Tomato bush ODEON oval

Lycopersicon esculentum - Odeon

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

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 should note 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 mildew could attack the plants. We regularly pinch off side shoots to promote fruit growth. For staking tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to higher dimensions, it is essential to provide support and tie them up to prevent the plants from breaking.

• We sow tomatoes earliest in mid-February, but preferably 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 dimensions 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 the plants very early - by ventilating or placing them outside during the day. We plant out into polytunnels in April, and into open ground in May after the last frosts.

• Plants are demanding in terms of 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. In good and humus-rich soils, it is not necessary to apply manure or compost. In poor soils, we work in 2-4 kg per m² of mature compost or manure already in autumn.

• We fertilize plants regularly. Application in the form of liquid fertilization with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ fertilizers is suitable. We fertilize with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, and once plants start flowering, we can begin using Kristalon PLOD a KVĚT. We prepare doses according to the instructions on the product packaging.

• The most commonly occurring 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 preparations such as Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a nutritional disorder in the plant - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits which then become deformed and a black spot appears at the tip of the fruit. We fertilize plants regularly. 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 frequently. It is suitable to use Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 in 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. Staking types are harvested from the 10th to 12th week. We always follow the appearance of the harvested fruit. Tomatoes should be red, firm, and not overripe.