Which tomato seeds give a good harvest in open ground?
Rich and high-quality harvest tomatoes - the dream of every gardener. Vegetables are good both for fresh consumption and for preparing for the winter. The number of fruits grown is influenced by many factors: weather, seeds, and care. Various tomato varieties successfully grown both in greenhouses and in open ground.
Let's take a closer look at the best open ground tomato seeds and identify their positive and negative characteristics.
What factors influence productivity?
Let's look at the main nuances on which the harvest depends.
Water
First of all, it should be said about the amount of moisture. Tomato requires moderate moisture, but during the flowering period the plant requires increased watering. It is best to water the crop twice a week at the same time.
If the summer is characterized by heavy rain, reduce watering to once a week. If the weather is dry or hot for a long time, the amount of water is increased.
Important! Be careful: excessive moisture will cause the fruit to crack.
Gardeners do not recommend pouring all the water on the bush at once. First, it is better to moisten the soil, then pour out the main amount of water in two passes. One watering consumes from 5 to 15 liters of water per square meter. The specific amount depends on the size of the bush and the condition of the soil.
If you water the crop “whenever you want”, problems will arise: for example, root hairs will begin to die, which will entail a stop in growth.If you do not water the plant on time, there is a risk of causing massive flower drop.
Fertilizers
The ideal food regime for tomatoes is phosphorus nutrition and nitrogen-containing elements. If there are not enough nutrients, the flowers will develop worse.
However, you should not overuse fertilizing - excess nutrients (especially nitrogen) can lead to excessive leaf growth and poor fruiting. It is important to give the culture a balanced diet. Fertilizing with ash has a beneficial effect on tomatoes.
Special attention is paid to spraying. Copper sulfate, garlic infusion, and iodine solution have a great effect on tomatoes. All of them are fighting the main “enemy” of a good harvest - late blight.
Prevention
Feeding, pinching, removing lower leaves are necessary and important procedures. They are aimed at reducing the risk of developing diseases, as well as accelerating the ripening of fruits. An equally important role is played disease prevention plants - planting in prepared soil, removing damaged leaves and plants from the site.
Important! Not all varieties are suitable for planting in open ground. Even if a seed manufacturer promises you “a rich harvest in any region of the country,” this does not guarantee success. Before planting a particular variety, find out what other gardeners are saying about it.
The best tomato seeds for open ground
Let's consider which seeds are best suited for planting in open ground.
Ultra early and early tomatoes
The top 5 best seeds for early harvest in open ground look like this:
ASTON F1
You can get the first fruits 56-60 days after the first shoots. Powerful bushes reach a height of up to 2 m. Each cluster produces 4 to 6 tomatoes.The maximum weight reaches 200 g, so small fruits are convenient to use in winter preparations.
The fruits have dense and tasty pulp, the skin is thin. Tomatoes are not afraid of long shelf life and do not lose their taste and external qualities. Also, ASTONA F1 is resistant to common viral diseases, which makes caring for the plant much easier.
Big MAO
This tomato received its name for the large size of the fruits - an average weight of 250-300 g. They ripen in about 60 days. The bushes of this variety are tall, so they must be tied up.
The Big MAO has dense and spreading foliage; it should be thinned out periodically. Tomatoes are round, red or crimson in color. Tomatoes are resistant to cracking and store well. Plus, Big MAO is perfect for salads and main courses.
Alpha
These are small bushes with tomatoes, weighing on average 80 g. From one square meter of land you can harvest up to 6 kg of tomatoes. The culture does not require special care methods and tolerates late blight and mosaic very well. Alpha fruits make excellent tomato juice, adjika, ketchup, sauce.
Ladybug
This variety got its name for its miniature size: the height of one bush is from 30 to 50 cm. The average weight of one tomato is about 25 g. The surface of the tomatoes has a pleasant red color. Tomatoes can be consumed either fresh or after heat treatment. The pulp of the vegetable is dense and has a sweetish taste.
Early love
One of the record holders among early ripening varieties. In addition to the beautiful name, these tomatoes boast huge fruits. The weight of one reaches 650 g. The color of the tomatoes is soft pink or crimson.This tomato is best consumed fresh.
The best mid-season varieties
Top 5 best mid-season seeds.
ROMA
It is characterized by high yield and excellent taste. Up to 20 tomatoes ripen on one bunch. The red fruits are shaped like a plum, with an average weight of about 80 g. The pulp is tasty and aromatic, the skin is elastic. Because of this, “ROMA is valued by housewives, as tomatoes are excellent for pickling and canning.
DE BARAO yellow
The bright orange color of the fruit appealed to many gardeners. Oval tomatoes have a dense skin, the weight of one fruit is about 80 g. The bushes are low and spreading. Tomatoes are stored well and do not lose their beneficial qualities.
Present
It gives gardeners a high harvest not only in the south, but also in the middle zone of the country. It is unpretentious - the main thing is to water the bush on time and arrange several feedings. The color of the fruit is rich red. Like most mid-season fruits, it has a bright and rich taste.
Pudovik
The height of the bush is about 1.5 m, the weight of the fruit ranges from 200 g to 1 kg. It takes 110-120 days to fully ripen. The harvest is good even in the northern regions of Russia. Excellent for planting in open ground. From each bush you can remove up to 5 kg of tomatoes.
Mushroom basket
Bright red ribbed fruits. The weight of one fruit is about 500 g. Because of its interesting shape, the mushroom basket is appreciated by chefs and cooks - tomatoes look impressive on the holiday table and are great for stuffing. They are resistant to many diseases, the main thing is to follow the watering regime.
Late varieties
Now let's look at the best late-ripening varieties.
Cosmonaut Volkov
Large fruits are suitable only for fresh consumption. The plant is powerful - reaches 2 m.The fruit itself has a red or crimson color, the walls of the vegetable are slightly ribbed. Up to 6 tomatoes grow on one bunch. In one season, the Cosmonaut Volkov bush is capable of producing up to 6 kg of tomatoes.
Date fruit
The name speaks for itself - a small bunch of small tomatoes resembles dates. The beds with such tomatoes look very neat and unusual. The weight of one fruit is only about 20 g, but in terms of taste they are not inferior to giants. The pulp is yellow, sweet.
Bull's heart
One of the most popular tomatoes among gardeners. The plant is tall and needs staking and pinching. The heart-shaped fruits weigh up to 400 g. Due to their large size, the vegetable is best consumed in the form of salads, since It is not suitable for conservation.
Giraffe
Bright yellow tomatoes fall in love with more and more gardeners every year. The variety requires a minimum of 130 days to mature. The maximum weight of one tomato is 130 g. From one bush you can get about 5 kg of tomatoes. Giraffe stores perfectly - it does not spoil for about six months.
Important! Pay special attention to Dutch selection tomato seeds for open ground. The fruits of these plants are distinguished by high characteristics and taste. Favorites - Pozzano F1, Belle, Perfectpil. These tomatoes are often grown without seedlings on unprotected soil. The value of the variety lies in its high yield and preservation of fruits.
Conclusion
The idea that tomatoes should only be planted in greenhouse conditions is a myth. With proper care and nutrition, even a novice gardener will be able to reap a rich harvest from the open ground. The main thing is not to forget the planting rules, and also to comply with all deadlines.
Choose the variety that suits you. Red, yellow, orange, pink - there are many varieties. Most varieties are perfectly stored and can withstand transportation. In addition, tomatoes make delicious juices and sauces.