Contents
At the end of winter and the beginning of spring, an exciting time comes for every summer resident to prepare for planting tomatoes. In a large number of regions of Our Country, the cultivation of heat-loving crops is possible only in greenhouse conditions using the seedling method. The choice of early varieties is due to the fact that the number of sunny days during the growing period is very limited. Consider the popular varieties of tomatoes with a short growing season and talk about the features of their cultivation.
Growing tomatoes in greenhouses
The number of greenhouse farms is growing today. This is due to the fact that many gardeners began to grow vegetables for sale in large volumes, and not just for themselves. To grow tomatoes in greenhouse conditions, it is required to equip special greenhouses. What is important when growing tomatoes?
- Sunlight (there should be a lot of it, it should enter the greenhouse throughout the day);
- good conditions for ventilation;
- soil preparation;
- optimal temperature and humidity conditions.
Preparatory work
Experienced summer residents know that constantly growing a crop in the same greenhouse after a few seasons will cause the plants to start to hurt. The soil must be properly cultivated or alternated with cucumbers. However, growing two crops at the same time is not recommended.
The process of soil preparation takes place in several stages:
- the top layer of soil is removed by 10 centimeters;
- copper sulfate is added to boiling water at the rate of 1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water, and hot soil is cultivated with this solution;
- a week before planting the finished seedlings, beds are prepared with a height of 25-30 centimeters.
The width between the beds largely depends on the selected variety or hybrid of tomato. Today, early and ultra-early varieties are very popular. They mature quickly and are easy to care for.
The tomato is pollinated by insects, however, it is extremely difficult to attract them to the greenhouse. That is why greenhouse tomatoes are demanding for ventilation. To do this, you need to equip several windows. As a rule, hybrids that are resistant to adverse growing conditions and diseases are referred to as super-early greenhouses.
The best early varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses
Early varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses are suitable for those who are not used to devoting a lot of time to plants. Of course, you won’t be able to completely forget about your seedlings, but it is the early ripening tomatoes that are generally undersized, not requiring the formation of a bush. Consider several popular hybrids and varieties that will delight you with an early harvest.
Hybrid “Aurora”
The high-yielding and ultra-early Aurora hybrid will be appreciated by those gardeners who get tired of tying up tall tomatoes.
It is permissible to leave 40-50 centimeters between the beds, and plant up to 7 bushes per square meter. Care is standard, the crop will ripen after only 78-85 days after the appearance of the first shoots.
The fruits are red fleshy, excellent taste. Due to the fact that the tomatoes themselves are medium in size, they can be used both in salads and for pickling, making sauces and other dishes. The fruits do not crack, are perfectly transported and have a great presentation. The plant is not afraid of Alternaria and TMV. The yield is about 15 kilograms per square meter.
Hybrid “Andromeda”
As a rule, it is varieties of tomatoes for the greenhouse that bring large yields, since in greenhouses they are the least susceptible to diseases. A variety of this hybrid with a pink color of the pulp ripens before everyone else, 80 days are enough for it, for tomatoes with red pulp it takes 85-95 days.
The height of the plant is only 70 centimeters, the yield in the greenhouse is high (almost 13 kilograms per square meter), planting of medium density is welcome, and this is 6-7 plants per square. The Andromeda hybrid is more suitable for warm climates, it tolerates heat well.
The taste of tomatoes is excellent, resistance to major diseases allows you not to worry about the harvest. Due to the rapid maturation, the hybrid is not afraid of phytophthora. The fruits are fleshy, some specimens reach 180 grams in weight. The presentation is excellent, it can be transported subject to storage conditions.
Hybrid “Aphrodite”
The earliest tomatoes are always pleasing to the eye. This hybrid ripens very quickly. From the moment the first shoots appear to full maturity, only 76-80 days pass. Bush determinant, low, reaches no more than 70 centimeters in height. Garters are required only to preserve the fruits, because up to 8 tomatoes are formed on the brush, branches can break off under their weight.
The fruits are small in size, approximately 110 grams each with good taste. As a rule, they are consumed fresh. The hybrid is resistant to stolbur, late blight, TMV, physarium wilt. The return of the harvest is friendly. The yield in the greenhouse reaches 17 kilograms per square meter.
Variety “Arctic”
Some early-ripening varieties are attractive in their appearance. Variety “Arktika” is known for its decorative effect. The bush is low, does not require a garter, small tomatoes are formed on it, weighing 25 grams. They are well suited for salads, salting and canning, they have a pleasant aroma and excellent taste. On one brush, up to twenty round fruits are formed at once. When ripe, they turn red.
The ripening period is only 78-80 days, the yield does not exceed 2,5 kilograms per square meter.
