In the early 2000s, Australian and American amateur breeders began working on developing new varieties of tomatoes. The project was called Dwart, which means “Dwarf”. Over the course of a decade and a half, they were joined by amateurs from different countries. Russian breeders did not stand aside either.
When developing new varieties of tomatoes from the Gnome series, the following tasks were set:
- The ability to grow tomatoes in limited conditions, and specifically when there is not enough free space.
- High yield.
- Resistance to various diseases characteristic of the nightshade family.
All goals were achieved. Moreover, in the process of breeding work over a decade and a half, more than two dozen new varieties of tomatoes were created. The entire series received the unusual name “Gnome”. Work on developing new varieties does not stop at this time.
Description of the tomato variety Purple Heart
The Purple Heart tomato is a mid-season variety - at least 110 days pass from the moment the seed material germinates until the ripe tomatoes are harvested. Tomato bushes are classified as indeterminate, with unlimited shoot growth. The central stems reach 170-180 cm in height and are well leafy. The foliage is medium in length, narrow, typical of tomatoes, with sharp tips, rich emerald color.
The flowers are small in size, collected in racemose complex inflorescences. The first inflorescence is formed under 7-8 permanent leaves, and each subsequent one is formed through a couple of leaves. Each inflorescence produces 10 ovaries.
History of origin of the variety
The tomato variety Purple Heart was bred by breeder V. I. Blokin-Mechtalin in 2022, and then was submitted for variety testing. And this tomato variety was included in the Russian State Register in 2022.
The variety is intended for cultivation in film tunnels, greenhouses and in closed ground in many Russian regions: Northern, Northwestern, Central, Volga-Vyatka, Central Black Earth, North Caucasus, Middle Volga, Lower Volga, Ural, West Siberian, East Siberian, Far Eastern.
Fruit characteristics, yield
The fruits are large in size, heart-shaped, medium-ribbed, the stalks are articulated. The skin is quite dense; in unripe fruits it is green, with a darker spot at the stalk. Fully ripened tomatoes are purple-violet in color.
The average weight of the fruit is 260-270 g. The pulp is quite compacted and fleshy. Each fruit contains at least 6 seed nests with an average amount of seed material.
The yield of the Violet Heart tomato in greenhouse conditions is about 25 kg per square meter, and when grown in garden beds - up to 20 kg per square meter. And from each bush you can collect up to 4 kg of ripe tomatoes.
Ripe tomatoes do not burst, so they tolerate transportation well over different distances, and can also be stored in a cool place for up to one and a half to two weeks.
Area of application of fruits
The taste and aroma of the fruits are fully revealed only when they are fully ripened on the bushes. First of all, the harvested crop is used for fresh consumption, as well as in summer salads and snacks.
But it is possible to use ripe fruits for wrapping for the winter, in particular for sealing tomato juice.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Gnome Purple Heart is a determinate standard variety. Bushes rarely grow higher than 0.5-0.6 m. They do not require pinching or pinching. Fruitful clusters with 5-6 tomatoes are formed.
The average weight of tomatoes is 100-120 g.
The pulp is tender, juicy and buttery, with a chocolate tint. The taste is sweetish with faint notes of tomato sourness. There are few seed chambers.
Ripening time is average - 110-122 days from emergence.
Characteristics of tomato
The Purple Heart tomato is resistant to stressful situations and practically does not react to sudden changes in temperature, but it is advisable to grow it in sunny areas, since in the shade the bushes of this variety grow worse and the fruits will grow smaller.
Resistance to diseases and pests
It should be noted that the Purple Heart tomato is resistant to the main diseases characteristic of other tomato varieties, and is also practically not damaged by harmful insects.
However, if the rules for caring for tomatoes of this variety are violated, especially in greenhouse conditions, it is possible that fungal diseases may appear on the bushes. To reduce the risk of their occurrence, spraying with copper-containing preparations should be carried out.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main advantages of the Purple Heart tomato variety include:
- the variety is indeterminate, up to 1.7-1.9 m in height;
- fairly high tomato yield;
- original coloring of the skin of the fruit;
- large-fruitedness of this tomato;
- pleasant taste of tomatoes;
- resistance to major diseases characteristic of tomatoes;
- the ability to transport the harvested crop over any distance;
- Since the tomato is a variety, its seeds can be collected from ripe tomatoes for planting later.
This tomato has no particular disadvantages; it only needs to be noted that it was bred for growing in greenhouse conditions.
Similar varieties of tomatoes
Other varieties of tomatoes with purple skin:
- Indigo rose. This variety has the darkest fruit skin color of all tomato varieties and a medium-early tomato ripening period. The height of the bushes when grown in a greenhouse is 2 m, when planted in garden beds - about 1 m. Indigo rose is characterized by high resistance to major diseases, excellent taste of the fruit and original coloring of the fruit.
- Blue beauty. In this variety, the color of the fruits changes depending on the degree of their ripening; at the stage of technical ripening, the main tone of the tomatoes is green, and only the shoulders are blue. And fully ripened tomatoes turn purple, almost black.
- Purple fairy. This tomato variety is intended for growing in greenhouse conditions or in garden beds. To increase the yield of bushes, it is advisable to form them into 2 or 3 shoots. The fruits are oblong with a strong skin, not prone to cracking.
