it is mixed with half a portion of river sand, sawdust or crushed coconut substrate. To reduce acidity, add ash or lime to the soil.
The soil needs to be disinfected. To do this, it is calcined in the oven at a temperature above 80 degrees, poured with boiling water, and pickled with potassium permanganate.
To disinfect containers for planting, soak them for an hour in a strong solution of potassium permanganate. You can pour boiling water over the container.
Sowing seeds in the usual way and in peat tablets
When sowing seeds in one large container, grooves 1 cm deep are made in the soil. The distance between the grooves should be at least 2 cm.
Seeds are placed in the grooves at a distance of at least 2 cm from each other and covered with a layer of soil, which is moistened with a spray bottle. Containers with seeds are covered with film or glass and placed in a warm place, for example, near a radiator.
Planting seeds in peat tablets has a slightly different technology:
- The tablets are placed in a container with hot water with the hole facing down. This not only soaks the substrate, but also disinfects it.
- When the water is absorbed and the peat preparations increase in size, more boiling water is poured into the container.
- When the tablets swell, they are removed from the container. If necessary, they are allowed to cool.
- Make a hole in the peat with a toothpick. Seed material is placed in it.
- All peat tablets with seeds are placed in one deep container, covered with film and put in a warm place.
Seedling care
Planting seedlings correctly is not everything. It is important to provide her with proper care:
- Before the seeds germinate, the soil is moistened with a spray bottle. When the sprouts appear, they are watered with a syringe. After picking the plants, the soil is moistened with a watering can or bottle. It is important that water does not get on the tomato greens. The temperature of the liquid should not be lower than room temperature.
- After the seeds germinate, the containers with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place. The lack of light is compensated with fluorescent lamps.
- The film is removed a week after seed germination.
- Seedlings are fed with complex fertilizers or vermicompost. For one plant, take half the portion indicated on the package. They do three feedings.
- After the true leaves appear, the plants are planted in separate containers. The seedlings are not watered for 10 days after this procedure. 14 days after picking, the tomatoes are fed for the first time.
- Two weeks before planting in a permanent place, tomatoes begin to harden. The first time the seedlings are taken outside for half an hour. Then this time is doubled. So the duration of hardening is gradually increased to a whole day.
- Three days before planting in a permanent place, the seedlings are watered and fed for the last time.
Hybrid characteristics
The tomato bush is of medium height, reaching 1.5–1.7 meters in length. Determinate, grown in 1 or 2 stems, the stem is powerful. Early ripening, only 100 days pass from seed germination to the first ripe tomatoes. Although the bushes of this hybrid are limited in growth, they are still pinched and formed into one or two stems.
The foliage of the bush is average; when growing in a greenhouse, the lower part of the plant is removed all the green mass, 3-4 leaves are left on top to protect the plant from ultraviolet rays. 4–5 clusters with 5–8 tomatoes per cluster are formed on the bush. The yield is high - up to 5 kilograms of ripe fruit can be removed from the bush. 3-4 plants are planted on one square. In an open area, the growth and ripening of fruits is more stable than in a greenhouse.
Description of the fruit - ovoid or elongated, fruit weight from 150 to 240 grams. The color of unripe fruits is light green, ripe ones are red. When ripe, there is no green spot on the stalk. When cut into the pulp, 3 seed sacs are formed. The pulp is juicy and red in ripe vegetables. When harvested, yellow tomatoes turn yellow.
The taste is excellent. It has a pronounced tomato taste with a slight sourness and a pronounced tomato aroma. Fresh salads are prepared from the fruits of the hybrid, used for pickling and making juice sauces.
The variety resists bacteriosis, tobacco mosaic virus and Alternaria.
How to grow tomatoes
Princess frog tomatoes are planted in open ground when the soil warms up. In the southern regions this occurs in early May.
In the north and central Russia, tomatoes of this variety are grown exclusively in greenhouses. The timing depends on the temperature outside and whether the greenhouse is heated.
Planting seedlings in a permanent place
The beds for growing tomatoes are prepared in the fall. First of all, choose a suitable place for this crop. The area for growing tomatoes should be in the sunniest part of the garden.
It is important that no nightshades have grown in the beds over the past three years. You also need to take care of your neighbors. Potatoes should not be planted next to tomato beds.
The selected area is dug up and cleared of plant debris. Then the soil is enriched with manure, lime and lime.
In the spring, the tomato beds are dug up again and treated with a disinfecting solution.
In the selected area, holes are dug in rows using a 50x60 pattern. For 1 sq. m plant no more than 3 plants. The recesses for tomatoes are arranged in a checkerboard pattern.