Hybrid “Biathlon”
This hybrid is said to be ideal for salads. Its taste is good, the size of the fruit allows you to pickle tomatoes. The bush of the plant is determinate, quite tall and can sometimes reach a meter. The return of the harvest is fast and friendly.
Since the bush is compact, seedlings can be planted quite densely, up to 7-9 bushes per square meter. The return of the crop will be approximately 9 kilograms from this area. The plant is resistant to TMV and Fusarium. Due to the rapid ripening period, it does not have time to get sick with late blight. The ripening period does not exceed 85 days, it can be grown successfully in open ground and in greenhouses.
Hybrid “Daria”
Very beautiful scarlet tomatoes ripen in just 85-88 days and give a large harvest of delicious tomatoes. From one square meter, you can collect 15-17 kilograms of high-quality fruits. Resistance to TMV, Fusarium and Alternaria is a big plus.
The height of the bush reaches one meter, sometimes a little higher, they will have to be tied up. There are very few leaves on the plant, it is due to this that rapid maturation occurs. Fruits with excellent taste are suitable for pickling and salads.
Hybrid “Dolphin”
It is represented by small fruits with excellent taste. They are round in shape with a characteristic pointed top. The determinate type of growth, which stops growing after flowering begins, reaches a height of 80 centimeters. Brushes form five or six fruits, which are used for fresh consumption.
The ripening period is 85-87 days from the moment the first shoots appear, the yield is high (up to 15 kilograms per square meter). “Dolphin” is resistant to fusarium, Alternaria and black bacterial spot.
Variety “Sanka”
Describing the best early tomatoes, one cannot but say about Sanka. Today it is perhaps the most popular tomato in Our Country. Gardeners are so fond of them that in February it is sometimes difficult to find an extra bag of seeds on the store counter. Why is the Sanka tomato so popular?
The ripening period is only 78-85 days, the pulp of tomatoes is red fleshy, the taste is excellent. You can use the fruits in any capacity. The tomatoes themselves are medium and do not exceed 150 grams.
The bush is of a determinant type, does not exceed 60 centimeters in height, the yield is high, reaches 15 kilograms per square meter. It is recommended to plant no more than 7 plants per square. The return of the crop is long, it can bear fruit until the very frost from new shoots that grow after the first return of fruits by the plant.
Hybrid “Captain”
Those who want to get a rich harvest are often advised not to choose super early tomatoes, the greenhouse varieties described above disprove this claim. Almost all of them are represented by a rich harvest, the same can be said about the Captain hybrid. The yield per square is approximately 17 kilograms. At the same time, the bush is determinant, low (up to 70 centimeters). You can plant 7 bushes of seedlings per square meter.
The ripening period is 80-85 days, the fruits weighing 130 grams are aligned. Fruiting is friendly, the fruits are strong, well stored. With excellent taste, they are mainly used for salads. Resistance to bacteriosis, TMV, late blight and Fusarium is an excellent quality for a tomato.
Hybrid “Yesenia”
In the greenhouse, you can collect up to 15 kilograms of tomatoes with excellent taste. They ripen on low bushes up to 70 centimeters in height. Fruit weight 135 grams, they are aligned, have a red color. Since tomatoes are highly marketable, they are often grown on an industrial scale. Their care is standard.
Since the bush is compact, it is possible to plant plants quite densely, 7-9 plants per square, however, this may affect the yield.
Grade “Carbon”
The most interesting tomatoes always attract the eye. The variety of American selection is interesting in that rather large fruits have a dark cherry color. They are very tasty, have a sweetish aftertaste. The average weight of one tomato is 250 grams. The pulp is fleshy, juicy. The purpose of the table tomato.
The bush of the plant is indeterminate, sprawling, requires garter and pinching, which takes a lot of time for the summer resident. The ripening period is only 76 days. It is recommended to plant no more than 4 seedling bushes per square meter.
Tips for Growing Tomatoes in a Greenhouse
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is associated with the problem of pollination. That is why it is impossible to grow varieties intended for open ground in a greenhouse. Self-pollination is an important feature.
When growing seedlings, it is placed separately, each tomato is grown in a cup. Landing in the ground is carried out without damaging the rhizome. It is very important. Seedlings are considered ready when they reach about 20 centimeters in height. After transplanting, you need to fill the beds with water.
Do not feel sorry for the stepchildren and lower leaves, they require strength from the plant, which has a negative effect on productivity. A good video about growing tomatoes in a greenhouse is presented below:
After morning airing, the plants can be lightly watered. Do not forget that tomatoes are very responsive to the introduction of mineral fertilizers. Without this, it will not be possible to achieve maximum yield.
To date, the market has a huge number of varieties and hybrids of tomato, including ultra-early ones. In some cases, you can manage to get two crops in a row at once in one season if you grow seedlings in a separate room.
Do not forget that high yields require special knowledge, patience and a lot of work from the gardener.