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Most people love tomatoes. They are respected for their taste. In addition, tomatoes have antioxidant and anti-cancer properties, they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals, as well as serotonin, the “hormone of joy.”
What are semi-determinant tomatoes
Tomatoes are deservedly a popular vegetable in our gardens. Recently, semi-determinant tomatoes have attracted the attention of gardeners. Here, the characteristic is based on such a criterion as the height of the bush. There are also determinate (short) and indeterminate (tall) tomatoes.
Tomatoes of semi-determinate type occupy a middle position, they have taken the best qualities from determinant and indeterminate varieties. For example, a crop can be obtained earlier than from indeterminate ones, by 10 to 12 days. And this is perhaps the key factor. Plants are resistant to temperature changes and diseases. Tomatoes love warmth, and most regions of our country cannot boast of a long sunny summer. Therefore, tomatoes are grown in greenhouses. And you have to take space into account.
Features of appearance
Plants allow you to use the space of greenhouses to the maximum. They reach a height of 150 – 200 cm, usually after 10 – 12 inflorescences have formed with a frequency of every 2 – 3 leaves. The first inflorescence is formed above the 9 – 10 leaf. Narrow internodes up to 15 cm and uniform formation of inflorescences make it possible to obtain a crop evenly.
The specifics of growing
Growing semi-determinant tomatoes has some features. But in general, the technology is similar to the generally accepted one. So the features:
Seedling
Don’t let seedlings bloom. If this happens, then it is better to remove the inflorescence. Seedlings should be strong, dark green with 7-9 leaves. Plant 2 – 3 plants per 1 sq. meter.
Temperature conditions
Control the temperature in the greenhouse. Still, this is the main criterion for obtaining a good harvest result. When planting seedlings, the soil temperature should be at least +15 degrees. For tomatoes, the optimum temperature is + 22 + 25 degrees during the day, at night not lower than +15 degrees. Too high and too low temperatures have a bad effect on the plant. It stops growing, fruits do not set. In semi-determinate tomatoes, this can cause topping, the plant stops growing upwards.
Watering
Tomatoes are plants that love moisture. But they can do without watering for a short time.
Seedlings, after planting in the greenhouse, should be watered frequently, but not flooded. The guideline is the drying of the topsoil. An adult plant, before ripening tomatoes, can be watered 2 times a week, but very plentifully. It is required that the soil be saturated with water by 15 – 20 cm. And during the ripening period of tomatoes, watering is required frequently. However, keep in mind that excess moisture can lead to the development of fungal infections. Remember that tomatoes do not like when water gets on the leaves and stems. Therefore, water exclusively under the root, do not use a watering can and a sprinkler when watering. Watering under the root is achieved and another goal. Humidity does not increase in the greenhouse, which should be at the level of 50 – 60%.
Pasynkovanie
Shrub formation
It is best to form a plant in 2 stems. The strongest and most viable stepson is formed under the first brush, it will give good fruit. From it, form the second stem. Form 2-3 brushes on the lateral shoot, 3-4 brushes on the main stem.
Form a crop with additional means. Thin out the first two brushes, leaving 3-4 tomatoes. Form other brushes for 6 – 8 tomatoes, remove the clumsy ovary.
So that the topping process does not threaten the amount of the crop, always leave backup stepchildren on the plant. Delete if new stepchildren appear.
Removal of stepchildren
Stepsons are side shoots. Pasynkovanie – their removal. It is carried out in order to accelerate the ripening of tomatoes and increase their size. For gardeners, it is akin to a kind of ritual. It is necessary to do this, otherwise you will get a huge amount of foliage and a small amount of tomatoes. In addition, when pinching, the lighting of plants improves and contributes to an earlier harvest. Remove stepchildren when they have reached a length of 5-6 cm at least 1 time in 10 days. It is best to pinch in the morning, the stepchildren are easier to break off, and the wound immediately heals. If pinching is carried out less often, then it is already much more difficult to determine what needs to be torn off. Yes, and tearing off a large stepson can harm the stem.
