An unusual fruit with an original name: the “Red Banana” tomato - why it is good and how to grow it yourself

Red banana is a tomato that many gardeners love for its original appearance and interesting taste. The variety appeared as a result of the work of Russian breeders.

Let's consider why the vegetable received such an unusual name and how to grow a rich harvest of Red Banana on your site.

Description of the variety

The variety is early ripening and is valued by gardeners for its high yield. In addition, tomato has high immunity to major crop diseases. Red banana is grown both in the south of the country and in the northern regions. In addition to Russia, the variety is popular in neighboring countries, for example, in Moldova and Ukraine.

Subspecies Banana orange

This variety is characterized as determinant plant, the bushes reach a height of about 1.5 m. The roots and stem are powerful. Tomatoes have a bright reddish-orange color and a thick skin.

The ripening period is average; gardeners harvest the first harvest approximately 110 days from planting. The shape of the fruits is small, elongated and oval. The average weight of one is about 110 g. About 4 kg of tomatoes are harvested from one bush.

Tomatoes are well stored and transported over long distances. Ripen at room conditions. In use, orange banana is universal; it performs well both fresh and after heat treatment. It does not lose its beneficial properties and vitamins and is considered an excellent natural antioxidant.

Distinctive features

The Red Banana tomato forms bushes about 1 m high. Clusters and shoots form on the main stem. As the plant grows, it is necessary to tie the stem to a support, otherwise it may break under the weight of ripe tomatoes.

Red banana produces ovaries well in all weather conditions. The leaves are similar in type to potato leaves, the color is dark green.

Characteristics of tomatoes, yield

Tomatoes have a plum-like elongated shape, which is why they got their name. The average length of a vegetable is about 6 cm, but some specimens reach a length of 12 cm. The average weight of a tomato is about 100 g. The color is classic, deep red. The skin is dense, so tomatoes rarely crack.

The pulp is dense and juicy, there are few seeds. Tomatoes contain a large amount of sugars and acids. In addition, Red Banana is distinguished by its presentable appearance and high commercial qualities.

At least 3 kg of beautiful and juicy tomatoes are collected from each bush. In greenhouse conditions, vegetables ripen until November, thereby increasing the total harvest.

How to plant seedlings

Growing seedlings helps plants better adapt to external environmental conditions and get a good harvest in the future.

Seed preparation

High-quality seeds are the key to a successful harvest. You should purchase them only in trusted places and from reliable suppliers. Carefully read the manufacturer's information and planting recommendations. After purchase, disinfect the material.

A regular solution of potassium permanganate is suitable for this. Next, place the seed in the freezer overnight. Hardening will help the plant tolerate frost and bad weather more easily.

The final stage of seed preparation is soaking.Place the seeds in a damp cotton pad. This is necessary so that the seeds germinate faster and produce the first shoots. Make sure that the seeds do not dry out. Avoid excess moisture.

Container and soil

Container and soil for seedlings can be purchased at the store. This will save you time and effort, but you will have to spend a little money. If you would like to make your own soil, here is a simple recipe.

You will need soil from the garden, peat, ash and sand. Please note that the ground must be disinfected before this. For example, pour boiling water over it - this will kill all harmful microbes and bacteria. A mixture of these ingredients will create favorable soil for future seedlings.

Important! With capacity, things are even simpler. Seedlings are planted both in flower pots and in wooden boxes. The main thing is to ensure that the container is clean and dry.

Sowing

After preparing the seeds, container and soil, start sowing the seedlings. Pour the prepared soil into the container and make small holes about 1 cm deep in it. Place in them seeds and sprinkle soil on top. Next, water the seedlings with plenty of warm water.

Growing and care

It is necessary to grow seedlings in a bright and warm place. If natural light is not enough, use additional lighting. Water the sprouts carefully, following the regime. It is best for the water to get directly under the root, bypassing the leaves. High humidity is unacceptable, as there is a risk of developing fungal diseases.

After 10 days from the moment of planting, it is recommended to carry out the first fertilizing. This is done using a solution of hot water and bird droppings. Seedlings should be hardened 2-3 weeks before planting in the ground.For example, place containers outside every day for 2 hours. And the day before planting, place them outside for a day.

How to grow tomatoes

For a good harvest, it is necessary to follow basic agrotechnical rules.

Landing

It is better to prepare the soil in the fall. It is necessary to dig up the soil and add fertilizers to it, for example, a mixture of compost and superphosphate. In the spring, it is recommended to fertilize the area with potash fertilizers. Red bananas are planted after all frosts have passed.

Important! The roots should be carefully pressed with earth on all sides. After planting, the sprouts need abundant watering.

Care

Every 10-12 days the soil needs to be loosened. This simple operation saturates the soil with oxygen and makes it more airy. In addition to loosening, tomatoes need regular and timely watering. Remember to avoid getting water on the leaves and stems. The best time for watering is the second half of the day and cloudy weather. Watering is also required before applying mineral fertilizers and before loosening the soil.

