With the onset of the sowing season, every gardener is puzzled by the choice of varieties of certain vegetables that are planned to be grown in their own plot. It is always difficult for tomato lovers to make a choice in favor of one or another variety, because today there are simply an unimaginable number of them. In this article, we will give a description of "beginner" tomatoes, and also share the features of growing this tasty and he althy vegetable. This variety has long established itself as very tasty and high-yielding. Its popularity is growing every year more and more, and therefore we invite you to get to know this tomato better.
Variety description
Tomato "novice" refers to the determinant type of plants. A compact, non-standard bush has an average density of leaves. The height of the tomato bush does not exceed 90 centimeters. To get a rich harvest, a tomato requires constant pinching. The first brush is laid after the fifth or seventh sheet, all subsequent brushes are formed throughevery two leaves. Each brush consists of 5-6 tomatoes of the same weight and size. As shown in the photo of the "novice" tomato, the fruit is egg-shaped and contains no more than five seed chambers. The average weight of a tomato is from 85 to 105 grams. The fleshy and dense pulp has a rich sweetish taste and is hidden under a fairly strong skin, which makes it possible to preserve these tomatoes as a whole.
There are two varieties of "beginner" tomato: pink and red. The main difference between the pink variety is considered to be a more delicate taste and resistance to more diseases. However, the pink "beginner" requires much more frequent feeding. The lack of fertilizer instantly affects the taste of the fruit.
Dignity of the variety
The characteristic of the "beginner" tomato consists of almost the same advantages:
- Ripe fruits are great for eating fresh, canning, making juices and tomato paste.
- This variety is grown in greenhouse and outdoor conditions.
- Amicably and fast ripening of fruits occurs within 53-55 days after transplanting seedlings.
- The high resistance of this variety to brown spot and gall nematode is highly appreciated by experienced gardeners.
- Impeccable presentation that allows you to grow these tomatoes not only for yourself, but also for sale.
- Long-term preservation of taste and appearance during storage and transportation.
- Tomato "beginner" quietlytolerates prolonged cold, which absolutely does not affect the rate of formation of the ovary.
Preparing seeds for planting
To get a strong and he althy plant, it is important to pay special attention to seed preparation. On average, their germination lasts for two years. In this section, we will talk about culling, dressing and hardening of planting material.
- Culling is a simple but time consuming process. This procedure is aimed at selecting the largest and full-weight seeds. To simplify this process, dissolve a spoonful of s alt in a glass of water and place the seeds in this solution. After 15 minutes, the floating seeds are removed and discarded. The settled seeds are well washed and sent for further preparation.
- Etching, or disinfection, consists in treating the planting material with a manganese solution for half an hour. This procedure will protect the seeds from the effects of harmful insects and the development of diseases.
- Sprouting can be accelerated by wrapping seeds in damp gauze or foil paper. At this stage, it is important not to allow the material to dry out.
- To obtain tomatoes that are resistant to temperature extremes, soaked seeds overnight are sent to the refrigerator chamber. After that, they are again transferred to heat for 10-12 hours. This preparation is repeated several times.
Features of growing seedlings
The most important growing periodof tomatoes is the preparation of seedlings. The future harvest depends on the quality of seedlings.
The sowing procedure begins at the end of March or early April. Seeds prepared for planting are sown to a depth of about one and a half centimeters. After that, plantings are sprinkled with a thin layer of earth and slightly moistened. Then the box with seeds is covered with film or glass and placed in a warm and well-lit place.
It is advisable to shed the soil for growing seedlings with a growth stimulator. For self-preparation of the soil mixture, it is necessary to mix two parts of humus, the same amount of mullein and garden soil, as well as five parts of peat. If this is not possible, then you can use a purchased universal primer. The soil should always be loose and moist.
Transplanting in open ground
A rather important stage in the cultivation of tomatoes is the transfer of plants to open ground. Proper and timely planting of "beginner" tomatoes in the greenhouse guarantees early ripening of a bountiful harvest of high quality.
