The Polish name tomato comes from the Italian pomo d'oro, which means golden apple. The tomato came to Europe after Columbus discovered America. Queen Bona brought him to Poland.The available varieties are characterized by a wide variety of shapes and colors.The fruits can be spherical, cylindrical, heart-shaped, pear-shaped, yellow, orange, pink or red.
The basic criterion for selecting the varieties is the intended use of the fruit. Some, e.g. 'Morning', taste best fresh, others, such as 'Sokal', are recommended for preserves (juices, purees). Large, fleshy fruit can be grilled.Fruits contain a lot of vitamins and minerals, as well as secondary substances, including lycopene, which captures and neutralizes free radicals, which makes it anti-cancer.
Contents:
- Tomatoes from seeds
- Tomatoes from seedlings
- Successful tomato cultivation - rules
- The most interesting varieties of tomatoes
Tomatoes from seeds
Sowing seeds, depending on the temperature, should be started in the second half of March. Prepare graduated containers - plastic or organic. We fill them with a suitable substrate, and then press it lightly. If you want the soil to be more permeable - add a mixture of sand and peat, which will diversify it.
We put seeds into selected divided containers - 1 or 2 each, in case one of them has not sprouted.Then we eliminate one of them so that the plant is stronger and does not compete with another seedling. We sprinkle gently with soil to cover the seeds. After sprouting, when the first leaves develop, transfer the plants to larger containers.
Tomatoes from seedlings
Tomatoes are grown from seedlings, which is due to the long growing season. The seedlings are planted into the ground when the May frosts pass (after cold gardeners) and the soil warms up to a temperature of 12-13 ° C. You can buy seedlings or prepare them yourself.Seeds are sown to a depth three times their diameter, from April 15 to 20.The seeds germinate at 22-25 ° C. One week before planting the plants into the ground, watering should be limited and a container with seedlings (multi-pot) should be placed in the open air.
Purchased seedlings must not under any circumstances have a damaged root ball. The aerial part must not be withered or, worse, attacked by aphids (on the underside of the leaves). The purchased seedling should be 15-30 cm high and the root ball about 10 cm in diameter.
Successful tomato cultivation
Tomatoes like warm, sunny, airy positions, rich in humus and nutrients. The best place to grow vegetables is a place with southern exposure. Bushes are led to 1-2 shoots, all other side shoots are removed.During the fruit setting period, the cultivation requires systematic, moderate watering.Water should be distributed in such a way as not to wet the plants above the root. In cultivation, it is worth using mulching (agrotextile). As a result, the temperature of the substrate increases, which in turn contributes to faster plant development and earlier yielding. The mulch also reduces the growth of weeds.
The most interesting varieties of tomatoes
‘Vilma’
A very fertile variety for amateur cultivation, suitable for containers. Sweet fruit, yielding: July-September.
'Awizo ’
Early, dwarf variety, with high tolerance to late blight. Fruit recommended for preserves.
'Malinowy Bosman'
It is a mid-early variety, intended for field cultivation for preserves or for direct consumption. It has a bloody color and a fleshy, juicy interior.
Lubań ’
Early, dwarf variety, with spherical fruits, dia. over 6 cm. It probably yields in cool and wet years.
'Black prince'
A ground variety with a characteristic purple color. It is perfect for both preserves and salads - it is characterized by a delicate, sweet aroma.
‘Tomatoberry’
New. A very promising variety with sweet fleshy fruits. Perfect for salads and snacks.
'Or pera d'abruzzo'
It is a variety with an interesting, pear shape. Tomatoes are very juicy and extremely tasty. perfect for preserves and sandwiches.
Yellow pearshaped ’
Decorative cocktail tomato with pear-like fruit. Suitable for growing in containers.
'Lambert'
This variety is perfect for preserves: ketchup, purees and thick sauces. They are easy to grow and the stalk can easily be removed from the fruit.
Maliniak ’
A variety of dwarf raspberry tomato to be grown without staking. The fruit has a delicious taste.
'Lolek'
It has a yellow-orange skin - but inside it is blood red. A perfect variety to store until January.
Malinowy warszawski ’
Early, very fertile variety with large fruits. The flesh is juicy, fleshy, very tasty.