Throughout the entire growing period, the “banana” tomato is fertilized with organic and mineral fertilizers. The first feeding is necessary 15 days after planting. Mullein solution, ammonium nitrate or potassium salt are suitable for this.

It is also important not to forget about pinching and tying up bushes. Form a bush into one stem, leaving 2-3 brushes. The plant is planted every 10 days. Stepchildren should be removed carefully, without harming the main stem.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

It is best to tie the Red Banana to ordinary wooden pegs. They are placed to the left of the stem at a distance of 10 cm. The bushes are attached with pegs in several stages.The first - immediately after planting the vegetable, and the second and third - as the plant develops.

As for fertilizers, fertilizing is carried out at intervals of 2 weeks. It is better to add nutrients after loosening the soil. On average, 10 Red Banana bushes require about 1 bucket of nutrient solution.

Important! The soil moisture under the bushes should be no more than 85%, and air humidity no more than 50%. After planting, the seedlings are watered and left for three days. Pay attention to weather conditions as well. If the summer is hot and dry, increase the amount of moisture. If there is a lot of rain and fog, reduce it.

Diseases and pests

The most common disease among all tomatoes is late blight. So far, agronomists have not yet developed a variety that would have 100% immunity to this disease. Late blight - a fungal infection - manifests itself in the form of brown and dark yellow spots on the leaves.

The causes of the fungus are high humidity and reduced plant immunity. It is recommended to combat late blight with the special product “Fitosporin”. For prevention, gardeners advise using garlic or saline solution.

Another common disease is blackleg. More often it occurs when growing plants in a greenhouse. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to add soil lime and wood ash. And if the black leg has already infected the vegetables, immediately treat the bushes with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

From pests Let's note the wireworm and mole cricket. These insects eat the roots and stems of the bush, as a result of which the latter’s metabolism is disrupted. If the necessary measures are not taken in time, the plant will die.To control pests, eggshells, garlic tincture and spraying with whey are used.

The nuances of growing in open ground and greenhouses

Regardless of growing conditions, remember to remove weeds. Protect tomatoes from them constantly, from the first days of planting. It is best to do this together with hilling or loosening the soil. Hill up the bushes at least three times a season.

Remember about microfertilizers. What Red Banana needs most is magnesium and boron. Due to their shortage, the bushes fall off. To feed, take 1 g of boric acid and dissolve it in 1 liter of water. The resulting mixture Spray the beds in the afternoon.

If you are planting tomatoes in greenhouse, then also remember to maintain optimal levels of heat and humidity. Ventilate greenhouses, open windows and doors. In addition, ventilate every time 2 hours after watering. The temperature in the greenhouse on a cloudy day should be about 20 degrees, and on a hot day - no more than 25.

Harvesting and application

The ripening period of the variety is extended, so you can enjoy delicious vegetables for a long time. Red banana has an excellent ability to ripen on its own after being picked from the bush. To do this, the tomatoes are placed in a wooden box or basin and covered with a towel on top.

Due to the high content of vitamins and minerals, tomato is used for baby and dietary nutrition. The vegetable is suitable for preparing vegetable stews, salads, pastas, canned or dried dishes.

In preparations for the winter, the variety looks especially beautiful and appetizing; housewives love to use Red Banana as the basis for whole pickling.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive characteristics of the variety include:

• possibility of cultivation in any regions of Russia;
• high productivity regardless of climatic conditions;
• immunity to pests and diseases;
• original appearance;
• high taste qualities;
• versatility in use;
• high degree of keeping quality;
• resistance to transportation.

Among the disadvantages of the Red Banana variety, we note:

• mandatory bush formation, as well as gartering and pinching;
• Due to the high solids content, it is not always possible to prepare tomato juice - it turns out too thick.

Farmer reviews

Let's see what experienced farmers and novice gardeners say about the Red Banana variety.

Anastasia, Barnaul: “I planted many varieties on my plot, but Red Banana turned out to be the most productive for me. I enjoy using beautiful, neat tomatoes in salads and canning. I grow tomatoes in a greenhouse, I’m very happy.”

Larisa, Volgograd: “I constantly grow this variety in open beds. I'm in no hurry to harvest. Red banana, in my opinion, is inferior in taste to some other popular tomatoes. Therefore, it is best to use the variety in pickled or dried form, and for salads use other tomatoes that are richer in taste.”

Valentina, Zlatoust: “I planted this variety for the first time. I won't say that he surprised me very much. It tastes ordinary, and what’s more, you need to carefully care for the bushes. The beds quickly become overgrown with weeds, so it takes a lot of time to care for them.”

Conclusion

According to the characteristics and description, the Red Banana variety has a number of distinctive features. It is perfect for lovers of everything unusual. These tomatoes will decorate any holiday table. Tomatoes go well with fish and meat and complement side dishes well.The only drawback of this variety is that it cannot be used to make tomato juice.

The care is standard, but there are a number of features. It is necessary to form a bush, remove weeds, fertilize, tie up plants and remove shoots. In addition, do not forget about timely organic fertilizing and mineral fertilizers.