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The popularity of early tomatoes among summer residents is due to the desire to get their vegetable harvest by the end of June, when it is still expensive in the store. However, the fruits of late-ripening varieties are more suitable for conservation, as well as other winter preparations, and one cannot do without them. Today we will touch on the topic of late varieties of tomatoes for open ground, find out their features, and get acquainted with the best representatives of this crop.
Features of late varieties
Comparing the characteristics of late tomatoes with early or mid-ripening counterparts, it can be noted that the yield of the former is slightly lower. However, the quality of the fruit of late-ripening culture has its superiority. Tomatoes are distinguished by excellent taste, aroma, fleshiness and are abundantly saturated with juice. The fruits of late-ripening tomatoes, depending on the variety, come in different colors, shapes and weights. The peculiarity of late varieties is the possibility of their cultivation in a seedless way. At the time of sowing the seeds, the soil is already warm enough and the grains are immediately immersed in the soil at a permanent place of growth.
Tomatoes of some varieties, such as “Long Keeper” are able to lie in the basement until March.
Another feature of late varieties of tomatoes is the possibility of growing them in the beds after harvesting early crops or green salads. In this case, it is better to resort to growing seedlings in order to have time to harvest more crops before the onset of frost. Sowing seeds begins after March 10. Under sunlight, seedlings grow strong, not elongated.
As for the height of the bushes, most of the late varieties belong to the indeterminate group of tomatoes. Plants grow with very long stems from 1,5 m and above. For example, the tomato bush “Cosmonaut Volkov” reaches a height of 2 m, and the “De Barao” variety can stretch up to 4 m without pinching. Of course, there are also determinant tomatoes with limited stem growth among late varieties. For example, the Titan tomato bush is limited to a height of 40 cm, and the Rio Grande tomato plant stretches to a maximum of 1 m.
Indeterminate varieties, as well as hybrids, will bring the best crop in the greenhouse.
Rules for planting seedlings of late tomatoes and caring for them
When growing late tomatoes with seedlings, plants are planted in open beds in the middle of summer, when the weather is hot outside. Moisture quickly evaporates from the sun’s rays from the soil, and in order for the plant to survive in such conditions at the time of planting, it must have a well-developed root system. Do not forget about timely watering, and by the end of hot days, stronger plants will throw out the first inflorescences.
When caring for planted seedlings, you must adhere to the following rules:
- The soil around the plants must be constantly loosened. You will definitely need to make top dressing, do not forget about pest control. Timely pinching if required by the variety.
- The formed earth crust, which contributes to the violation of the water, temperature and oxygen balance inside the soil, adversely affects the development of seedlings. A thin layer of peat or humus scattered over the fluffy ground will help to avoid this. Alternatively, even ordinary straw will do.
- The first top dressing of seedlings is carried out 2 weeks after its planting in the garden. The solution can be prepared at home from 10 g of ammonium nitrate and 15 g of superphosphate, diluted in 10 liters of water.
- When the first ovary appears on the plants, they must be treated with the same solution, only instead of 15 g of superphosphate, take a similar proportion of potassium sulfate.
- Organic feeding from bird droppings diluted in water will help to increase crop yields. Just be careful not to burn the plant.
By following a few simple rules in the garden, you can grow a good crop of late-ripening tomatoes.
The video shows tomato varieties for open ground:
Overview of late varieties of tomatoes for open ground
Late-ripening tomato varieties are considered to be crops that bear fruit 4 months after seed germination. Usually in the garden for late tomatoes, up to 10% of the area in the garden is allocated for the general cultivation of tomatoes of different ripening periods.
Brown sugar
An unusual color tomato is considered medicinal. The substances contained in the pulp help the human body fight cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Medicinal properties are present only in freshly squeezed juice. For normal consumption, the vegetable is used in conservation and other types of processing.
The stems of the plant are tall, they are not able to support the weight of the fruit on their own, so they are fixed on the trellis. Tomatoes grow in the usual round shape weighing up to 150 g. The full maturity of the fruit is determined by the dark brown color of the pulp. Sometimes the skin can take on a burgundy hue.
Sis F 1
This hybrid will appeal to lovers of medium-sized fruits that are convenient for canning in jars. The maximum weight of a mature tomato reaches 80 g. The vegetable is slightly elongated, and there is a slight ribbing along the walls. Harvest ripens not earlier than in 4 months. Picked tomatoes can be stored for a long time, but it is better to keep them in the house. In the cold, for example, in the refrigerator, the vegetable worsens its taste.
