You can't eat too many fresh tomatoes. But opening a jar of canned tomatoes in winter or after a bath is a real pleasure. And then taste the strong skin and feel the slightly salty taste...
Not all tomatoes are suitable for pickling, but only those that are small in size and have thick skin. Then there is no risk that the fruits will crack due to heat treatment.
Tomatoes of the raceme type are considered ideal for pickling: they are small, elongated and have a wonderful sweet and sour taste, ideal for canning. A lot of grape tomatoes have been bred, but the French grape variety occupies a special place in it.
Description of the variety
Apparently, having received a new variety, the breeders were slightly surprised, because it turned out to be not only short-growing, but also absolutely healthy: practically no diseases or pests “stick” to the plant. The French bunch tomato was created relatively recently, so it is too early to talk about its inclusion in the State Register.
Fruits close up
The name of the variety was invented by chance to attract attention. There’s really nothing French about it, well, if only the sophistication of bushes and fruit clusters. And gardeners owe the creation to our Siberian breeders. She is also the main producer of seeds.
French bunchberry is a tomato with a determinate bush type, although this point has been questioned. The variety is characterized by high yield and mid-season ripening (115-120 days). This is an ideal variety for whole-fruit pickling.
Description of bushes and fruits
The tomato bush is considered determinate, but this is not always the case. As a rule, in open ground the height of the plant does not exceed 1 meter. But in greenhouse conditions the bush grows to the height of an adult man. The plant has a powerful root system that goes to the very depths. The foliage density is high. The type of leaf is a regular tomato leaf, slightly reminiscent of a potato leaf. There is no fluff on the leaf. The stems of the plant are powerful and durable, which allows the variety to practically not require staking. The tomato inflorescence is simple yellow in color, with a characteristic pungent odor.
Young bushes with garter
But with fruits it’s even more interesting. Summer residents who do not have long experience in growing tomatoes confuse the French bunch with the lady fingers variety. Indeed, the fruits are very similar: in shape and size. However, experienced gardeners will immediately say that ladyfingers are primarily cylindrical in shape, with a barely noticeable thickening at the end, and the berries are slightly larger.
The French bunch variety is distinguished by its ideal oval ellipsoidal shape (without thickening) and low weight of berries: no more than 100 grams. The color of ripe berries is bright red; there are 8-12 berries on one fruit cluster; taste - solid 4. This score is due to the fact that tomatoes of this variety have a fairly high dry matter content, which is why the fruits are not very juicy.
This feature is one of the advantages of the variety, since the berries are stored well and for a long time (up to several weeks). They can be transported over long distances. The skin of ripe berries is very dense, and there are very few seed chambers.
Distinctive features
The French bunch tomato has many advantages and excellent characteristics.
Ripe fruits in section
The variety description reads as follows:
- Growing tomatoes is very easy. Even an inexperienced gardener can cope with this. During active growth, many tomato varieties form many stepsons. This does not apply to the French grape variety, since it has already been bred with the property of producing a minimum number of stepsons. This is why it gained popularity;
- Interesting and convenient fruit shape. On a fruit cluster they look neat and impressive: the red color of the berries is everywhere, inside and out;
- The fruits retain their shape perfectly and do not crack in the jar;
- This variety of tomatoes is almost not affected by most nightshade diseases, and even pests rarely stick to it.
Description of the French Bunch tomato
French Grozdevoy tomato variety of medium-late ripening. About 4 months pass from the moment of germination. The bushes are of the determinate type, the plant height is 1-1.5 meters. In a greenhouse it can grow up to 2 m.
Bushes with powerful stems occupy a large area, which must be taken into account when planting. The leaves are lush green, medium foliage. Few stepsons are formed, so most often they are not cut off.
The first flower cluster is formed above the 8-9 leaf. Each of them has up to 20 flowers. In total, a maximum of 6 bunches are formed on tomatoes of the French Grozdevoy variety, after which the main stem stops growing.
Description of fruits
To understand what the variety of tomatoes created in Siberia is, you need to get acquainted with the description:
- the fruits of the variety are small, compact, weighing on average from 80 to 100 g;
- tomatoes are oval, slightly elongated, as gardeners write in reviews, they look like fingers (this feature can be seen in the photo below);
- At first the fruits are green, at the stalk it is richer (they turn red when ripe);
- the skin of tomatoes of the French Bunch variety is dense, which is very welcomed by gardeners;
- the seed chambers are small, the tomatoes are distinguished by juicy, sweetish pink flesh.
