Bush tomato F1

Lycopersicon esculentum - F1

Belongs to the nightshade family. Originates from Central and South America. Plants grow up to 2m tall, covered with fine hairs. Leaves are deeply serrated, pinnate. The inflorescence is a cyme with three to twenty bisexual flowers that are yellow in colour. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Both cordon and bush varieties of tomatoes are grown, producing red, yellow, orange, pink and even white fruits.

Besides being very healthy, they also have their specific taste. Their use in culinary preparations is manifold. They contain vitamins C, E, A, potassium, iron, carotene and a large amount of fibre. They support blood formation and benefit skin, hair and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can, besides the traditional method of growing in the garden, also be grown in containers, for example on a terrace or balcony!

How to Grow Tomatoes

• They require a sunny and sheltered location. Ideal temperature conditions for growing are between 21 and 24 °C. Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or polytunnel is also a possible option, however we should be aware that at temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius tomatoes do not grow. Higher temperatures even cause them to dry out. Abundant watering is also necessary. We avoid watering the leaves, as plants could be attacked by moulds. We regularly pinch out side shoots to encourage fruit growth. For cordon tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to greater heights, it is essential to provide support and tie them up so that the plants do not break.

• Tomatoes are sown at the earliest in mid-February, but better at the beginning of March into substrate for sowing and propagation. After 1 – 2 weeks we must prick out the plants into seed trays - the substrate is the same. After 3 – 4 weeks we transplant the plants into pots of at least 8×8cm with horticultural substrate. Low temperature and lighter watering are suitable for growing tomatoes. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden off plants very early - we ventilate and/or place them outside during the day. We plant out into polytunnels in April, and into open ground in May after the frosts.

• Plants are demanding in organic matter and nutrients, so it is necessary to mix manure additionally into the growing substrate. It is suitable to use granulated manure - we add 300 – 400 g per plant to the substrate.

  Tomatoes grown in beds require soil preparation before planting. On good and humus-rich soils it is not necessary to apply manure or compost. On poor soils we dig in 2-4 kg per m2 of well-rotted compost or manure in autumn.

• We regularly feed the plants. Application in the form of liquid fertiliser with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ fertilisers is suitable. We fertilise with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, once plants start to flower, we can start using Kristalon PLOD a KVĚT. We prepare doses according to the instructions on the product packaging.

• The most common disease in tomatoes is tomato blight (potato blight). It is recognised by characteristic brown spots on leaves, stems and fruits. This disease needs to be tackled preventively. If we expect rainy weather, we treat plants with preparations such as Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a nutritional disorder - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits which become deformed and a black spot appears at the tip of the fruit. We regularly fertilise plants. If the disorder appears, we treat plants with preparations for calcium nutrition, such as InCa.

  Sucking pests such as aphids or spider mites attack tomatoes very often. It is suitable to use Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 v 1 preparation against both fungal diseases and sucking pests.

  For tomato blight, DITHANE preparation is suitable. For organic farming, Bioton and Bioan preparations are suitable.

• Bush varieties of tomatoes are harvested approximately 8 weeks from planting. Cordon types are harvested from the 10th to 12th week. We always follow the appearance of the harvested fruit. Tomatoes should be red, firm, not overripe.