Adored by children and adults, the bright greenhouse hybrid with a fruity flavor is the “Yellow Date” tomato.

The Yellow Date tomato is used not only for preparing various dishes, but also for decorative decoration of the garden plot. The Russian hybrid has not only a pronounced tomato-fruit taste, but also a presentable appearance.

In the article we will look at its distinctive features, stages of cultivation, and also find out what summer residents say about it.

Characteristics and description of Date tomatoes

Hybrid f1 Yellow date - the development of Russian breeders. It can be grown in all regions except the northern ones. In the south, the crop is grown in open ground, and in the middle zone - only in a greenhouse.

Distinctive features

The type is semi-determinate, height from 90 to 150 cm. The plant is able to adapt to short-term light frosts, but in this case the yield is significantly reduced. Therefore, it is planted in the ground only in early June.

The species is medium late, from the moment of sowing the seeds to full ripening, 120-130 days pass. The crop requires obligatory garter, since there are so many fruits that the leaves are practically invisible. Plants are formed into 2 or 3 stems, planted up to the first cluster.

The variety is highly resistant to many diseases of the nightshade family.

Fruit characteristics

The fruits are small, similar to dates, oval, slightly elongated in shape. Average weight - 20 g, color deep yellow. The taste is sugary with a fruity tint, the flesh is dense and juicy.The peel is durable and does not crack during storage and transportation.

Juicy pulp and thick skin allow you to preserve ripe vegetables without losing their appearance. They look great in glass jars, especially assorted vegetables. The fruits are also used for drying and fresh consumption.

Due to their high glucose content, these tomatoes are loved by children. In addition to children's food, tomatoes are also used in dietary nutrition.

The photo shows Yellow Date tomatoes.

How to grow seedlings

Growing seedlings begins with sowing seeds in mid-late March, 2 months before planting in the ground.

Seed preparation

Preparation of seed material includes 3 stages:

1. Seed rejection. After careful inspection, non-viable specimens are disposed of.
2. Checking for emptiness. The seed material is placed in a saline solution for 10 minutes. Only those grains that have sunk to the bottom are left for sowing.
3. Seed disinfection. After disinfection, the grains become more resistant to infections and pests. For disinfection, dilute a weak solution of potassium permanganate and place the seeds in it for 30 minutes. They are then washed with running water and dried.

To increase germination, seeds soak for 10 hours in a growth stimulator - for this they use not only specialized preparations, but also traditional methods, for example, aloe juice or honey water.

Container and soil

The soil is prepared from a mixture of garden soil, peat and river sand in equal proportions. Potassium fertilizers are added to saturate the soil with useful substances. After thorough mixing, the resulting mixture is poured with a hot solution of dark potassium permanganate.

In this way, disinfection is carried out, destroying pathogens.The cooled soil is laid out in planting containers, filling them two-thirds.

Reference. Potassium fertilizers improve metabolism.

You can plant them in a common wooden box or in individual containers. The main thing is not to forget to make small drainage holes at the bottom to drain excess moisture, which causes rotting of the roots.

For disinfection purposes, prepared containers are treated with a manganese solution.

Sowing

The seeds are sown to a depth of 1 cm with a distance of 2 cm from each other, sprinkled with soil on top and lightly compacted. Moisten with a spray bottle with warm, settled water and cover with film to create greenhouse conditions.

The seeded containers are left in a warm and bright room at a temperature of 24 °C. Periodically remove the film for ventilation.

Seedling care

When seedlings appear, the containers are moved to the windowsill. Daylight hours should be at least 13-14 hours. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of additional lighting.

Reference. If there is a lack of light, the seedlings will begin to stretch and weaken.

As the top layer dries out, the soil is moistened with warm, settled water using a shallow watering can. After watering, the soil is loosened superficially with a regular fork or wooden stick.

When two true leaves appear, the seedlings are picked, planted in containers with a diameter of at least 15 cm. After picking, an increased growth of lateral roots occurs and they will be cramped in small containers. When transplanting, only strong and healthy specimens are left for further development.

If growth is weak, then young bushes are fed with liquid fertilizer for tomato seedlings.

Two weeks before planting in the ground, the seedlings are hardened off. This procedure helps them quickly take root in open ground after transplantation. To harden, plants are taken outside during the daytime for 40 minutes. Gradually, the time spent outdoors is increased to 13 hours, while the night temperature is reduced to 13 °C.

How to grow tomatoes

After 2 months of the seedling period, the root system is fully formed and is able to take root in open ground. At the end of the spring frosts, the seedlings are ready to be planted in the ground.

Landing

Two weeks in advance, prepare holes 20 cm deep. Place a little peat on the bottom and fill it with water. Transplant seedlings on a cloudy day or in the evening hours after sunset. After transplanting, the holes are compacted and watered again with warm, settled water. When planting, young plants are buried down to the cotyledon leaves.

Planting pattern: 40 cm – distance between seedlings, 65-70 cm – distance between rows. For 1 sq. m place 3-4 seedlings. Until the young bushes take root in a new place, they are not watered or fed.

Further care for tomato Date yellow

Culture needs abundant watering during flowering and fruit formation. Before this, water with moderately warm, settled water at the root of the plants, at least twice a week. If moisture gets on the leaves, a serious burn can occur, especially if watered during the day.

The culture responds well to drip irrigation. To do this, place a plastic bottle without a bottom in the root system and fill it with warm water. Thus, moisture gradually penetrates to the roots.