Characteristics of tomatoes
Each tomato variety has its own basic set of characteristics that distinguish it from the other. The French bunch tomato, based on the description, has the following:
- Unusual shape of ripe berries;
- Standard but bright rich red color;
- The skin is smooth and dense;
- Good taste;
- Small and convenient fruit size;
- Ideal for pickling;
- Due to their long shelf life, many people grow these tomatoes on an industrial scale.
Advantages and disadvantages
The French grape variety has few disadvantages and many advantages. The advantages include the following qualities:
- High immunity to diseases;
- Possibility of long-term storage;
- The best variety for preservation;
- Tolerates temperature changes well;
- Compactness of the bush in open ground;
- The plant practically does not require pruning and staking.
The variety also has disadvantages. For some they are unimportant, but others prefer to grow other varieties over this one. First of all, it is a controversial taste. Many people like the sweet and sour taste, but due to the high dry matter content, the berries of the French bunch are not juicy. The second point is the late ripening period, due to which seedlings are planted in open ground at the end of May or even at the beginning of June.
Tomato yield
This variety, based on the agro description, is considered productive. In practice, the opposite is often the case, but this variety fully justifies itself. The average yield from one bush reaches up to 10 kg per season. Up to 4 kg of ripe berries are collected from the bush at a time. Fruiting lasts until early September, in greenhouse conditions - until the onset of primary frosts.
Growing region
Despite the fact that this variety is considered mid-season, many gardeners classify it as late-ripening. That is why in the north and central zone of Russia it is not grown in open ground. A greenhouse is used. But for regions with a southern climate, this variety is quite suitable.
Resistance to diseases and pests
It’s not for nothing that summer residents love this variety, because it is almost immune to diseases, such as:
- Apical and gray rot;
- Late blight;
- Mosaic and others.
All kinds of beetles, aphids and mole crickets are also reluctant to feast on this variety. Apparently there are tastier varieties.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Since this variety is relatively new and few people know about it, you need to become familiar with the main advantages of the culture and its negative sides.
Pros:
- excellent taste;
- high and stable yield;
- lack of stepsoning;
- good keeping quality;
- possibility of long-term transportation;
- collection of planting material for next year;
- rapid ripening of picked unripe tomatoes;
- ease of plant care;
- marketable condition;
- immunity to many diseases;
- versatility of using harvested tomatoes.
As for the shortcomings, the French bunch has none. Is it possible that the fruits ripen later?
Growing seedlings
The seedling method is the most popular and optimal way to grow a high-quality bush. This method is applicable even for early-ripening varieties, but for mid- and late-ripening varieties it is mandatory.
Growing seedlings includes the following points:
- Purchasing or self-harvesting seeds;
- Preparation of seeds before sowing (rejection, disinfection, growth stimulation, etc.);
- Sowing;
- Picking;
- Care before and after picking;
- Preventive examination;
- Hardening.
Optimal timing for sowing
The most normal time for sowing planting material is considered to be 2-2.5 months before planting in a permanent place: late February - early March.
Seed treatment
Many people don’t particularly bother with the preliminary preparation of seeds. Meanwhile, this is perhaps the most important procedure. You can, of course, sow right away, but then see that some seeds did not germinate or were affected by some kind of disease. As a result, most of the seedlings are unsuitable for further cultivation. All this could have been avoided if the owner had carried out a number of procedures:
- Rejection;
- Disinfection;
- Stimulation;
- Hardening.
And now about each stage of preparation - separately:
- Rejection. This procedure is needed in order to understand which seeds are suitable for planting and which are not. To do this, the seeds are placed in a saline solution for thirty minutes (at the rate of 1 teaspoon per glass of water);
- Disinfection: will help young seeds not get sick during the process of germination and growth. To do this, take 200 ml of warm water and 2 mg of potassium permanganate. Time - thirty minutes. After the disinfection procedure, the seeds must be washed with running water and dried. Sometimes hydrogen peroxide or a soda solution is used: it will not only disinfect the seeds, but also help them germinate faster. The seeds are soaked in a soda solution (100 ml of water and 0.5 tsp) for 10 hours;
- Stimulation: why wait when you can treat the seeds to make them germinate faster. To do this, use either purchased drugs (epin, sodium humate) or natural ingredients (honey water, soda solution, aloe juice);
- Hardening: an optional procedure, but still often used. To do this, the seed is placed in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
Options for soil and containers for tomato seedlings
For seeds to grow normally, they need space. Until picking occurs, the seeds are grown in a low and spacious box. Plastic or cardboard cups, scraps of bottles or juice cartons are suitable for picking.
