Pole Tomato Melon Duo

Lycopersicon esculentum - Melon DUO

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 hermaphroditic flowers that are yellow in color. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Bush or indeterminate 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 large amounts of fiber. They support blood formation and benefit skin, hair, and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can be grown not only in the traditional garden way but also 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 must be aware that at temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius tomatoes stop growing. Higher temperatures even cause them to wither. Generous watering is also necessary. We avoid watering the leaves as this could cause the plants to develop mildew. Regularly pinch out side shoots to encourage fruit growth. For indeterminate tomatoes and those growing to larger sizes, it is essential to provide support and tie them up to prevent the plants from breaking.

• We sow tomatoes 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 at least 8×8cm in size with gardening substrate. For growing tomatoes, low temperature and moderate watering are suitable. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden the plants very early - by ventilating or placing them outside during the day. We plant out in a polytunnel in April, and in open ground in May after the last frosts.

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

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

• We feed plants regularly. Application in the form of liquid fertilizer with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ is suitable. We fertilize with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth; once the plants start flowering, 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 (late blight). It is recognized 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 products like Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

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

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

  For tomato blight, DITHANE product is suitable. For organic farming, Bioton and Bioan products are suitable.

• Bush varieties of tomatoes are harvested approximately 8 weeks after planting. Indeterminate 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.