An early ripening hybrid with exceptional taste - tomato “Lili Marlene f1”
The unusual name of the Lily Marlene tomato refers to an old forgotten song that was popular during the Second World War. It sang about two different girls with the names Lily and Marlene, whom a young soldier met. Those who have heard this simple song probably remember the inexplicable admiration from the heartfelt words.
Of course, gastronomic preferences are not comparable to emotional experiences. But for real gourmets, the taste of ripe tomatoes called Lily Marlene can evoke no less strong admiration. Rich in vitamins, with a deep pink hue that shimmers in the sun, these vegetables will decorate any summer salad or side dish. They are valued for their high nutritional qualities and are in great demand in markets.
Characteristics and description
Hybrid Lily Marlene f1 belongs according to the classification to beef tomatoes. These are large-fruited tomatoes weighing more than 150 g, with fleshy pulp.
Reference. The term comes from the English word “beef”, literally translated into Russian meaning “meat, beef” or “meaty” as we say.
Beef tomatoes less susceptible to fungal and viral diseases, and the taste of the fruit is always at a high level.
Distinctive features
Indeterminate type, bush height – 1.8–2 m. The foliage is medium, the leaves are emerald green. The first inflorescence is formed above the 6-7th leaf. The ovaries are collected in racemose inflorescences, each of which forms 4-5 fruits.
High growth requires mandatory plant staking. To avoid dense plantings, the crop is regularly planted.
Early ripening species 90–105 days pass from the moment of sowing to full ripening. The hybrid is recommended for cultivation in open ground and greenhouse conditions.
Productivity is high, from 1 sq. m, up to 16 kg of fruits are collected, placing no more than 4 seedlings per 1 sq. m.
The hybrid genes contain good resistance to major diseases the nightshade family.
Fruit characteristics
The average weight of the fruit is 220–330 g, round shape, rich pink color with a reddish tint. The taste is excellent, sweet, with a barely noticeable sourness characteristic of tomatoes. The pulp is fleshy, dense, there are 5-6 seed chambers. The peel is thin, so tomatoes cannot retain their presentation for a long time. They cannot be transported and can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than a week.
From the reviews of those who planted it, it follows that the best option for consuming ripe vegetables is preparing various dishes fresh. These tomatoes are not suitable for canned food and pickles., but they are processed into juices, ketchups and sauces.
The photo shows Lily Marlene's tomatoes.
How to grow seedlings
Sowing work begins 2 months before planting in the ground.. Before sowing, prepare the seed material, container and soil.
Preparing the seeds, container and soil
Purchased seeds are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate pink for 20 minutes, then rinse with running water. It is not possible to collect seed material of hybrid crops on your own; they are bought every time. The manufacturer takes care of the quality of the seeds by carrying out all the necessary treatments.
Reference. Purchased seed material is usually already disinfected.It is soaked in potassium permanganate to strengthen the immune system.
To increase germination, soak in a growth stimulator for 10-11 hours. Stimulants used include Kornevin or Zircon.
Any container will do – a common wooden box, separate plastic or peat containers. Before sowing, they are treated with a strong solution of manganese and drainage holes are made at the bottom. If this is not done, moisture will accumulate, which can lead to the development of fungal diseases.
The soil is prepared from garden soil mixed with peat and humus in equal quantities. River sand is added as a leavening agent. The finished mixture is poured with a hot solution of manganese or steamed in the oven at a temperature of 60 degrees for 10 minutes. The disinfected soil is laid out in planting containers, filling them two-thirds.
Sowing
Seeds are sown to a depth of 1.5 cm, sprinkle the top with soil, lightly compact and water with warm, settled water from a spray bottle. The containers are covered with film and left indoors at a temperature of at least 24 degrees. Periodically, the film is removed to ventilate and moisten the soil. The covering material creates greenhouse conditions, and the seeds germinate faster.
Read about other varieties of early ripening tomatoes:
Tomato "Alesi": overview of advantages, disadvantages and features
Seedling care
As soon as the seeds germinate, containers are placed on the windowsill to provide the right amount of light. Daylight hours should be at least 13 hours. If there is insufficient light, install lamps.
Water the seedlings with warm, settled water as the top layer of soil dries out. Watering is carried out from a shallow watering can, without flooding the sprouts.After watering, the soil is loosened superficially, ensuring breathability.
Reference. Oxygen is better supplied to the roots through loosened soil.
When two true leaves form, the seedlings are picked, planting in separate containers. Picking is necessary for more intensive development of seedlings. If the seeds are sown in peat containers, picking the seedlings is not required. 2 weeks after picking, if growth is poor, the seedlings are fed with liquid fertilizer for tomatoes.
10 days before planting in the ground, seedlings are hardened in outdoor conditions at a temperature of 16 degrees. First, the containers are taken out into the open air and left for 1 hour. Gradually the time is increased to 10 hours. With sufficient hardening, the leaves acquire an emerald hue.
How to grow tomatoes
Before planting, superphosphate is added to the soil to improve fertility.. The holes are made no deeper than 20 cm, a little wood ash is placed at the bottom of each and filled with warm water.
Landing
For 1 sq. m place 3-4 seedlings in a checkerboard pattern. When planted in this way, plants do not suffer from lack of light and are freely ventilated. This is necessary to prevent the development of fungal infections.
Reference. The day for transplanting into the ground is chosen to be cloudy or planted after sunset.