Removing leaves
In addition to pinching, the leaves themselves are also removed. It happens that gardeners remove all the leaves, supposedly in order to speed up the ripening of tomatoes. The opinion is wrong. The plant will begin to restore the green mass, the fruits will become completely unimportant. Cut the leaves, but without fanaticism. It is necessary to remove the leaves that are in contact with the ground. This is done to prevent phytophthora infection. If the plants are in contact with leaves, then you can cut them partially. And then the tomatoes will receive plenty of sunlight and carbon dioxide.
Additional fertilizing
It is possible to obtain an early harvest from semi-determinant tomatoes; this requires timely feeding of plants. A flowering plant needs mineral fertilizers, in which the emphasis is on the phosphorus content. The ripening process of tomatoes will require the introduction of potassium. The appearance of the plant will tell you what trace elements it lacks. Slow plant growth and pale leaves indicate that the tone is low on nitrogen. An excess of nitrogen leads to the formation of rich greenery, the plant “fattens”, there may not be flowers and tomatoes. The purple shade of greenery indicates a lack of phosphorus, and its excess – to yellowing of the foliage and its fall, the ovary also falls off. The plant can die if there is not enough potassium, and its excess leads to dull spots on the leaves.
If it is not possible to apply organic fertilizers, and these include peat, manure, chicken manure, then feel free to apply mineral fertilizers. Read the instructions and feed the plants. It is better to use complex mineral fertilizers, which contain several elements needed by plants.
Varieties of tomato
“Magnus F1”
Medium early, fruits appear 95-105 days after germination. Tomatoes are flat-round in shape, unripe ones have a light green color, and ripe ones are bright red, weighing 130 – 160 g. They tolerate transportation well. Good taste. Suitable for canning and fresh salads. The plant is well resistant to diseases and temperature extremes.
“Khlynovsky F1”
Tomatoes of this variety ripen 105 – 110 days after germination. The fruits are large, fleshy, weight reaches 220 g. Ripe tomatoes are red in color.
The plant is disease and temperature resistant. Suitable even for beginners.
“Baron F1”
An early ripe variety, fruits ripen 108-115 days after germination. Ripe tomatoes are red in color and flat-round in shape. 122 – 134 g fruit weight, good taste. Resistant to disease, well tolerates temperature fluctuations.
Also suitable for those who are taking their first steps in growing tomatoes. It won’t cause much trouble.
“Customer F1”
High-yielding hybrid, fleshy, large tomatoes, fruit weight 130 – 160 g.
They are stored for a long time, do not flake at room temperature for up to three months. Small tomatoes can be stored for up to 6 months.
“Gunin F1”
Early ripe variety, fruit ripening on 100 – 110 days from germination. Tomatoes of good taste, weighing up to 120 g.
The plant tolerates adverse natural conditions well, which makes it possible to get fruits for a long time.
«Gravity F1»
Early maturing, high yielding variety. Tomatoes are slightly flattened, bright red in color. They have a rich aroma and excellent taste. Tomatoes are large, 200 – 220 g. The variety is resistant to diseases.
“Silhouette F1”
Early ripe hybrid, easy to grow, fruits are dense, brightly colored, weight up to 160g, tolerate transportation well.
«Yvet F1»
Very early hybrid, disease resistant. Tomatoes have a round shape weighing 140 – 150 g, resistant to transportation, well stored for up to 30 days.
Red Arrow F1
Reliable hybrid, low-leaved, shade-tolerant plant. You can plant plants densely to save space. The mass of tomatoes is 90 – 120 g. The plant tolerates temperature changes well, and is resistant to diseases. Tomatoes are early ripening, they tolerate transportation well.
Eagle’s beak
Tomatoes of an unusual beak-shaped shape, weighing up to 800g. Tomatoes are fleshy, juicy, have a rich taste, and store well.
An overview of one of the varieties is presented in the following video:
Conclusion
Plants that can withstand diseases and temperature fluctuations, in addition, due to their size, allow maximum use of the size of the greenhouse, making life much easier for gardeners. And the availability of knowledge and adherence to basic agricultural technologies will, no doubt, lead you to a well-deserved plentiful harvest.