A tablespoon of ash is poured into each hole. Many gardeners also add long-acting granular mineral fertilizer there.
The seedlings are carefully removed from the pot along with a lump of earth and placed in the prepared holes, forming a root towards the center. Warm water is poured into the holes with tomatoes and covered with soil.
Basic rules of care
Despite the fact that Princess Frog tomatoes have a strong and durable stem, they need a garter. Therefore, a wooden support or trellis is installed near each bush. The bush is tied to the support as it grows.
Tomatoes of this variety need shaping. One or two stems are left on each plant. The fewer stems there are, the later the harvest will ripen.
Stepping is carried out regularly.
Not only excess shoots are removed, but also damaged and yellowed leaves in the lower part of the bush. Gardeners also recommend getting rid of ugly inflorescences. Tomato Princess frog is picky about the composition of the soil.
During the season, plants need to be fed four times. It is best to alternate organic and mineral fertilizers. Moisten the beds as the soil dries out. Watering should be plentiful, but infrequent.
After each watering and rain, it is important to loosen the soil. This is necessary to destroy the earthen crust that impedes air exchange.
The beds with tomatoes must be weeded. Weeds not only interfere with the development of the tomato root system, but also contribute to their infection.
Nuances of cultivation
To grow healthy tomatoes, you need to know the basic nuances of caring for them.
This will ensure a better harvest and save you from many mistakes:
- When watering tomatoes, it is important that water does not get on the greens. This can cause leaf rot and lead to plant infection.
- The water used to water the tomatoes should not be cold. Therefore, before use, it is left to stand for several days.
- Plants are planted in the morning and evening. On cloudy days this procedure is not carried out. You cannot water the plants on the day of taking stepson.
- Water the plants also in the evening or in the morning. At the height of the heat, soil moisture contributes to the occurrence of burns on greenery.
How to protect tomatoes from diseases and pests
Despite the fact that the Frog Princess variety is immune to plant diseases, prevention methods cannot be neglected. According to gardeners, this tomato is still sick.
Disinfection is an important part of disease prevention. It is necessary to disinfect not only the planting material itself, the soil and containers, but also the garden tools with which the plants will interact.
Compliance with the rules of watering and pinching will also help avoid infection of plants. After all, it is in waterlogged or overdried soil that it is easiest for infectious agents to develop.
For prevention, bushes are sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate or “Fitosporin”. This method allows you to prevent even late blight.
Attention ! Pests carry infectious agents and damage plants. To protect tomatoes from insects, the bushes are sprayed with a solution of soap and a decoction of celandine. Large beetles are removed manually.
Tomato frog: description of an unusual amphibian
When hearing the word “frog,” many people think of a green or brown amphibian. But Mother Nature's imagination knows no bounds. Some frogs have truly amazing skin color. A striking example confirming this fact is the tomato frog.
These amphibians belong to the order Anurata and the family Narrowmouth. Let's try to figure out why the animal acquired such a “vegetable” nickname. Our article will help you find the answer to this question, and will also tell you about the life of these unusual creatures.
Appearance
The Tomato Narrowmouth, as many call this frog, has a bright red skin color. Some varieties also have brown and yellow stripes on the back.
Females are larger than males, they can grow up to 9 cm in length, while their male relatives rarely reach 7 cm.
The skin of females is brighter, and not only tomato red, but also orange-orange can predominate in their color. The skin of males is usually red-brown. For a certain resemblance to a ripe tomato, the frog received this name.
The abdomen of both sexes is lighter than the back and is yellowish or white. Some frogs have black dots on their necks.
The weight of adult frogs varies from 40 to 200 g, due to which the red frog is considered one of the largest representatives of the order.
Spreading
Red amphibians of this species live in the northeastern forests near water bodies, as well as in urban and rural gardens of the island of Madagascar. It can be found in swampy places, near which there are sources of water. It is noteworthy that, unlike most other amphibians, the tomato frog does not like to swim.
Lifestyle
This animal feels much better on the surface of the earth and digs in it with pleasure. During the day, the red frog sits in its hole, hiding in the foliage or behind snags. In the evening hours the hunt begins, which can last all night. Having settled in ambush, the toad patiently waits for the insects to appear, and she catches them with the help of her long tongue.
Reproduction of narrowmouths
In their natural habitat, red frogs require high humidity to reproduce. The required level occurs after heavy rains, which occur in those parts several times a year. Tomato frogs do not have a mating season as such; they can breed almost all year round.