Octopus F1
The hybrid was bred by breeders as a tomato tree. In industrial greenhouses, the plant reaches a huge size, bears fruit for a very long time, bringing up to 14 thousand fruits. On the open ground, the tree will not grow, but you will get an ordinary tall tomato. The plant will need at least two feedings and a tie to the trellis. Tomatoes are formed by brushes. Fruit ripening begins 4 months after germination. The advantage of the hybrid lies in its resistance to virus damage in open cultivation.
De Barao
A variety that has long been popular among gardeners has several subspecies. The characteristics of tomatoes are almost the same, only the color of the fruit differs. It is very convenient to grow your favorite tomato on the site, for example, with yellow and pink fruits. Usually vegetable growers plant 3 bushes each, bringing tomatoes of different colors. The stems of the plant are very long, and if the tops are not pinched, they can grow up to 4 m in height. For their garter you will need a large trellis. Ripe fruits are small, weighing up to a maximum of 70 g, which makes them popular for whole preservation in jars.
Lezhky
By the name of the variety, one can judge the possibility of long-term storage of tomatoes. The collected unripe fruits will arrive just in time for the New Year holidays. The plant bears fruit well in the open field, forming 7 fruits in each brush. The maximum height of the bush is 0,7 m. Fruits with strong skin and dense pulp do not crack. The mass of a mature vegetable reaches 120 g.
Khutorskoy pickling
Tomatoes of this variety will appeal to every housewife, as they are ideal for pickling and preservation. Even after heat treatment, the skin of the fruit does not crack, and the pulp retains its density and an unusual crunch for a tomato. Orange fruits weigh about 110 g. Using as a secondary crop, the tomato can be planted after harvesting greens, early cucumbers or cauliflower. An indeterminate bush grows up to 2 m in height. From 1 m2 open beds can get up to 7,5 kg of crop.
Cosmonaut Volkov
You can get the first fruits from the plant after 115 days. This determines the tomato closer to the middle-late varieties, but it can also be called late. Several bushes of this variety are planted on the home garden, since its fruits have only a salad direction and do not go into conservation. A plant 2 m high grows powerful, but practically not sprawling. The main stem is tied to the trellis, and the extra stepchildren are removed. The ovary is formed by brushes of 3 tomatoes each. Ripe tomatoes are large, sometimes reaching a mass of 300 g. During the season, the bush is able to bring 6 kg of tomatoes. The walls of the vegetable have a weak ribbing.
Rio grand
Like all late tomatoes, the culture is ready to give the first ripe fruits after 4 months. The plant is considered determinant, but the bush is very developed and grows up to 1 m in height. The shape of the fruit resembles something between an oval and a square. A ripe tomato weighs about 140 g. The culture does not require special care, it easily tolerates temperature fluctuations. The vegetable is used in different directions, tolerates transportation well.
Titanium
A low-growing culture will please the first tomatoes only after 130 days. A determinant plant will stretch a maximum of 40 cm in height. Red fruits grow even round, weighing up to 140 g. Smooth skin with dense pulp does not lend itself to cracking. Vegetables are delicious in any form.
Date fruit
The variety will attract the attention of lovers of very small tomatoes. Small, slightly elongated fruits weigh only 20 g, but in terms of taste they are able to compete with many southern varieties. From a distance, a tomato looks a bit like a date. The yellow flesh is highly saturated with sugar. The plant is powerful, in the formed brushes a maximum of 8 fruits are tied.
Scorpio
The variety of tomato is adapted for cultivation in open and closed ground. A tall plant produces beautiful crimson fruits. The shape of the tomato is classic round, the area near the stem and opposite it is slightly flattened. The fruits grow large, some specimens weigh up to 430 g. The dense pulp contains few grains. The culture is famous for its stable fruiting and high yield.
Bull’s Heart
The traditional representative of late tomatoes will bring the harvest in 120 days. The main stem grows up to 2 m in height, but the plant itself is lightly leafed, which allows the sun’s rays and fresh air to penetrate into the bush. Due to this, the culture is little susceptible to phytophthora damage. Like all tall tomatoes, the plant needs to be fixed to the trellis and pinned. Very large heart-shaped fruits grow weighing 400 g. Tomatoes weighing up to 1 kg can ripen on the lower tier. Due to its large size, the vegetable is not used for conservation. Its purpose is salads and processing.