You can purchase soil or prepare it yourself. Most often, they use purchased soil mixture, since it not only contains all the necessary substances, but is also disinfected. Homemade soil options:
- Turf soil mixed in equal proportions with peat and humus and a glass of water. Mixture weight - 10 l;
- Peat, wood ash, potassium, urea and phosphorus (in proportions 10 kg + 1 tbsp + 10 grams of both + 30 grams);
- Chernozem with sand mixed with potassium and phosphorus.
Sowing seeds
The sowing procedure occurs in several stages:
- The soil mixture is poured into the planting container, not reaching a few cm to the edge;
- Seeds are sown to a depth of no more than 5 cm, with a distance of approximately 2 cm from each other;
- The seed material is covered with film or transparent glass. High temperature and lack of air will provoke a greenhouse effect and high humidity, which will accelerate seed germination;
- The planting container is placed in a very warm and dark place.
Seedling care
As soon as the sprouts hatch, the film must be removed. Now the sprouts will need a lot of light, but a little less heat. If there is not enough light, the young plants must be illuminated with lamps, otherwise the seedlings will grow weak but tall. Light is provided to seedlings for 14 hours.
There is no need to water much. Excess moisture does nothing but harm. If the soil is too wet, it will develop mold or mildew. And this is the end of all seedlings. Only when the soil dries out can it be moistened with a sprayer.
Under no circumstances should you allow even the smallest drops to fall on the leaves: drops of water and high temperatures on the windowsill will cause burns on the leaves. In this case, the plant will die.
Hardening of seedlings
Not everyone resorts to this procedure. But plants need it vitally. In order for the bush to quickly adapt to open ground and tolerate temperature changes well, the seedlings need to be hardened off. This is how the plant itself and its immunity are trained. To do this, a couple of weeks before planting, the young animals are taken out to their permanent place. Or on the balcony (if you have an apartment), or in the yard.
The time spent on the first day is no more than half an hour. In the future, the interval of exposure to fresh air increases every day by 10 minutes. On the last day, the duration of the seedlings' exposure to fresh air should be approximately 1.5 hours or more.
Tomato care
Waterlogging of the soil is undesirable for this type of tomato, so watering is carried out rarely, but abundantly.
Since the plant is quite powerful, it requires abundant feeding. An approximate schedule might look like this:
- 18-20 days after planting, the Diadem is fed with mullein diluted in water;
- after the next two weeks, potassium and phosphate fertilizers are added to the mullein fertilizer;
- after another two weeks, feed with sodium humate.
Do not let the mixture get on the plant itself, otherwise you risk burning the tomatoes.
Note! Immediately before feeding, the Diadem needs to be watered abundantly. This tomato loves to be fertilized and sprayed with an aqueous solution with the addition of boric acid.
This allows for faster fruit formation
This tomato loves to be fertilized and sprayed with an aqueous solution with the addition of boric acid. This allows you to speed up the formation of fruits.
The bush of the plant is formed into two stems, carrying out the pinching procedure in a timely manner to improve the ventilation of the seedling. Since nightshade crops grow intensively, the formation process should not be left to chance, otherwise, instead of a bountiful harvest, you will get thickets of green shoots.
The stepsoning of the Tiara has some peculiarities. Each stem should have about seven to eight inflorescences. The stepson develops best when left at the bottom of the first flower cluster.
Experts recommend removing all the lower leaves on the stem. This process should be carried out until the distance to the ground reaches 30 centimeters. The procedure allows you to avoid fungal infections and saturate the soil with oxygen. It is advisable to add to this the loosening of the soil around the plant.
Upon completion of the formation of 7–8 flower brushes, it is advisable to “pin” the top of the Tiara. If this is not done, a powerful plant will draw all its strength to grow, and this, in turn, will limit the amount of harvest. The procedure is carried out in such a way that there are about two leaves at the top of each brush. “Pinning” has a beneficial effect on the supply of nutrients to the fruit.
Diadem tomatoes are characterized by a low location of the first floral thread; it is formed after the first 5-7 leaves. For this variety, it is recommended to combine the first process of pinching with tying the bush to a support. This will help keep the plant intact and remove shoots before the first flowering.
Features of cultivation
The French bunch tomato is an extremely unpretentious and unpretentious variety. This is indicated by the description of the variety. Due to the fact that the plant ripens late, it is better to sow the seeds through seedlings. Sowing time is 2.5 months. The variety of these tomatoes is universal in cultivation, that is, it is suitable for both indoor and open ground.