While luring the lady, the male puts on a grandiose song show. To do this, he settles in a shallow pond, swamp or ditch, and the shelter must first be flooded with water, which will later dry out. This is where the males sing their serenades.
Fertilization in this species of amphibians is internal. The aquatic environment is an ideal place for the tomato frog to spawn. The description of this animal should be supplemented with an impressive figure - there can be up to one and a half thousand eggs in the clutch. They swim in the water for a day and a half until tadpoles emerge from the fertilized eggs. In the first days they are very tiny - up to 5 mm.
Among tomato frogs, it is not customary to take care of their offspring. Parents do not protect or feed their children. The cubs have to survive, relying only on themselves. Tadpoles eat plankton, filtering it from the water.
The babies acquire a frog-like appearance after about a couple of months, but still remain small. Puberty occurs by one year.
The tomato frog lives for quite a long time - up to 10 years.
Natural enemies
Nobody specifically hunts these creatures. Predators can be scared off with claws, teeth, poison, you can simply hide or run away from them. But the tomato frog chooses a different path.
While most of its earth- and swamp-colored relatives hide in the folds of the terrain or underwater, the narrowmouth boldly flaunts its bright red robe. The trick is that this is also a disguise, but this creature is not disguised as a landscape - it pretends to be poisonous.
A striking appearance signals: “It’s dangerous to touch me!”, and therefore no one encroaches on these amphibians.
In an effort to scare the enemy, the frog can swell, increasing in volume. This is not a unique ability; many frogs have it.
Unfortunately, this species cannot be called widespread. Human activity affects the population size, therefore the tomato narrowmouth is listed in the Red Book and is under protection.
Features of cultivation in open ground and greenhouses
In most Russian cities, the frog princess tomato is planted in greenhouses. In such conditions, this variety feels most comfortable. But remember that the room must be regularly ventilated. For ventilation, choose the hottest time of day.
In open ground, it is important to cover the plants with film for the first two weeks, protecting them from night frosts. On cool days it is also worth constructing film shelters.
Mulching the soil in open ground is mandatory. Such protection will protect the beds from frost, diseases and pests.
Planting and care
To grow seedlings in time for transplantation, seeds are sown 60 days before the planned date.
What are the nuances of sowing:
- Choose a fertile soil mixture based on turf and compost.
- Moderately moisturize.
- Place the seeds in grooves 2 cm deep.
- Lightly sprinkle the top with fine soil or mulch.
- Cover with polyethylene until germination, ventilate 2 times a day.
Expert opinion
Valentina Rareko
Editor-in-Chief of Repka.online. Experienced summer resident and gardener.
Such an unusual, tasty and magical variety! The Frog Princess tomato is a favorite of many farmers.
Reviews from those who grew
Tamara 11.21.2018, 13:33 Verified
City:
Samara
Where grown:
Open ground
Producer:
Gavrish, Russia
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Harvesting and application
Frog Princess tomatoes ripen by the end of July or beginning of August. They are collected as they ripen. When overripe, they crack and become too soft, and when unripe, they become tough and tasteless.
Determining the ripeness of green tomatoes is difficult. To understand that the fruits are ready for picking, you need to pay attention to their shade. In ripe berries it is green with a bronze tint. These tomatoes are soft to the touch.
When harvesting tomatoes, leave the stem behind. It increases their shelf life.
The frog princess is a salad variety. Its fruits are not suitable for canning. Some gardeners prepare original sauces and juices from it.
Best reviews from our readers
City: Vladimir region, Gorokhovetsky district
City: Nizhny Novgorod region
Where grown: Open ground
Manufacturer: I don’t know, they gave me ready-made seedlings
source
At first glance, it seems, why can green tomatoes be attractive, since they are all initially green? But no, green varieties, such as the “Frog Princess” tomato, are a real miracle of selection. These amazing tomatoes are in no way inferior to their brightly colored counterparts, and in some ways even surpass their qualities.
The green color of tomatoes is due to the high content of chlorophyll, which has a beneficial effect on the human body: it saturates the blood with oxygen, strengthens the immune system, accelerates the healing process of wounds, removes harmful substances from the body, and has a positive effect on other functions.
Farmer reviews
Reviews about Princess Frog tomatoes are very mixed. Most gardeners note their unusual appearance, but speak negatively about their neediness in care.
Svetlana Manilkina, Lipetsk: “Last year I tried to plant the Frog Princess. Tomatoes, of course, look very unusual. If you tie them up, plant them and fertilize them, then there will be no problems with growing them. However, the result was disappointing. The yield is average, the fruits spoil very quickly. The taste is pleasant, but I like pink tomatoes better.”
