Edible tomato Lycopersicon esculentum is an annual plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. It comes from Central America, where it was cultivated before Columbus arrived there. Initially, due to the intense red color of the fruit, it was considered a poisonous plant in Europe and cultivated solely for ornamentation.
Tomato requirements
Tomatoes like warm soil, rich in humus and nutrients. For their cultivation, it is best to choose a position with a southern exposure, well sunny and warm. Tomato bushes should be grown in places sheltered from the wind.The nutritional requirements of the tomato are high. For the proper growth and ripening of the fruit, mineral fertilization with an appropriate composition is used. The tomato is sensitive to direct cultivation after liming, so this treatment should be performed under the forecrop (e.g. cabbage, onion, cucumber). When growing tomatoes, it is preferable to have certain plants close by, e.g. beans or red beet, but not recommended to carrots.
Tomatoes are grown from seedlings due to the long growing season. You can buy seedlings or prepare them yourself. When purchasing seeds, it is worth remembering that for early harvesting, you should choose seeds of early and medium-early varieties and plants with a short growing season. Higher yields can be expected in later varieties than in the earlier ones. Tomato seeds are sown to a depth corresponding to three times their diameter. They germinate at a temperature of 22-25 degrees Celsius.When planning sowing, it is worth considering how the seedlings are produced. In the second half of March, the preparation of seedlings with quilting begins. The seeds are sown in boxes first, and then after the seedlings have emerged, they are picked up into larger pots. Ready for quilting seedlings should have 2 proper leaves. Due to the convenience and shorter preparation time of seedlings, it is recommended to use multi-pot pallets, omitting the quilting process. We sow the seeds from 15 to 20 April. Then, a high-quality seedling with a well-developed root ball is obtained. 7-10 days before planting the plants, watering should be limited and the plants should be taken outside. The seedlings are planted in the ground between May 15 and 20.
Tasty tomatoes from seedlings
The roots of the purchased seedlings must not be damaged or dry, and the plants must not be withered and yellowed. It is also worth taking a look at their growth tips and the underside of leaves, which are often attacked by aphids.Each seedling you buy should be 15 to 30 cm high, 5-7 leaves and a root ball about 8-10 cm in diameter.
When preparing the place for seedlings, it is worth using black foil or non-woven mulching. The litter strip is spread along the entire bed and the edges are covered with soil. Mulching the soil increases the temperature within the root system, thanks to which the plant grows faster and gives an earlier crop. The mulch also reduces the appearance of weeds and ensures greater and more even soil moisture. Tomatoes are led to 1-2 shoots, all remaining side shoots appearing in the leaf axils should be removed. By leading the tomatoes into 2 shoots, the main shoot and the shoot growing above the first bunch are left. When the first clusters have reached the required size, it is a good idea to remove the lower leaves underneath them. This treatment has a positive effect on the he alth of plants, and also accelerates fruit ripening. The operation is repeated in the next clusters, remembering to remove only 3-4 leaves at a time.After the last cluster is formed, i.e. by August 20 at the latest, remove the top of the main shoot and leave 2-3 leaves above the last cluster.
Tomato bushes require even watering - in the period of setting and fruit growing, they are very sensitive to water shortage. It is not allowed to sprinkle whole plants!
Regular harvesting also has a positive effect on tomato yield, as it stimulates the plants to produce new fruits. Tomatoes are harvested by removing the calyxes, commonly known as stalks. Tomatoes harvested at full maturity are intensely colored and sweet. They can also be picked earlier in the so-called the "on" phase, when they are just starting to color. Tomatoes must not be stored in the refrigerator. Hard and slow-ripening fruits are stored for up to 3-4 weeks.
Harvesting seeds
Many gardeners collect seeds by themselves. They can only be obtained from he althy plants.Harvestable fruit must be ripe. It is best to leave them for a few days after harvesting for better maturation. When rinsing the seeds, separate them from the flesh. Spread out in a thin layer, it is left to dry in an airy place. It is also worth choosing larger and heavier seeds from among them, which will guarantee better emergence and higher yields. The dried seeds are best kept in paper bags.
