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Growing late tomatoes is more justified on open land in warm regions. Here they are able to give almost all the fruits before the onset of frost. However, this does not mean that in areas with a cold climate it is necessary to abandon the cultivation of this crop. There are late varieties of tomatoes for greenhouses that can bring good yields under cover.
Features of growing late tomatoes in a greenhouse
Planting late tomatoes in a greenhouse will give a positive result if a number of measures are taken to select the right seed material, prepare greenhouse soil and grow strong seedlings.
What to look for when choosing tomato seeds
The counters of seed stores are littered with various varieties of tomatoes. When choosing a late crop, it is necessary to carefully study the description of the variety on the seed packaging. Tomatoes specially bred by breeders for growing indoors are suitable for the greenhouse. The main feature of such tomatoes is active growth and self-pollination.
Indeterminate tomatoes are best suited for greenhouse cultivation. They are characterized by intensive stem growth and long fruiting, which allows you to get the maximum yield from a small area. As for self-pollination, here we need to pay attention to hybrids. Such seeds are labeled “F1” on the packaging. Hybrids do not require pollination by bees or artificially. In addition, breeders have instilled in them immunity that helps fight many common diseases.
Another point that requires special attention is the version in which tomato seeds are sold. They can be coated, in the form of small balls, and just pure grains. The first ones have already gone through all the necessary processing, and they can be immediately sown in the ground. Before sowing, clean grains will have to be soaked independently in Fitosporin-M solution and a growth stimulator, and only then immersed in the ground.
How to prepare soil in a greenhouse
A high survival rate of tomato seedlings and a bountiful harvest is possible with well-prepared soil. The easiest way is to buy ready-made soil in the store. It contains all the necessary trace elements for the active development of a tomato. When making the soil yourself, you need to take equal proportions of peat, humus and black soil. Having mixed all the components, it is necessary to add, based on 1 bucket of the mixture, 1 liter of sand, 1 tbsp. wood ash and 1 tbsp. l superphosphate.
The soil in the greenhouse begins to ennoble 2 weeks before planting seedlings. Tomato roots love an abundant supply of oxygen, so the whole earth must be dug deep. At the planting site, the old soil is removed to a depth of 150 mm. The resulting grooves are filled with a solution of 1 tbsp. l. copper sulphate diluted with 10 liters of water. Now it remains to fill in the purchased or independently prepared soil instead of the selected soil, and you can plant seedlings.
Growing seedlings of late tomatoes
Sowing seeds of late tomato varieties for seedlings begins in February.
The grains that have been prepared are sown in boxes with grooves of 15 mm. Soil mixture for tomato seedlings is best purchased at the store. After backfilling in boxes, the soil is poured with a solution of humate. Before the seeds germinate, the boxes are tightly covered with a transparent film and placed in a warm place with a temperature of 22о C. It is necessary to ensure that the substrate does not dry out, periodically moistening it with a spray bottle with water.
After the appearance of sprouts, the film is removed from the boxes and a uniform light is directed so that the seedlings do not stretch. With the advent of 2 full-fledged leaves, the plants dive, seated in peat cups. So tomato seedlings will grow 1,5–2 months before planting in the greenhouse. During this time, it is necessary to make 2 top dressings with fertilizers. 2 weeks before planting, seedlings are hardened by daily removal to a cool place. At the time of planting, the height of the plants should be within 35 cm.
The video talks about growing late tomatoes in a greenhouse:
Overview of late greenhouse tomatoes
So, we figured out a little about the agricultural technology of culture, it is time to learn more about the existing late varieties and hybrids of tomatoes intended for growing in a greenhouse.
size F1
The hybrid is characterized by a powerful bush structure up to 1,8 m high. The indeterminate plant brings abundant tomato crops in heated greenhouses and under cold film shelter. The hybrid is not grown in the garden. Fruit ripening occurs after 130 days. Tomatoes grow large, weighing 650 g. There are giants weighing up to 2 kg. A slightly flattened fruit shows a slight ribbing. Inside the juicy pulp there are 4 seed chambers. On the stem, tomatoes are tied with tassels of 3 pieces each. The large size of the vegetable does not allow it to be preserved. This late tomato goes for processing and salads.
