Banana Stick Tomato Taiko

Lycopersicon esculentum - Taiko

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 have a yellow color. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Bush or vine tomato varieties 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 fiber. They support blood formation and benefit the skin, hair, and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can, besides the traditional way of growing in a 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 must note that at temperatures above 27 degrees Celsius tomatoes do not grow. Higher temperatures even cause them to dry out. Generous watering is also necessary. We avoid watering the leaves, as plants could be attacked by mildew. We regularly pinch out side shoots to support fruit growth. For vine tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to larger sizes, it is essential to place support and tie them up so the plants don't break.

• 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 with minimum dimensions of 8×8cm with horticultural substrate. For growing tomatoes, low temperature and weaker watering are suitable. For plants in pots, temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden the plants very early - we ventilate or place them outside during the day. We plant them in polytunnels in April, and in open ground in May after the last frost.

• Plants are demanding in organic matter and nutrients, therefore it is necessary to mix manure into the growing substrate. It is suitable to use granulated - we add 300-400g 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 work into the ground in autumn 2-4 kg per m2 of aged compost or manure.

• We fertilize plants regularly. Application in the form of fertilizer watering with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ fertilizers is suitable. We fertilize with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, as soon as 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 recognized by characteristic brown spots on leaves, stems and fruits. This disease needs to be addressed preventively. If we expect rainy weather, we treat plants with products Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a disorder in plant nutrition - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits and they 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 also suitable to use Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 in 1 product against fungal diseases and sucking pests.

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

• Bush tomato varieties are harvested approximately 8 weeks from planting. Vine 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.