Gardeners most often give their preference to varieties that are not demanding in care, high-yielding and with excellent fruit taste. One of these varieties is the Strawberry Dessert tomato.
Description of Tomato Strawberry Dessert
Before buying the seeds of a particular tomato, you need to study its description. The first thing gardeners and gardeners pay attention to is yield. Almost all producers claim that their variety is the most productive. But in reality this is not always true.
Tomatoes of the Strawberry Dessert variety are indeterminate (unlimited growth of the main stem), with medium-early fruit ripening. From the moment of emergence of seedlings to the beginning of the fruiting period, no more than 120 days pass.
The bushes are not standard; it is recommended to tie them to a high vertical support. The trunk can grow up to 1.7 meters in length. It is also necessary to pinpoint, form the trunk into 1 or 2 stems and gradually remove the lower leaves. In August, the top should be pinched two leaves after the last cluster has formed.
The first reddened tomatoes can be harvested as early as July. The fruiting period is quite long and continues until the onset of frost. If the tomato is grown in a heated greenhouse, then ripe fruits can be collected even in November.
The tomatoes are distributed evenly throughout the plant. This quality of the variety allows you to reduce the load on the bush.
In northern latitudes, it is advisable to grow the plant in greenhouses.
The main advantage of the tomato is its high resistance to most diseases, especially root and blossom end rot.
Fruit characteristics
The main characteristic of the Strawberry Dessert tomato is the taste of the fruit. As the name suggests, ripe tomatoes taste like “strawberries.” Very sweet, high in sugar. The pulp is juicy, tender with a pleasant tomato aroma. The skin is thin. There is some slight ribbing. Great for preparing vegetable summer salads.
Simple type of inflorescence. Up to 9 tomatoes can form on a cyst. The fruits are very large, multi-chambered, with a large number of seeds. The weight of ripe tomatoes can reach up to 300 grams. As the skin ripens, it takes on a rich red hue.
Universal use of fruits. Suitable for preparing tomato juice, adjika, ketchup and various salads.
Productivity is high. From one bush you can collect more than 10 kg of ripe fruits.
Advantages and disadvantages
Reviews from those farmers who planted Strawberry Dessert are only positive. The taste of ripe vegetables is especially praised. It is rare to find a variety with such sweet and juicy fruits.
Advantages:
- The undeniable advantage of the Strawberry Dessert tomato is the taste of the fruit;
- Abundant harvest throughout the season;
- When planted in a greenhouse, the harvest can be harvested until November;
- Immunity to many diseases (especially fusarium and rot);
- Versatility of use in cooking.
Flaws:
- It is necessary to remove the stepsons and lower leaves;
- Unlimited growth of the main stem;
- In the northern regions, cultivation is possible only in greenhouses or greenhouses.
How to grow tomatoes correctly
Tomatoes of the Strawberry Dessert variety begin to be planted as seedlings in late March. The germination rate of planting material is high, more than 80%. After the first full leaf appears on the seedlings, they are picked.
Those who have grown tomatoes note that with additional lighting, the seedlings grow stronger and healthier.
Features of planting seedlings in the soil:
- Seedlings are planted in a greenhouse at the beginning of May, in open ground - at the end of May or beginning of June (when the threat of night frosts has passed);
- The distance between bushes should be at least 40 - 50 cm, between rows - about 60 cm;
- It is not advisable to plant plants too close, they will interfere with the formation of ovaries;
- A week after transplantation, the bushes will need to be tied up.
After the active growing season ends, the tops of the plants need to be pinched. It is important to regularly water the seedlings and apply mineral and organic fertilizers. Especially during the period of growth and formation of ovaries.
Disease Prevention
Despite the fact that the Strawberry Dessert variety is immune to major diseases, great attention must be paid to disease prevention.
Every year the soil in greenhouses and greenhouses needs to be changed and watered with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate. The soil in open ground needs to be dug up every year and humus or manure added.
Bushes can be regularly sprayed with various biological preparations with an antifungal effect. This will help avoid fungal diseases.
Very often during the fruiting period (especially if it rains for a long time or cabbage grows nearby) slugs may appear on tomatoes. They must be collected by hand. To repel insects from tomatoes, the bushes can be sprayed with a solution of ammonia.
To prevent the development of root rot, you need to add mulch to the soil. You can use peat or straw for this.
