Tomato Herodes Indeterminate

Lycopersicon esculentum - Herodes

Belongs to the nightshade family. Native to 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 of yellow colour. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Bush or cordon tomato varieties are grown, producing red, yellow, orange, pink and white fruits.

Besides being very healthy, they also have their specific taste. Their use in cooking is manifold. They contain vitamins C, E, A, potassium, iron, carotene and large amounts of fibre. They support blood formation and benefit skin, hair and nails. They strengthen the organism. Plants can be grown, besides the traditional way in the garden, 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. Generous watering is also necessary. We avoid watering the leaves as plants could be attacked by mildew. We regularly pinch out side shoots to promote fruit growth. For cordon tomatoes and tomatoes that grow to larger sizes, it is essential to place support and tie them up to prevent plants from breaking.

• Tomatoes are sown at the 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 with growing substrate. Low temperature and moderate watering are suitable for growing tomatoes. For plants in pots, a temperature up to 15°C is sufficient. We harden off plants very early - by ventilating or placing them outside during the day. We plant out in polytunnels in April, and in 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 300-400 g per plant into 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 already in autumn.

• We fertilise plants regularly. Application in the form of liquid feeding with Kristalon Start or Plod a Květ fertilisers is suitable. We fertilise with Kristalon START mainly at the beginning of plant growth, once 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 (potato blight). It is recognised 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 preparations such as Acrobat, Alliete, Ridomil, Kuprikol, etc.

  Blossom end rot in tomatoes is a nutritional disorder - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits which become deformed and a black spot appears at the tip of the fruit. We fertilise plants regularly. If the disorder appears we treat plants with calcium nutrition preparations, 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 also against fungal diseases and sucking pests.

  For tomato blight, DITHANE preparation is suitable. For organic farming, Bioton and Bioan preparations are suitable.

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