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Alpha tomato is a variety of selection. It has been registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2004. It is intended for cultivation on personal garden plots and in small farms. Suitable for regions with different climates, including risky farming areas.
Description of the variety of tomato Alpha
Tomato variety Alpha is intended for cultivation in open ground with the possibility of film shelter, as well as for greenhouses. Alpha tomatoes can be grown in seedlings and seedlings. The ripening period is early, 90 days pass from germination to ripeness.
Alpha tomato variety forms a compact bush with powerful stems. Growth type – determinant, standard. Such a plant is characterized by short stature, does not reach 50 cm in height. It does not require special shaping, which simplifies care and is suitable for beginner gardeners.
The leaves grow medium in size, dark green, similar to potato. Foliage is average. The inflorescence is simple, the first appears above the 5-6th leaf, later it is formed without separation by the leaf. Stepchildren tomato Alpha forms few, they can not be removed even from the lower part of the trunk.
Description of fruits
Alpha tomato fruits are rounded with a slight flattening, even in size, smooth. The number of nests – from 4 pcs. The weight of each fruit is 60-80 g. Reviews and photos of Alpha tomatoes show that unripe fruits are light green in color, and mature ones are red and glossy. Taste characteristics are good, the pulp is juicy. Purpose – salad.
Main characteristics
A variety of determinant type, the tomato independently completes its growth at a height of 40-45 cm. m. Productivity from one bush under favorable growing conditions – 7 kg.
Tomato variety Alpha is resistant to temperature extremes, suitable for growing by direct sowing in the ground. This method of cultivation forms a powerful, hardened plant that is resistant to diseases and pests. Due to early ripeness, the bushes are not affected by late blight.
Advantages and disadvantages
In the description of the Alpha tomato variety, the possibility of growing it in regions with different climates is stated. Rapid maturation allows you to get early vitamin production. Tomatoes ripen on the bush almost simultaneously. Alpha tomato variety has a number of other advantages.
Grade advantages:
- tasty, smooth fruits;
- high yield, despite the compact size of the bush;
- friendly return of fruits;
- possibility of growing in a seedless way;
- suitable for open ground;
- does not require formation;
- simple agricultural technology;
- immunity against late blight.
The disadvantage or feature of the early ripe, undersized variety is the use of fruits only for fresh consumption. As well as weak keeping quality and average transport qualities.
Rules of landing and care
Growing tomato varieties Alpha by direct sowing in open ground is advisable only in the southern regions or when planting in heated greenhouses.
According to the reviews and photos of the Alpha tomato variety, it is clear that in order to receive an early return of fruits in other regions, the crop is grown through seedlings.
Growing seedlings
For standard tomatoes, seedling growing time is 40-45 days. The date of sowing is calculated depending on the moment of transplanting seedlings into open ground, according to the region of cultivation. You should not start growing before this period, although seedlings of undersized tomatoes do not stretch and do not outgrow. An overgrown root system will not have enough nutrition from a small area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbplanting capacity.
Growing scheme:
- Before sowing, to accelerate growth and determine the percentage of viable seeds, they are soaked and germinated in a damp cloth. This takes 3-4 days.
- For cultivation take fertile, loose soil.
- Holes are made at the bottom of the planting containers and a drainage layer 1-2 cm high is poured, then a soil layer is introduced and lightly pressed.
- The soil is shed the day before planting with disinfectants, for example, Fitosporin.
- Sprouted seeds are planted separately in a small container, such as plastic cups or common seedling containers, with a distance of 2 cm.
- A recess for planting is made 1 cm in size, the soil is watered before planting.
- After sowing, the soil is moistened by spraying from a spray bottle.
- The containers are covered with a bag or film and placed in a warm place, for example, in the bathroom, but not on top of heaters.
- Every day, the crops are checked, and as soon as the first loops appear, the seedlings are immediately exposed to a bright place, with a temperature of up to + 18 ° C. Lowering the temperature immediately after germination allows the seedlings to start developing the root system.
- Seedlings in the first days need round-the-clock supplementary lighting for further cultivation, lighting for 14-16 hours with a break at night for plants to rest.
Seedlings grown in fertile soil do not require additional feeding until planting in open ground. The temperature of seed germination is + 20°C … + 25°C.
Alpha tomato seedlings grow compact, which allows them to be dived not into separate containers, but into a more spacious common container. Dive is carried out after the appearance of the third true leaf. The first two cotyledon leaves are not taken into account.
Before transferring seedlings to open ground, hardening is necessary. To do this, the temperature in the place where the plants are kept is gradually reduced during the week. They also accustom plants to more air and light, transferring them to the street or balconies with open windows. When hardening seedlings, it is important not to allow them to stay at low temperatures.
Seedling transplant
The description of Alpha tomatoes indicates their good survival rate during transplantation. Plants are planted with a distance of 40 by 50 cm. Seedlings are transferred to open ground when positive temperatures are set above + 10 ° C.
Planting seedlings in open ground is best done in a film tunnel. Thanks to the shelter, it becomes possible to control precipitation and adverse weather manifestations in the form of strong winds or hail, as well as to insure against sudden changes in air temperature. Temporary shelter in the form of a film tunnel allows you to plant seedlings of the Alpha tomato variety a few weeks earlier.
When transferring seedlings to a greenhouse, the intended location of all tomato bushes should be taken into account. Tall tomatoes are compacted with low-growing tomatoes or planted separately from one edge, but so that all plants have enough light.
For planting, the site is prepared in advance, the soil is cleared of weeds, fertilizers are applied and loosened. Water is poured into the hole and, mixing it with the earth, they form a slurry in which seedlings are planted along with an earthen clod.
Aftercare
Caring for Alpha tomatoes is simple. When planting in fertile soil, several organic top dressings per season will be required. To do this, use herbal and ash infusions. Watering for a plant with close-lying roots requires moderate watering. If the season or growing area is rainy, then the bottom of the stem is left clean from stepchildren and leaves.
When grown outdoors, frequent weeding is necessary. Bushes tie up without pulling. To do this, stakes are installed or a twine is pulled through the ridge. Tying with twine does not interfere with the growth of the tomato, and the brushes can be supported from different sides.
Conclusion
Alpha tomato is one of the best standard varieties. Suitable for outdoor cultivation in various climatic zones. Does not require special formation of the bush. Due to early ripening, it does not have time to be affected by late blight. Shows good productivity on a small bush. Fruits differ in sweetness, simultaneous ripening.