Giraffe
This variety will take at least 130 days to please the grower with ripe tomatoes. A tall bush is able to bear fruit on open and closed land plots. The stem alone will not be able to hold the entire mass of the crop, so it is tied to a trellis or any other support. The color of the fruit is somewhere between yellow and orange. The maximum weight is 130 g. During the entire growing season, about 5 kg of tomatoes are plucked from the plant. Vegetables can be stored for six months.
Supergiant F1 XXL
The hybrid will appeal to lovers of large tomatoes. The plant without special care is able to bear giant fruits weighing up to 2 kg. The value of the hybrid is only in the taste of the tomato. The sweet fleshy pulp can be used to make juice and many fresh dishes. Naturally, a vegetable does not go for conservation.
Finish
A fully ripe tomato is considered by the beginning of the 5th month. Culture is considered determinant. The bush grows up to 75 cm in height, the stem and lateral shoots are slightly covered with foliage. The red dense pulp is covered with a smooth skin on which an orange shade is visible. Round tomatoes weigh only 90 g. During the entire growing season, stable fruiting is observed.
Cherry
A decorative variety of tomatoes will decorate not only the area near the house or the balcony, but even winter conservation. Small tomatoes are rolled into jars as a whole, without picking them from the bunch. Very sweet fruits weigh only 20 g. Sometimes there are specimens weighing 30 g.
Snowfall F1
The hybrid brings the crop after 125-150 days. The plant is indeterminate, although the height of the bush does not exceed 1,2 m. The culture is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature, and is able to bear fruit until the end of November until stable frosts come. The yield indicator is up to 4 kg of tomatoes per plant. Round dense fruits do not crack, the maximum weight is 75 g. The hybrid has taken root well in the Krasnodar Territory.
Andrew’s surprise
The plant has a high main stem up to 2 m. Tomatoes grow large weighing 400 g. From the bottom, even larger tomatoes weighing up to 600 g can grow on the plant. The indeterminate culture is slightly affected by common diseases. Despite the abundant saturation with juice, the pulp does not tend to crack. The vegetable is used for processing and preparing salads.
Long Keeper
Bushes of this late variety grow up to a maximum of 1,5 m in height. Round, slightly flattened tomatoes weigh about 150 g. The crop is grown in open ground, but it will not be possible to wait for ripe fruits on the plant. All tomatoes are plucked green in late autumn, and stored in the basement, where they ripen. An exception can only be the fruits of the lower tier, which have time to acquire a red-orange color on the plant. The yield indicator is 6 kg per plant.
New Year
The plant grows up to 1,5 m in height. The first tomatoes ripen on the lower brushes not earlier than September. Yellow fruits are usually round, sometimes slightly elongated. A mature vegetable weighs no more than 250 g, although specimens weighing 150 g are more common. A fairly high yield rate allows you to get up to 6 kg of tomatoes per plant. Harvesting of the entire crop begins in the third decade of September. All semi-ripe vegetables are stored in the basement, where they ripen.
American Ribbed
The standard culture will please the vegetable grower with a harvest in about 125 days. The determinant plant is rarely affected by the main types of diseases. The red fruits are strongly flattened, with characteristically pronounced wall ribs. The average weight of a mature tomato is about 250 g, sometimes larger specimens weighing up to 400 g grow. Up to 7 seed chambers are located inside the pulp. Ripened tomatoes are not subject to long-term storage, it is better to immediately process them or just eat them. The bush is able to bring up to 3 kg of vegetables. If you stick to a planting density of 3 or 4 plants per 1 m2, you can get 12 kg of crop from such a plot.
This video talks about American varieties of tomatoes:
Altai F1
Fruit ripening in this hybrid is observed after 115 days. An indeterminate plant stretches up to 1,5 m in height. The bush is medium covered with large dark green leaves. Fruit set occurs in clusters of 6 tomatoes each. The fruiting period is long until the first frost. The average weight of a ripe vegetable is about 300 g, but there are larger fruits weighing up to 500 g. Tomatoes are slightly flattened, smooth on top, and a slight ribbing appears near the stalk. Inside the pulp there can be up to 6 seed chambers. The skin of the vegetable is quite thin, but so strong that it protects the flesh from cracking. The hybrid has several varieties that differ in the color of ripe fruits: red, pink and orange.
Conclusion
All late hybrids and varieties of tomatoes grown outdoors have an amazing taste, as well as a delicate aroma due to the sun, fresh air, and warm summer rain.