The first garter of the stem is performed immediately a week after planting the plant in the greenhouse soil. The bush does not differ in strong branching, but is densely covered with foliage. When stepchildren, only 1 central stem is left, and all other shoots and lower leaves up to the first inflorescence are removed. By the end of fruiting, the top of the plant is broken off to stop its growth. One plant can bring up to 4,5 kg of tomato.
Market Miracle
By the end of 4 months, you can be sure that the tomato is fully ripe. The culture is intended only for greenhouse cultivation. The bush grows up to 1,6 m high. The stem alone cannot support the weight of the fruit and must be tied to a trellis or any support. The vegetable grows large, usually weighing 300 g, but there are large tomatoes weighing 800 g. Meaty tomatoes have a decent presentation. The vegetable does not go for conservation, it is more used for processing and in cooking.
King of Kings F1
A new complex hybrid bred for farms and household plots. Seed material at home cannot be obtained from it. The hybrid is a representative of giant greenhouse tomatoes, but open cultivation is allowed in the southern regions. An indeterminate plant grows up to 2 m in height. The bush is moderately leafy. During stepchildren, 1 or 2 stems are left to the plant, tying them to the trellis as they grow. In an adult plant, the first brush with tomatoes appears above the 9th leaf, and all subsequent ones are formed after 3 leaves. The vegetable is considered fully mature after 4 months. The plant is slightly affected by phytophthora and is considered fruitful. From one bush you can take up to 5 kg of tomatoes. Experienced vegetable growers have determined that the highest yield of a hybrid is observed when growing it under a film. In glass greenhouses and polycarbonate, the yield is slightly lower.
Large round tomatoes with a flattened top weigh from 1 to 1,5 kg. A tomato weighing less than 200 g is not found on a plant. Inside the fleshy red pulp is up to 8 seed chambers. The fruits are tied with brushes of 5 tomatoes each. A giant-sized vegetable is only used for processing or salads.
citrus garden
This indeterminate tomato gives good results when grown in film greenhouses. Ripeness of tomatoes is observed after 120 days. The bush is strongly sprawling; when forming, up to 5 branches are left on the plant. The yellow fruits resemble lemons. The weight of one tomato is about 80 g, on the plant they are formed by brushes. Each brush can contain up to 30 tomatoes with a total weight of 2,5 kg. By application, the vegetable is suitable for any use, whether it is conservation or processing.
Yusupov
Tomatoes of this variety have long been chosen by the chefs of oriental restaurants. Huge fruits are successfully used for salads and other national dishes. An indeterminate varietal tomato has no related analogues and hybrids. The bush is quite powerful, in the greenhouse it can grow up to 1,6 m in height. Outdoor tomato cultivation is allowed, but the height of the plant will be half as much. The size of the fruit depends on the place where the culture grows. The birthplace of the tomato is Uzbekistan. That’s where it does not grow less than 1 kg. It is typical for regions to get tomatoes weighing up to 800 g in greenhouses, and up to 500 g in the garden.
The first flowers on the plant appear in June, and the last – in August. Usually, in tall varieties, tomatoes of the lower tier always grow more than the upper fruits, but not in Yusupov. On the bush, all tomatoes are tied in the same size. The red juicy pulp is covered with a thin skin, through which the rays coming from the stalk are visible. There are few grains in the pulp. If you pick a green tomato, it can ripen on its own. But they cannot be transported and stored due to rapid cracking.
Long Keeper
A very late tomato variety recommended for greenhouse cultivation. On open beds, landing is possible only in the southern regions. The determinate plant grows up to 1,5 m in height. Tomatoes on the bush ripen only on the lower tier, all other fruits are plucked green after 130 days and placed in boxes for ripening. In a dry, cool basement, tomatoes can be stored until March. The bush is formed by removing stepchildren, leaving only one main stem, which, as it grows, is tied to a support.