After watering, the soil is loosened and weeds with roots are removed. Weeds take a lot of nutrients from the soil, so their proximity to tomatoes is undesirable.

On dry days, the beds are mulched, thereby retaining moisture. Peat, straw or sawdust are used as mulch.

The hybrid is fed every two weeks, alternating a full range of mineral fertilizers with organic matter. During flowering, they are fertilized with phosphorus substances, and during fruiting, potassium salts are added for faster fruiting. From organic matter, mullein infusion or bird droppings are used in a ratio of 1:15.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

A large number of developing ovaries require a mandatory garter. It is most convenient to install trellises and fix them to a horizontally stretched wire. Both the stem and fruit-bearing branches are tied up, otherwise they will not support the weight of ripe vegetables. Gartering on a trellis is also convenient because the soft fabric tapes used to tie up the bushes do not injure the plant at all.

They plant up to the first flower cluster, leaving the remaining shoots. Stepsoning are not considered a mandatory procedure, but if you leave the lower shoots, then as they grow, the plantings may become denser, which will hinder full development. In addition, with constant contact with wet beds, the lower leaves may rot and the spread of fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests

By following the rules of crop rotation and performing simple agrotechnical procedures, gardeners thereby carry out prevention:

• disinfection of tomato beds with a manganese solution - pathogenic flora is destroyed;
• spraying young bushes with infusion of onion peels or nettle decoction;
• treatment with fungicidal preparations (if there is a real threat of disease).

Dangerous insects include slugs and whiteflies. To combat them, ammonia and strong solutions of manganese are used. But you should not overuse a strong concentrated solution of manganese, as the leaves can get burned.

When there is a large concentration of pests, insecticides are used. Otherwise, insects will harm many plants.

Nuances for open ground and protected structures

The date species can rightfully be considered a decorative decoration for the garden. The photo shows numerous branches decorated with small yellow tomato-dates. The hybrid grows up to 1.5 m in a greenhouse; in open beds its height does not exceed 1 m.

The height of the bushes does not affect the yield or taste of the fruit. Short frosts can reduce the quantitative indicator of fruiting. The hybrid will not die, but there will be significantly fewer fruits.

Tomatoes are successfully grown at home, on the balcony. It will take root well in tubs and become an unusual decoration for your home interior.

But residents of Siberia will only be able to grow a hybrid in heated greenhouses. The culture is not adapted to harsh conditions.

Harvesting and application

At the beginning of July, the first ripe tomatoes are harvested. When tied to a trellis, harvesting is not difficult. The main purpose of ripe vegetables is fresh consumption and drying.

Among fresh dishes, summer salads stand out especially, where tomatoes perfectly complement the taste of other vegetables. The high sugar content allows them to be used for baby food. Also, yellow tomatoes are suitable for dietary nutrition, replacing red ones.

Not all tomatoes can be dried. They're drying only small fruits with a tough skin. But there is one more nuance: many tomatoes do not retain their taste when dried.But the Yellow Date tomato does not lose either its beauty or taste.

Reference. Drying is a national Italian technology. Sun-dried tomatoes are an integral part of the Mediterranean diet.

Ripe tomatoes can be stored for a long time and can withstand transportation over any distance.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's start with the advantages of a hybrid:

• simple agricultural technology;
• immunity to many tomato diseases;
• high fruiting rate;
• excellent taste;
• unusual shape;
• suitable for dietary and baby food;
• high glucose content;
• preservation of presentation;
• good keeping quality.

The advantages include the possibility of breeding on the balcony at home. This is especially important for those who do not have summer cottages.

The hybrid has few negative aspects. These include:

• obligatory garter;
• impossibility of cultivation in the northern regions.

Red date tomato

In addition to the yellow variety, Russian breeders also developed a red date hybrid based on cherry tomatoes. It is similar to the yellow hybrid both in terms of cultivation and the appearance of the fruit. The red date belongs to the semi-determinate type with medium ripening periods.

It takes root in greenhouse conditions in warm and temperate climates. It is resistant to dangerous diseases such as late blight and tobacco mosaic. The culture requires mandatory gartering and pinching. To increase productivity, plants are formed into 2 or 3 stems.

Ripe red date tomatoes are practically no different from yellow ones. Perhaps they do not have such a high sugar content, so they are less sweet.

They are used mainly for fresh salads and cocktails; they are stored for a long time without losing their presentation.

Farmer reviews

There are many reviews about the tomato and almost all of them are positive. Here are some opinions from experienced gardeners:

Svetlana, Nizhny Novgorod region: “The culture was bred in a polycarbonate greenhouse. I planted yellow and red hybrids and wanted to make multi-colored preserves. The tomatoes did a great job. Everything is as chosen, sweet, with a strong peel that does not crack during heat treatment. Now I’ll be with tomatoes all winter.”

Natalya, Ivanovo: “The best tomato for children! In the morning they run to the garden and pick their favorite tomatoes. I have been growing dates for more than one year. This was my first time trying to dry fruits. I was very pleased with the result. Real jam!".

Conclusion

By planting Yellow and Red Date tomatoes in your summer cottages, you will get fruits of excellent taste, perfect for both children's and dietary nutrition. In addition, the advantage of this crop is that vegetables can be dried.

In addition to unusual fruits, the Russian hybrid is distinguished by its high yield, immunity to many diseases and simple agricultural techniques, which makes it possible for even a beginner to grow a unique tomato.