Tomato Philovita

Lycopersicon lycopersicon - Philovita

Belongs to the nightshade family. Originates from Central and South America. Plants are covered with fine hairs. Leaves are deeply serrated, odd-pinnate. The inflorescence is a cyme with three to twenty hermaphroditic flowers that have a yellow color. The fruit is a berry, or tomato. Bush or indeterminate varieties of tomatoes are grown, bearing 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 skin, hair, and nails. They strengthen the organism. 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 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 promote fruit growth. For indeterminate 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 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 at least 8×8cm in size with horticultural substrate. Low temperature and reduced 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 into polytunnel in April, and into open ground in May after the last frosts.

• Plants are demanding in terms of organic matter and nutrients, therefore it is necessary to additionally mix manure into the growing substrate. It is suitable to use granulated manure - we add 300-400 g 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 incorporate 2-4 kg per m2 of matured compost or manure into the soil 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, as soon as plants start to flower, 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 of tomatoes is a nutritional disorder in the plant - calcium deficiency. It affects fruits which 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 also suitable to use Agro NATURA Symfonie 3 in 1 preparation against fungal diseases and sucking pests.

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

• Bush varieties of tomatoes are harvested approximately 8 weeks after planting. Indeterminate 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.