Tomatoes usually grow in weight of 250 g, but occasionally there are tomatoes of 350 g each. The shape of the vegetable is perfectly round, sometimes there are slightly flattened tops. At harvest time, the tomatoes are almost white. After ripening, their flesh becomes pink. For the entire growing season, the plant is able to bring up to 6 kg of tomatoes.
Grandma’s gift F1
Usually the stems of this hybrid are stretched 1,5 m in height, but sometimes the stem is able to stretch up to 2 m. The indeterminate plant has a powerful stem with an edge. The branches are densely covered with leaves. Up to 7 tomatoes are tied on each branch. The plant has a highly developed root system. The first flower appears above the 7th leaf, and all subsequent ones every 2 leaves. The tomato is very firmly attached to the stem. Ripening occurs at about 130 days. The hybrid can be grown in any type of greenhouse, but not in the garden.
Ripe tomatoes are sweet with a peculiar sour taste. Inside the tender pink pulp there are 8 seed chambers. Ribs stand out on the walls of a rounded tomato. Tomatoes grow large, weighing up to 300 g. The vegetable can be transported and stored without deteriorating its presentation. Proper care allows you to get up to 6 kg of tomatoes from a plant.
Podsinskoye Miracle
This variety was bred by amateurs. An indeterminate plant grows up to 2 m in height on the street, and even higher in greenhouse conditions. The crown of the tomato is spreading, it requires frequent tying to the trellis. All excess shoots must be removed. Because of the shape, tomatoes are often referred to as cream. The fruits are quite large, weighing up to 300 g. Few seed chambers are formed inside the pink tomato pulp. The yield is up to 6 kg per plant. A plucked vegetable can be stored and transported.
Well done F1
The hybrid is popular with owners of glass and film greenhouses. A ripe crop will please the culture no earlier than in 120 days. An indeterminate plant is practically immune to viral diseases. Tomatoes are poured large, weighing up to 300 g. The flesh is red, juicy, covered with a smooth skin.
Instinct F1
The hybrid brings small tomatoes weighing up to 130 g, well suited for conservation and pickling. Harvest ripening occurs after 4 months. The plant is indeterminate, requiring a garter to the trellis and pinching. The pulp of the tomato is sweet and sour, red. The shape of the vegetable is spherical with slightly flattened tops.
Come on
An indeterminate demanded variety is successfully grown both in greenhouses and on the street. There are 4 subspecies of this tomato, differing only in the color of the fruit. For beauty, some vegetable growers plant several bushes of tomatoes with yellow, red, dark brown and pink fruits in the greenhouse. The plant grows up to 2 m tall outdoors and about 4 m tall in a greenhouse.
Tomatoes are formed by brushes of 7 pieces each. The mass of the fruit is small, a maximum of 70 g. Usually 10 brushes with tomatoes are formed on a bush, sometimes it can be a little more. The growing season of the culture is long. In greenhouse conditions, the yield is up to 40 kg / m2.
Premier F1
The hybrid has an indeterminate type of bush, densely covered with foliage. The height of the main stem reaches 1,2 m. The tomato is successfully grown in different types of greenhouses, but it is possible to plant it outside. The vegetable ripens after 120 days. The first flower is laid above 8 or 9 leaves. Fruits are formed by brushes of 6 pieces each. The yield of the hybrid is quite high, reaching 9 kg / m2. The plant does not require special care, adapts to different growing conditions.
Round-shaped tomatoes grow large, weighing more than 200 g. The walls of the fruit have a slight ribbing. The pulp is red, not too dense. More than 6 seed chambers are formed inside the pulp of a tomato. Picked tomatoes should be used immediately for their intended purpose. They do not go to storage and conservation.