Growing rules
Tomato variety Violet Heart is grown in seedlings. In this case, the seed material is planted in containers about a couple of months before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place.
Planting seedlings
Seed material of this variety is sold by the agricultural company “Partner”, and it has undergone all pre-planting processing at the company. Therefore, purchased seeds can be immediately planted in containers filled with nutrient substrate.
If the seeds were collected from mature fruits in your own garden or in a greenhouse, then they must be calibrated before planting. To do this, all seeds intended for sowing are dipped in salted water. Empty seed material will float to the surface, it will not germinate, so it is simply thrown away. And the one that has sunk to the bottom should be taken out and placed in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for a couple of hours for disinfection. The seeds are then washed and soaked for germination.
At the same time, you should purchase a nutrient substrate for growing vegetable seedlings from a specialized store, disinfect the containers in which the seeds will be planted, then you can spread the nutrient mixture into the containers and make grooves into which the seed material will be distributed.
The seeds are covered with a thin layer of soil on top, watered with a spray bottle and covered with film so that shoots appear faster.
The first sprouts appear 5-6 days after planting, and when most of the sprouts appear, the polyethylene can be removed and the containers with the plants moved to a bright place where they will grow further.
When the first leaves appear on the seedlings, they should be picked into separate pots. And 12-14 days after the picking procedure, you need to feed the sprouts with nitrogen-containing fertilizers for the first time. After a couple of weeks, but no later than 14 days before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, fertilizing should be repeated.
A couple of weeks before transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, they should begin to harden off. To do this, pots with seedlings are taken out into the fresh air for a short time at first, but the time spent outside is gradually increased.
Tomato transplant
Transplantation of Violet Heart tomato seedlings to a permanent place is carried out a couple of months after germination of the seed material. This tomato variety grows best on loose, fertile soil - sandy loam or loamy soil.
Plant no more than 3 seedlings per square area.
Subsequent care for tomatoes
In the future, caring for the Purple Heart tomato bushes includes regular watering, timely fertilizing, pinching and tying.
Watering
Tomatoes of this variety are responsive to the addition of moisture to the soil. But it is important that the water is settled and warm, and cold water can cause fungal diseases to develop on tomato bushes.
At least 1-1.5 liters of moisture are added to each adult bush 2-3 times a week. If the summer is dry and hot, then watering can be done daily in the early morning or evening. If the summer is rainy, then the number and volume of watering should be reduced.
Fertilizing
In order for the yield of this tomato variety to be high, you need to regularly apply fertilizer to the tomato bushes throughout the season.
During the growth of the vegetative mass, it is necessary to apply nitrogen-containing fertilizers, which activate the growth of foliage and root system. When the buds begin to bloom, a mixture of superphosphate and potassium salt should be added to the root zone of the bushes - thanks to these fertilizers, more flowers appear on the bushes and ovaries form more actively. When the fruits begin to ripen, the tomatoes are fed for the last time with a mixture of superphosphate and potassium salt.
Pinching and tying
Since the bushes of this tomato grow up to 1.7-1.8 m in height, they must be tied to strong supports when the fruits on the bushes begin to ripen. Otherwise, the shoots may break off under the weight of the ripening crop.
It is recommended to grow this tomato bushes in 2-3 stems. To do this, 1-2 stepsons are left under the first inflorescence, from which side shoots will grow. And the remaining stepsons should be removed as they appear.
Additional care
In addition to tying the stems, it is recommended to place supports under the fruits, as they grow quite heavy.
After watering, it is also necessary to loosen the root zone and mulch the soil with humus or compost.
Advantages of the variety
The chokeberry tomato variety Cherokee has a centuries-old history. More than 100 years ago, tomato seeds were given to one of the settlers by the Cherokee Indians. This tomato served as the basis for other varieties of Cherokee tomatoes.
The variety is medium-sized; during the growing season, depending on growing conditions, the height of the bush reaches 120-180 cm. Tomato with an average early ripening period; characterized by high productivity.
Leaves are of normal type. The plant forms a branched cluster of a complex type, in which up to 10 fruits ripen. At the stage of technical ripeness, tomatoes become purple in color. When a tomato is cut horizontally, many chambers with a small number of seeds are observed.
The fruits of the purple Cherokee tomato have a flat, round shape that resembles a heart in appearance. Tomatoes have a delicious smoky aroma, dense and fleshy pulp, and a sweet taste.
Tomatoes are medium in size, their weight reaches 300-500 g. Subject to the rules of agricultural technology, the presence of fertilizing and moderate watering, the yield reaches 4 kg per plant.
The fruits of this variety contain anthocyanin (purple pigment). It is a powerful antioxidant that is beneficial for people suffering from any heart disease, diabetes.
It is recommended to include tomatoes in the diet. The presence of tomatoes in the menu helps improve the functioning of the heart muscle, reduces the likelihood of blood clots, and reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke, and atherosclerosis.
Reviews from vegetable growers indicate an average ripening period, high productivity of the variety, and resistance to fungal and viral diseases of nightshade crops. The unusual appearance of the tomato allows the crop to be used as an element of landscape design.
Cherokee Purple Heart tomato is recommended to grow in 2-3 stems. The plant requires removal of excess shoots and tying to a support.
In cooking, the fruits are used to prepare fresh tomato juice.
See also
Description of the breeding tomato Uncle Styopa and agricultural technology for growing the variety
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