Ksenia Ignatieva, Tula: “This is the second year I’ve been growing the Frog Princess tomato. Of course, you will have to tinker with him. But the result is worth it. Tomatoes have an unusual appearance and a sweet, fruity taste. Looks great in salads along with regular tomatoes.”
Best reviews from our readers
- Elena
I've been planting it for 4 seasons now and I really like it! I plant only 2 bushes, since 40 varieties still need to be placed... I plant 2 plants each, since early dew outside makes it impossible to get a harvest. You need to notice where it was planted, otherwise the fruits are green, the skin is strong, and they may become overripe. I love a salad of colorful tomatoes, so I always plant a frog and Viagra! The harvest is good, fruiting is long!!!
- Irina
And I liked it. It was the very first to ripen and is still hanging on the bushes and ripening, although all the other varieties have already faded away. Late blight affects little. And the taste is okay, not sour, everyone is surprised that the tomatoes are ripe. The truth is they don’t last long.
- Tatiana
The variety showed excellent performance even at the seedling stage. In 2022, most of the seedlings suddenly began to get sick (I don’t remember the name of the disease, but white mold appeared on the stems). The frog showed resistance, sitting in the same box with the sick. Then she survived the frosts in a polycarbonate greenhouse under spandbond. In the summer it gave a decent harvest, pleased with sweet fruits of about 300 - 400 grams and less later. And this variety resisted late blight for a long time. I collected the seeds, I’ll definitely sow them in 2022. Yes, they’re not easy to eat, but for a salad or just to eat with salt – super!
- Lily
I am very pleased with this variety, very sweet and bright green inside, like kiwi. When we arrived at the dacha, we ate these tomatoes first, and only then all the red ones. They grew in the sun, the summer was hot, watered once a week, sometimes twice. Now I’m looking for where to buy seeds, because few people have heard of this variety.
- Elena Koval
1.0m/230-250g, mid-early green variety, 3-4 fruits per cluster.
Taste – bright, addictive, sour, sweetness 4.
The bush is strong, the yield is average.
TomatLand10 613 views23 reviews Rating of those who grew it: 3.86 out of 5
You can buy “Frog Princess” tomato seeds from the seller
Plant pests and diseases
The plant is most often attacked by the following pests:
- Colorado beetle. Fighting drugs: “Bombardier”, “Tirana”, “Taboo”;
- scoops. You can fight with chemicals: “Decis”, “Arivo”;
- root-knot nematode. Fitoverm is used to treat the plant.
- aphid. The following drugs will save the plants: Aktara and Tanrek.
Tomato diseases:
- late blight. Bordeaux mixture will do an excellent job at all stages. The solution is prepared on the basis of quicklime (150 g), copper sulfate (90-100 g) and 10 liters. water;
- macrosporiosis. Before planting, be sure to disinfect the seeds, this will reduce the likelihood of disease. For prevention, plants are also treated with Bordeaux mixture.
“Princess” - advantages and disadvantages
To fully evaluate the variety, you need to familiarize yourself with its positive and negative sides.
Advantages of tomato:
- sweet, delicate taste;
- the fruits are shelf-stable, they can be transported over long distances without fear that they will spoil;
- suitable for processing into various tomato products, widely used in cooking;
- unpretentious care;
- productivity is at a high level;
- The fruits set and ripen together.
The main disadvantage is the low threshold of immunity to fungal diseases. To improve the stability of the plant, it is necessary to treat the soil and plant with Fitosporin.
Agricultural technology
Growing tomatoes and harvesting them is actually not that difficult if you know how to do it correctly. Tomatoes of the “Frog Princess” variety do not require special agrotechnical methods or extensive experience.
- Seedlings should be sown 60-65 days before the intended planting, to a depth of no more than 2 cm.
- The seeds must be soaked in advance for 2-3 days.
- As soon as the first 2-3 truly tomato leaves appear, it’s time to plant the seedlings.
- It is recommended to plant in greenhouses and film shelters from the end of April to the beginning of May, in open ground no earlier than the beginning of June, when the threat of frost has passed.
- It should be planted according to a 40 x 60 cm pattern.
- It is better to form bushes in one stem, but it is possible in two.
- A tall, heavily leafy plant needs tying and pinching as it grows.
- It is very important not to miss the full ripening of the fruits and to pick them on time.
The beneficial properties of green tomatoes are not known to everyone. However, “unripe” tomatoes are gradually gaining more and more popularity among connoisseurs of tomato culture. For its amazing taste and aroma, the Frog Princess is forgiven for its unattractive green color.