Rocket
This variety of determinant tomato is most often grown in the southern regions on the street. However, the culture is also popular in the northern regions. Here it is grown in heated greenhouses. Bushes are undersized, a maximum of 0,7 m in height. The vegetable grower will be able to enjoy the first crop of tomatoes in 125 days. The plant is resistant to damage by all types of rot. The fruits are small, elongated, weighing up to 60 g. There are 3 seed chambers inside the red dense pulp of the tomato. A vegetable plucked from a plant can be stored and transported for a long time without losing its presentation.
Small-sized fruits are popular among housewives involved in conservation and pickling. Not bad tomato and fresh on the table. As for the yield, at first glance, the figure of 2 kg per bush seems to be very low. However, such undersized bushes per 1 m2 planted up to 6 pieces. As a result, with 1 m2 you can collect about 10 kg of tomatoes. For a determinate plant, this is a normal indicator.
grapefruit
A distinctive feature of the variety are potato leaves on the plant. Indeterminate bushes grow up to 2 m in height. Fruit ripening later up to 180 days. In a heated greenhouse, a tomato will bear fruit throughout the year. The culture is resistant to disease, but treatment with copper sulphate from phytophthora does not hurt. For the entire growing season, the plant is able to bring a maximum of 15 tomatoes, but they are all very large. The mass of the vegetable reaches from 0,6 to 1 kg. Although even with such indicators, the variety is not considered high-yielding. Among many gardeners, there was not a single bad review about this tomato. The only negative is that the tomato ripens too long.
The color of the fruit slightly corresponds to the name of the variety. Mixed on the skin, yellow and red resemble grapefruit. The pulp has the same shades. The tomato is very tasty, suitable for preparing various dishes, but the juice from it will not work because of the dense pulp. There are very few grains in a tomato, and there are even no seed chambers. The harvested tomato crop is subject to short-term storage.
Bobcat F1
The hybrid of the Dutch selection has received wide recognition among domestic vegetable growers. Tomatoes are grown by many farmers for the purpose of sale. The determinant culture is able to bear fruit in any type of greenhouses and in the open air. The plant grows up to 1,3 m tall and starts producing ripe tomatoes after 130 days. Breeders instilled immunity in the hybrid, protecting the plant from damage by many diseases. In good greenhouse conditions from 1 m2 you can get up to 8 kg of tomato crop, but usually this figure varies between 4–6 kg.
A fully ripened tomato can be recognized by the bright red color of the skin. By definition, the hybrid belongs to large-fruited tomatoes, although one tomato weighs no more than 240 g. The very dense pulp allows the vegetable to be used for any home preservation. However, despite the high density, a lot of juice can be squeezed from a tomato. Up to 7 seed chambers can be located inside the pulp.
Brown sugar
A specific variety of tomato that produces dark brown fruits. Ready-to-eat tomatoes are considered after 120 days. An indeterminate culture in greenhouse conditions is capable of growing strongly and stretching up to 2,5 m in height. On the street, the size of the bush is smaller. The crown is not oversaturated with foliage, the fruits are formed by brushes of 5 tomatoes each. The yield index is up to 7 kg/m2. Tomatoes grow spherical, smooth, without the presence of ribbing. The approximate weight of one vegetable is 150 g. Despite the unusual color of the tomato, the pulp is quite tasty and healthy with a low content of grains. The tomato is subject to storage, transportation and all types of processing.
Vladimir F1
For polycarbonate greenhouses, this hybrid is not very suitable. The culture bears fruit well under glass or film. Ripening of the first tomatoes is observed after 120 days. The culture is weakly affected by diseases, resistant to all types of rot. Rounded fruits weigh about 130 g. The tomato can be stored for up to 7 weeks. During transportation, the fruit does not crack. The yield from 1 plant is 4,5 kg.
Conclusion
In the video, the vegetable grower shares the secrets of growing tomatoes:
Among many vegetable growers, greenhouse cultivation of late tomatoes is considered not very popular, but nevertheless, space must be allocated for several bushes. Late varieties will provide a supply of fresh tomatoes for the whole winter.