Landing in a permanent place
As soon as the seedlings have become strong enough, tall (15-20 cm) and reached the age of 35-40 days, they begin to plant them in a permanent place. The timing of disembarkation depends on the region and climate of the resident. So, for open ground the optimal time is the end of April. Or the beginning of June.
Normal level of thickening per 1 sq. m - no more than 4 plants. A larger amount will cause slow growth, as the bushes will not have enough light and air. Immediately after planting, the plant requires a garter: this variety is productive and produces many fruits on the fruit clusters. If there are a lot of brushes and berries, and the bushes are not tied up, the stem and brushes will bend toward the ground and may become infected with rot.
Tips for choosing fertilizers
In order for a tomato to produce a good harvest in the future, it needs to be fed. Many summer residents opt for purchased fertilizers, but our parents and grandmothers always preferred natural fertilizers: cow manure, bird guano and others. And tomatoes really love diluted yeast mash. Fertilizer from chicken manure is prepared as follows:
- Dilute with water and infuse for three days;
- Then add 15 grams of ammonium nitrate.
Farmer reviews
Reviews about the French bunch tomato are mostly positive .
However, some farmers do not like that the fruits of this productive variety are not juicy enough. Irina Ignatieva, Moscow: “I’ve been planting French grapes for three years now.
The most unpretentious variety from my collection. It does not need to be planted; it is also not demanding when it comes to watering. The fruits are really dry, but I consider this a plus, since tomatoes don’t leak in salads.” Ilya Vasiliev, Voronezh: “I didn’t really like the French grape tomato. Its fruits are dry and suitable only for pickling. It's really easy to grow. From 1 sq. m collected 4 buckets of tomatoes. Just like in the photo, all the brushes were literally strewn with fruits.”
Outdoor care
Caring for the French grape variety is no different from caring for other tomato varieties. Normal care is a set of measures consisting of:
- Periodic watering and fertilizing;
- Loosening and mulching;
- Regular pinching to avoid overgrowth of greenery;
- Preventive measures to protect against diseases and pests.
Watering
Excess moisture never brings anything but harm. Excessively wet soil is a breeding ground for all kinds of fungi and bacteria. Therefore, tomato bushes are watered infrequently: no more than once every 4-5 days. The most common mistake is watering in hot weather with cold water.
Some people think that plants are like people: if it’s hot, then they need cold water. As a result of such watering, the roots of the tomato begin to rot. Therefore, to prevent this from happening, watering is carried out only with warm water, in the evening or morning. After planting, the seedlings are watered immediately, and then not watered for 10-12 days, so that the roots adapt faster and learn to seek moisture on their own.
Feeding
The plant is fed throughout the growing season. The frequency of fertilizing is no more than 4 times per season. The first feeding is a couple of weeks after planting in the ground. Subsequent ones - every 3 weeks.
Forming and tying bushes
Tie up the tomato immediately after planting. In order for the plant to produce a lot of fruit, the bushes form a maximum of 3-4 stems. When more stems are formed, more intensive and thorough care and feeding will be required. Stepchildren are also periodically pruned so that the plant does not spend all its energy on growing greenery.
Soil care
Preliminary care of the soil consists of autumn digging and disinfection (autumn and spring). To ensure that the soil does not become infected with fungus or rot and receives sufficient light and oxygen, the soil is loosened and mulched.
Loosening is carried out after each watering, with a previously disinfected tool. Mulching - immediately after planting in a permanent place. Every two weeks, the mulch layer (hay, sawdust, non-woven material) is inspected and changed.
Analogs
Tomato Grozdeva F1 has two analogues. The varieties were able to win the hearts of gardeners with their unique appearance and excellent taste. The varieties are unpretentious in care and can be proud of their high yields.
Siberian grozdevoy
Belongs to the determinant medium-sized group. Strong bushes reach a height of 90 cm and are distinguished by moderate foliage. The average weight of tomatoes is 150 g. Their shape resembles an oblong plum. The color is red-raspberry, the flesh is sweet, fleshy and sugary at the break.
The growing season is 120–130 days. One brush forms 5-6 fruits. Productivity – 7 kg per 1 sq. m in open ground and 10–12 kg per 1 sq. m in greenhouses. Siberian bunchweed is resistant to frost, has an excellent presentation and is universal in use.
Black grape
Indeterminate tall tomato. It got its name because of the dark color of the fruit. Forms 8-10 clusters, each consisting of 6-7 tomatoes. The weight of a plum tomato in bunches reaches 80 g. The yield is 12–14 kg per 1 sq. m.