Before you transfer the seedlings to the greenhouse, prepare the soil for planting. To do this, a hot solution of copper sulfate is introduced into it. This is done a week before the proposed transplant, which provides good protection against pests. After that, fertilizing begins. At least 10 kilograms of humus, half a bucket of ash and 50 grams of superphosphate fertilizer are applied for each square meter of the plot. After that, the entire area is carefully dug up. Under landing well developedseedlings dig holes into which a small amount of water is poured. The optimal arrangement of bushes is 40 x 50 centimeters.
It is recommended to grow tomatoes in areas where cucumbers, onions, potatoes and carrots have previously grown. But after eggplant and pepper, planting tomatoes is not worth it. In general, the soil for "beginner" tomatoes should be neutral or slightly acidic.
Water and fertilize
Tomato variety "beginner" needs regular and abundant watering, as well as periodic fertilization of the soil. This type of tomato is very photophilous and prefers high air temperature.
Watering should be constant, but moderate, since excess moisture in the soil begins rotting of the root system and death of the plant. This is especially true on cool days, when evaporation is significantly slowed down. In dry weather, watering is carried out every three days, preferably in the evening. Falling leaves and drooping ovaries will tell about the lack of water.
This variety does not require a large amount of mineral dressings - it is enough to fertilize the soil with ash and ground eggshells. Top dressing is applied under the bushes, which then spill well with water. Gardeners also use chicken manure as an organic fertilizer. Spraying with a weak solution of boric acid helps stimulate flowering. be sure to alternate mineral and organic top dressings.
Loosening and weeding
Requiredprocedures for caring for tomatoes ("beginner" is no exception) are: loosening the soil, removing weeds and weeding. The soil for growing plants should always be in a loose and light state - this provides access to oxygen and nutrients to the root system, which significantly affects the yield. It is advisable to loosen the aisles after each watering or once every two weeks. The first few weeks after planting, deeper loosening is permissible - by 11-13 centimeters, after which the depth decreases to 5-7 centimeters due to the development of the root system. Removing weeds during weeding is also necessary, as parasitic plants take nutrients and water from tomatoes.
Garter
Tomato bushes "novice", like many other varieties, need a garter. Each bush can be tied to a separate peg or a trellis can be built. The support must be located from the west or north. The distance between the peg and the bush should be no more than ten centimeters. The garter is carried out with a soft cloth or rag, without pressing against the support with excessive force.
Crop characteristics
Tomato "beginner" refers to varieties of early ripeness. On average, the period of fruit ripening from the moment of planting varies from 110 to 125 days. When recalculating the time from the day of transplanting into open ground, the ripening period is two months.
With a standard planting pattern, at least six bushes are planted per square meter. According to reviews of the "newbie" tomato, one bush does notless than two kilograms of tomatoes. Combining the above information, we can calculate that about 12 kilograms of ripe tomatoes are harvested from one square meter of land.
Diseases and pests
Tomatoes "novice" - a rather middle-aged variety, but attractive due to its resistance to many diseases. However, in order to prevent fungal diseases, tomato bushes are treated with a Trichopol solution. To do this, dissolve 5-6 tablets of the drug in a bucket of water and dilute this solution with a glass of milk. In rare cases, the plant affects phytophthora. You can recognize it by the appearance of dark spots on the leaves. Most often, this disease develops due to high soil moisture. The preparations "Tattu" and "Fitoverm" help with this disease.
But you can fight pests with folk methods. In addition, the excessive use of chemicals adversely affects the quality of tomatoes. For example, marigolds in dry and crushed form, which are sprinkled on the area around the bushes, save from the bear. Garlic infusion, elderberry decoction and tobacco powder help to cope with ticks and aphids. To prevent infection with the Colorado potato beetle, parsley and dill are planted around the perimeter of the site. Processing a decoction of burdock, wild garlic and capsicum protects the plant from slugs and scoops.
