Unpretentious in care, but at the same time generous in yield, the “Tea Rose” tomato: agricultural technology and advice from experienced farmers
A new product of Russian selection - the Tea Rose tomato variety - can become a decoration for any garden. This variety is unpretentious, has beautiful bright pink fruits and excellent taste. Basic information about the Tea Rose variety will be given below.
Description of the variety
The Tea Rose is characterized by an impressive bush height (up to 2 m), high disease resistance and high yield. The period of full ripening from 90 to 100 days characterizes the variety as early ripening. The weight of the spherical fruit can reach 0.4 kg.
The average yield per plant reaches 6 kg of fruits, which tolerate transportation and long-term storage well. Fruiting is consistent throughout the entire period of growth and ripening. The decorative appearance of the plant is given by weighty clusters of many (5-7 pieces) fruits on one bush.
Fruit characteristics
Tomatoes have universal qualities, suitable for direct consumption, for preparing salads, snacks, sauces and canning for the winter. The benefits of fruits are due to the high content of vitamins, microelements and beneficial amino acids. The taste and aroma qualities of the variety are beyond praise. The pulp contains a minimum of water and seeds, is fleshy, resistant to cracking, and dense.
High intensive growth of bushes necessitates tying and installing support posts.This should be considered one of the disadvantages of the variety.
How to grow seedlings
It is better to start growing Tea Rose tomatoes in seedlings in the second half of March. Seed material must be carefully prepared in a standard way, by soaking or treating with a growth stimulant.
Suitable preparations are available in garden stores. This will help increase further germination and productivity of plants.
Container and soil
The basic requirements for soil are looseness and nutritional value. Tea rose loves feeding fertilizers. Soddy soil with a high content of peat and humus is quite suitable for sowing.
Standard containers are suitable for seedlings; drainage can be placed at the bottom.
Sowing
The seeds are placed in depressions in the soil and sprinkled with loose peat.
After sowing, it is necessary to moisten the soil (it is possible to use liquid fertilizers) and cover it with plastic film. This will create a favorable microclimate and help timely plant growth.
The development of seedlings requires constant adherence to the temperature regime, in the range of 21-27⁰С.
Growing and care
The culture tolerates moisture and light well. The average time for shoot germination varies from a week to 10 days. This period is enough for the sprouts to get stronger, and it is possible to remove the film and take the containers out into the light. These are necessary conditions for proper acclimatization and hardening of plants before transplanting into the ground.
During this period, seedlings should be watered moderately, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out. The variety is quite moisture-loving. Good natural lighting is necessary. After the first shoots appear, they need to be allowed to grow stronger and produce at least a couple of leaves. This is the time to dive.
Planting plants requires preparatory steps, which include feeding the plant. Liquid complex fertilizer for nightshades is best suited. This must be done at least twice, immediately before transplantation. The interval between feedings is at least 7 days. It is also a good idea to take preventive pest control measures. You can treat the soil with a solution of Fitosporin.
The soil intended for planting seedlings must be well fertilized and loosened. Manure is suitable, and local laying of eggshells will help accelerate the development of the tomato root system. It should not be added to the entire soil, but only to the places where seedlings are planted.
You can plant plants in the ground using a checkerboard pattern. One plant is at the usual depth, the next one is immersed in the ground to the level of the first pair of leaves. This will create convenience during subsequent care of the bushes and increase the resistance of the upper layers of soil from drying out.
A suitable irrigation method is drip. The intensity depends on the amount of precipitation and periods of drought. During the flowering period, increased watering is necessary. It is not advisable to allow the soil to dry out, but excess moisture also leads to the risk of disease of the root system. You need to stick to the golden mean.
Once a week you can feed the plant with liquid mineral fertilizers or organic matter.
How to grow tomatoes
Planting plants in open ground must comply with a number of conditions. This applies to soil, temperature, lighting, and so on.
If the seedling method is intended, then it is necessary to first prepare the seedlings by hardening and acclimatization. The appropriate time depends on the climate in the region and the conditions where the tomatoes will grow.If it is a greenhouse, you can start at the end of May. If it is open ground, it is better to wait until mid-June.
It is recommended to place no more than three plants on one square meter of soil. This will make it easier to access the bushes during subsequent care (watering, fertilizing, tying up bushes).
