Tomato Bush Balcony Aztec

Lycopersicon esculentum - Aztek

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, odd-pinnate. The inflorescence is a cyme with three to twenty bisexual flowers that are yellow in color. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Both staking and bush varieties of tomatoes are grown, producing fruits in red, yellow, orange, pink, and white.

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 skin, hair, and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can, besides traditional 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 must 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 mildew. We regularly pinch out side shoots to support fruit growth. For staking tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to higher dimensions, it is essential to place a 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 lighter watering are suitable. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden off plants very early - we ventilate or place them outside during the day. We plant out into a polytunnel in April, into open ground in May after the last frosts.

• 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 to the substrate 300 – 400 g per plant.

  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 well-rotted compost or manure.

• We regularly fertilize plants. Application in the form of fertilizer solution 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 commonly occurring disease in tomatoes is tomato blight (potato blight). It is recognized by characteristic brown spots on leaves, stems, and fruits. Against this disease, it is necessary to intervene preventively. If we expect rainy weather, we treat plants with preparations Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a disorder in plant nutrition - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits and they are then deformed and a black spot appears on the tip of the fruit. We fertilize plants regularly. If the disorder appears, we treat plants with preparations for calcium nutrition, such as InCa.

  Sap-sucking pests such as aphids or spider mites attack tomatoes very often. It is suitable to use also against fungal diseases and sap-sucking pests the product Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 in 1.

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

• We harvest bush varieties of tomatoes 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, not overripe.