After the hole is compacted, watered with warm, settled water. and leave the tomatoes to get used to the new place for 8-9 days.
Further care
Water the seedlings after sunset or early in the morningwhen the sun is not heating at full strength. For irrigation use only warm water. You can heat it in a barrel exposed to the sun.
After watering, the soil is loosened. Removing weeds is essential for healthy plant growth.Pests and disease-causing spores often breed in weeds. In order for the beds to retain moisture longer, they mulch. Mulch also serves as a preventive measure in pest control.
The crop is fed three times throughout the entire season.: during the flowering period, during the formation of fruits and at the time of fruiting. The tomato responds well to mullein infused with water and bird droppings. The ratio of organic matter to water is at least 1:15, otherwise root burns are possible. Superphosphate or a full complex of minerals are also used as fertilizers.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
The bush is formed into two stems, removing all other stepsons. With this technique, you get the maximum return. Also regularly remove the lower leaves up to the first cluster so that they do not come into contact with wet beds.
Reference. Stepchildren are shoots that grow in the axils between the main leaves. If the stepsons are not removed, this leads to dense plantings and reduced fruiting.
For staking plants A wooden or metal support is installed next to each bush, to which the stem and fruitful branches are fixed as they develop. A trellis is also used for fixation. Supports are installed on different sides of the beds and a wire is stretched horizontally, to which the seedlings are tied with soft fabric ribbons.
Diseases and pests
The hybrid resists fungal and viral infections wellHowever, as a preventative measure, plants are sprayed with fungicidal agents or a weak solution of manganese. Potassium permanganate is treated immediately after transplantation. Also, before transplanting, for preventive purposes, tomato beds are spilled with copper sulfate.
When affected by a fungus, use for treatment drugs "Fitosporin" or "HOM" Seedlings can get sick if crops from the nightshade family are planted in the neighborhood. In this case, all plants are treated at once.
If aphids, slugs and Colorado potato beetles are found on the site The stems of the bushes are sprayed with a soap solution and each seedling is carefully inspected, preventing the pests from spreading. The Colorado potato beetle and its larvae are collected by hand. If there is a lot of pests, use insecticides “Prestige” or “Confidor”.
Nuances for open ground and greenhouses
The height of greenhouse bushes reaches 2 meters. This type of growth requires a lot of nutrients. To direct nutrition to the developing ovaries, the tops of plants are pinched, artificially limiting the height.
When forming a bush with 2 stems, it is observed the greatest return both in open ground and in greenhouse conditions. But in a greenhouse, the yield is usually 2-3 kg higher.
To maintain humidity and temperature within normal limits The greenhouse is ventilated every day without creating drafts. At elevated temperatures and humidity, bacterial spores and many pests multiply quickly.
According to the rules of crop rotation, tomatoes are planted in the same bed where they were previously cabbage, carrots, greens and legumes. After these plants, the soil is not depleted and is quite suitable for the full development of tomato. It is not recommended to plant Lily Marlene in those beds where potatoes, peppers and eggplants previously grew.
The top layer of soil in a greenhouse must be replaced every year. If this is not possible, the soil is dug up with the addition of a full range of minerals. Then pour in a hot solution of potassium permanganate and copper sulfate.
Harvesting and application
Early ripe tomato Lily Marlene allows you to harvest harvest already in the first summer month if the seeds were sown in March. The smooth, rich pink fruits are mainly consumed fresh. In summer salads, you don’t feel their thin, delicate peel at all. But it is precisely because of this that tomatoes do not retain their presentation for more than a week. For the same reason, they cannot withstand transportation.
It is obtained from ripe vegetables great cocktails, freshly squeezed juices and side dishes. They are processed to produce sauces, adjika, pasta and canned juices. For a more saturated color, pink tomatoes are mixed with red ones.
Ripe tomatoes do not hold their shape after heat treatment, so they are not used for preservation.
Advantages and disadvantages of a hybrid
Chapter Let's start with a description of the positive properties of the Lily Marlene tomato:
- early ripening appearance;
- simple agricultural technology;
- possibility of cultivation in all regions;
- high fruiting rate;
- strong immunity;
- excellent taste of fruits;
- high nutritional value.
From negative qualities:
- Garter required;
- formation and stepsoning are necessary;
- short storage;
- impossibility of transportation.
Farmer reviews
Elena, Sevastopol: “I tried to plant a lot of tomatoes in my garden, but I liked Lily Marlene f1 the most. Agricultural technology is not at all complicated, and the result is impressive. The tomatoes fully comply with the characteristics and description of the variety on the package with seeds. Tomatoes are so tasty and beautiful that once you try them, you won’t be able to refuse them. I will be happy to plant them next year.".
Ekaterina, Yaroslavl: “There is not much space in the greenhouse, but there is always room for a hybrid. This is exactly the taste that I love, sweet, delicate, simply delicious.The tomato does not require constant attention and is resistant to diseases, which I cannot say about many other varieties. In a word, I’m happy with everything".
Conclusion
The Lily Marlene f1 tomato has become a favorite of many gardeners for its unpretentious care, strong immunity to diseases and high yield. The taste of ripe tomatoes harmonizes perfectly with the taste of other vegetables in any dish. Tomatoes are indispensable for making sauces and juices. Despite the short shelf life, the tomato is in demand among farmers, as it has high demand in markets.