Tomato Moneymaker

Lycopersicon lycopersicum - Moneymaker

Belongs to the Solanaceae family. Native to 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. Staked or bush varieties of tomatoes are cultivated, 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 body. Plants can, besides traditional garden cultivation, 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 cultivation are between 21 and 24°C. Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse or polytunnel is also a possible option, however we 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 plants could be affected by mold. We regularly pinch off side shoots to support fruit growth. For staked tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to greater heights, it is essential to place support and tie them up so the plants don't break.

• Tomatoes are sown 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 seedling 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 tomato cultivation. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden the plants very early - 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 additionally 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 in 2-4 kg per m2 of well-rotted compost or manure in autumn.

• We fertilize plants regularly. Application in the form of liquid fertilizer with Kristalon Start or Fruit and Flower fertilizers is suitable. We fertilize with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, as soon as plants begin to flower, we can start using Kristalon FRUIT and FLOWER. We prepare doses according to the instructions on the product packaging.

• The most commonly occurring 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 addressed preventively. If we expect rainy weather, we treat plants with preparations like Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a nutritional disorder in the plant - calcium deficiency. It affects the 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 often. 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 after planting. Staked 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.