Care
The variety is characterized by increased consumption of moisture and nutrients. The soil needs to be frequently fertilized with mineral fertilizer complexes. Water for irrigation should not be colder than 15⁰. Watering should be done every 7-12 days. At least 5 liters of water per bush. In dry, hot weather, the volume increases to 10 liters. It is recommended to loosen the soil between waterings. This will provide additional opportunities for air access and prevent possible rotting of the bush.
Optimal air humidity should be in the range of 65 – 70%, air temperature 23-25 ⁰С.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
Plant growth in greenhouse conditions can reach 2 m, in open ground up to 1.5 m. It is necessary to give the plant additional vertical support for one or two stems (posts, pegs). It would also be a good idea to remove side shoots that interfere with the growth of the bush - stepsoning.
We choose the time for sowing seeds for seedlings with a reserve. About 65-70 days should pass before planting in the ground.
Diseases and pests
A big plus of this variety is its high resistance to common diseases and pests.. Following crop cultivation techniques reduces the risk of disease to a minimum. Most often, Tea rose is affected by a viral infection. Preventive examinations, mulching, the use of special compounds (Fitosporin) and weeding of the soil will protect plants from diseases.
The main insect pests that attack the Tea Rose are: Colorado potato beetle, thrips, whitefly and spider mite. Methods of combating these pests are typical and well known to all amateur gardeners. A good preventative measure would be to plant herbs next to tomatoes. The smell of mint or parsley irritates insects.
The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse
The “Tea Rose” tomato variety was bred by domestic breeders in 2016, mainly for planting in greenhouses and greenhouses. The stable warm climate of southern Russia allows gardeners to grow this variety in open ground.
Differences when planting in a greenhouse and open ground are due to external factors, such as the climate in the region. If tomatoes can be planted in a greenhouse already in mid-May, then in open ground no earlier than the first half of June.
In greenhouse conditions, the plant reaches its maximum development. The height reaches 2 m, the yield is 6 kg per bush. In open ground these figures drop to 1.5 m and 4.5 - 5 kg.
Greenhouse conditions create their own microclimate, in which it is easier to control and maintain the necessary conditions: air temperature, light and humidity. In open ground, the likelihood of the plant freezing at night increases; the crop is exposed to cold air currents.
The Tea Rose tomato variety loves good lighting. In winter, it is necessary to increase daylight hours artificially. It’s easier to do this in a greenhouse, turning off artificial lighting for 6 – 8 hours a day.
Water in open ground you need warm water, 16 - 18⁰С. In a greenhouse, it is permissible to use water no colder than 15⁰C.
Both in open and in closed ground, the crop is fertilized throughout the entire ripening period.
Harvesting and application
If the cultivation technology is followed, the “Tea Rose” tomato variety will delight gardeners with an abundant harvest of fruits with an ideal round shape. The size of tomatoes on one bush may vary. This is a plus of the variety. Large ones will be used for salads, appetizers, and sliced items. Medium ones are ideal for canning for the winter.
The taste qualities of the variety do not leave the most fastidious gourmets indifferent. The fruits are well stored, do not lose their taste, are quite resistant to cracking and tolerate transportation well. There is no practical sense in collecting unripe fruits with the prospect of ripening.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main disadvantage when growing the Tea Rose variety is the need to provide the plant with additional support (tying, driving in vertical pegs) and pinching. The plant also requires regular feeding with mineral fertilizers throughout the entire ripening cycle.
The main advantages of the Tea Rose variety:
- Excellent taste of the fruit.
- High yield.
- The fruits are well transported and resistant to damage.
- A beautiful decorative view of a plant in a garden bed.
- Tomatoes are rich in vitamins and amino acids.
- Cold resistance of the variety.
- The fruits are suitable for eating raw, cooking, and canning.
Farmer reviews
Here are reviews from gardeners who have grown the “Tea Rose” tomato variety in practice.
Marina, Rostov-on-Don: “Thank you to the breeders for this hybrid. I grew it in the country last year. I was very pleased. I will definitely continue to plant Tea Rose tomatoes.
Ignat, Volgograd: “I planted the Tea Rose tomato variety in 2016. I was happy about the good harvest and the absence of diseases. Thanks to Russian agronomists!”
Liana, Smolensk: “I grew the variety in my greenhouse. I had to tinker a little when tying up the bushes and loosening the beds. But the good harvest more than paid for all the efforts.”
Conclusion
The Tea Rose tomato variety appeared only three years ago, but managed to earn attention and positive reviews from farmers from all over Russia. This successful brainchild of domestic breeders will take its well-deserved place in the garden plots of most gardeners.