The fruiting period is extended, tomatoes set until cold weather, including September, provided they are grown indoors. The bush can reach a height of 3–3.5 m, so the crown must be pinched and the plant formed into 1-2 stems. Tomatoes of the Black grape variety are very responsive to fertilizing.
It is important to apply fertilizers correctly and monitor regular watering, preventing the soil from drying out.
French grape
Gained popularity due to its high yield and low maintenance requirements. The tomato was bred by a Siberian breeder and is being released (the same company also produces Sibirsky Grozdevoy).
It differs in that it forms a minimal number of stepsons, so the bushes do not require shaping. Resistant to late blight, dry rot and many other fungi.
Tomato has features:
- the bush reaches a height of 1–1.7 m, the stems are thick and strong;
- one brush forms 10–15 bright red tomatoes;
- one bush produces up to 10 kg of fruit (it is better to plant 3-4 plants per 1 sq. m);
- medium-sized fruits resemble a slightly elongated pear;
- one berry weighs from 70 to 100 g;
- the taste is sweet and sour, but the tomatoes are very meaty and juicy.
The nuances of cultivating tomatoes in open and closed ground
Growing in beds or a greenhouse is no different, except that the greenhouse must be periodically ventilated. This will provide access to fresh air.
Diseases and pests
The variety of these tomatoes is highly resistant to nightshade diseases, such as:
- Late blight;
- Rot;
- Brown spot and others.
Of the pests, the maximum that can attack a tomato is the Colorado potato beetle or aphid.
Disease and pest control
If the plant is still affected by late blight or mosaic, it is better to remove the diseased bush in a timely manner so that it does not infect others. Soap solution, dandelion decoction, Tabu preparations and others will help against pests.
Prevention
To prevent the bush from becoming infected with diseases, it needs to be helped and protected from fungi, viruses and other diseases. To do this, in early spring, when the soil has just warmed up (a week before planting seedlings) and in the fall, the soil is watered with a strong solution of manganese or vitriol.
After several days have passed after transplanting the young animals into the ground, diluted iodine is added to it (10 liters of water + 5 drops). Planting “stinky” plants next to the holes: onions, garlic, mint, lemon balm, marigolds and others protects against pests.
Pest and disease control
To prevent fungal diseases, French grape tomato seedlings should be treated with a fungicide 5-7 days before transplanting into the ground. For this, effective drugs are used (one to choose from):
- "Fundazol";
- "Maksim";
- "Ordan";
- "Tattu";
- "Fitosporin";
- Bordeaux mixture.
Aphids, Colorado potato beetles, nematodes and other pests are destroyed with insecticide solutions:
- "Aktara";
- "Confidor";
- "Spark";
- "Karate";
- "Fitoverm";
- "Vertimek".
French grape tomato bushes can also be treated with folk remedies. Solutions of baking soda, wood ash with tar soap shavings, garlic infusion, from onion peels, chili peppers and others show good effectiveness.
Important! When grown in an open garden, bushes should be sprayed only in dry and windless weather, preferably in the late evening. In the case of chemical treatment, harvesting can be done no earlier than 2-3 days or later.
Comparison with other varieties
There are a lot of varieties of mid-season tomatoes. In addition to the French bunch, the following are popular:
- Zhenaros F1. Forms clusters of large, round, regularly shaped fruits with dense skin. It has “innate” immunity to all types of rot and viruses typical of the culture.
Tomato Zhenaros F1 is not susceptible to many diseases dangerous to the crop
- Mushroom basket. Indeterminate variety. The fruits have an original shape, with strongly pronounced ribs. The taste is sweet, almost without sourness. It is characterized by high productivity, but also heat-loving properties. Susceptible to pest attacks.
Tomato Mushroom basket is quite difficult to confuse with any other variety
- I have a sweet tooth. Designed mainly for closed ground. Without shelter it can only be grown in the southern regions, where the bushes will receive enough heat and light. The fruits are medium-sized, round in shape, and have a rich taste.
Tomato Slastena is demanding on cultivation conditions
- Zhigalo. Most often cultivated indoors. The fruits are shaped like sausages and are located very tightly on the cluster. Characterized by long and abundant fruiting and uniform ripening of the crop.
Tomato Zhigalo is best grown in greenhouses
- Lady fingers. Very compact plants (height up to 60 cm). The shape of the fruits is elongated-cylindrical, weight is about 50 g. There are 5-6 of them in a brush. They ripen almost simultaneously.
The Lady Fingers tomato stands out for its “small size” bush
