Most vegetable growers believe that when growing tomatoes it is necessary to engage in pinching, but this is not so. After all, you can grow tomatoes for open ground in the Moscow region without pinching.
These tomatoes include low-growing varieties that do not need to remove excess shoots during cultivation.
Characteristics
The main distinguishing feature of low-growing tomatoes is that they do not need to be pruned regularly. Other features of these varieties include:
- small stature;
- a small amount of foliage on the bushes;
- all fruits are the same size;
- tomatoes do not need garter;
- the crop ripens in one period of time.
Tomatoes that do not require pinching have excellent resistance to low temperatures. Moreover, many of them can be grown outside even without the use of seedlings. It is enough to immediately plant the seeds on the site. The seedless method of growing plants does not require replanting young seedlings and simplifies the care of bushes. Tomatoes that were grown using this method are more stress-resistant and hardened.
From the above features we can conclude that low-growing tomatoes are suitable for people who are just starting to grow tomatoes.
The most famous varieties
Before planting short varieties of tomatoes, you need to decide which tomatoes belong to them. There are several fairly well-known tomatoes for open ground without pinching.
Agatha
An early ripening variety that begins to bear fruit within 2-3 months. The bushes are not standard, determinate and grow up to 50 cm. They grow well and bear fruit without pinching the variety. During harvest, you can collect several kilograms of tomatoes from one bush, which is a pretty good indicator.
Agatha can be classified as a universal variety that grows well in greenhouses and outdoors. The red fruits have a flat, round shape. The weight of each fruit does not exceed 150 grams. The taste of Agata differs from other types in its sweetness. The fruits are often used when preparing and preserving salads.
It is recommended to plant Agatha in areas where onions, cucumbers and legumes previously grew. Before planting, it is recommended to treat the seed with a weak manganese solution and leave it in clean water.
Adeline
It is an early ripening variety that begins to sing within 120-130 days.Adeline's bush is short and grows up to 40 cm. Most often, this tomato is grown outside, but if necessary, it can be planted in a greenhouse.
The fruits differ from most varieties in their ovoid and oblong shape. During the ripening period they acquire a rich, bright color. In addition to their good appearance, they also have good transportability. These tomatoes are often used in cooking to create salads, sauces and pastes.
Adeline's advantages include:
- bushes do not require pinching;
- resistance to diseases and temperature changes;
- tolerates lack of moisture without problems.
White filling
White filling is an early-ripening, low-growing tomato for open ground without pinching. Its full ripening takes on average about 90-100 days.
The bush is covered with a small number of leaves and grows up to 50-55 cm. The plant is not pinched or tied up. However, many gardeners still remove the stepson before the first cluster so that the fruits can ripen a little faster.
The fruits are white in color and covered with smooth skin. They weigh 100 grams, but with proper care of the bushes this figure can increase to 150 grams. Tomatoes are versatile and are often used by housewives when preparing ketchup and canning.
Main advantages:
- stable harvest even in dry weather;
- possibility of long-term storage of fruits.
Betalux
A distinctive feature of Betalux is its maturation period. The fruits will fully ripen 80 days after the seeds are planted in the soil. The plant has low-growing bushes no more than 45 cm high. These varieties of tomatoes do not need to be periodically tied to special mounts or pinched.However, some still fix the tallest bushes, as they can break due to the weight of the tomatoes.
The fruits are round and red in color. The weight of each individual fruit does not exceed 100 grams. With proper agricultural technology, more than 2-4 kg of tomatoes are formed on one plant. With their help, many dishes are prepared and preserved.
Dwarf
This variety is one of the most unpretentious species that does not need to be planted. It is resistant to weather changes, so it is planted outside or in a greenhouse.
Gnome is an early variety that ripens 85-90 days after planting. The tomato got its name because of the small height of the bushes. They are quite low and grow only up to 40 cm. The stems are covered with small leaves, colored light green.
Tomatoes have a smooth surface covered with a tough, reddish skin. The variety cannot boast of large fruits, since their weight is only 55-60 grams. The yield is not bad and is about 6-7 kg per square meter of land.
The main advantages include:
- resistance to weather changes;
- the ability to transport fruits;
- taste qualities.
Gina
It differs from other varieties in its productivity and ease of cultivation. Even an inexperienced vegetable grower who is completely unfamiliar with tomato farming technology can get a good harvest from the Gina variety.
Under favorable conditions, the bush grows up to 55-65 cm. If the plant grows higher, it will have to be tied to a support so that it does not fall to the ground. The bushes of this variety are not pinched or tied up.
The fruits are round and slightly flat in shape.They are covered with a thin shell with an orange tint, under which there is dense and fleshy pulp. After full ripening, the fruit weighs 400 grams. Gina's main advantage can be considered its resistance to late blight and other common tomato diseases.
Zhigalo
Zhigalo is a mid-season variety that ripens 110 days after planting the seeds in the soil. The bush of the plant is quite compact and is only 40 cm. It does not require regular pinching and tying.
The fruits differ from many varieties in their cylindrical and oblong shape. The length of each of them is 10 cm, and the average weight is 150 grams. Tomatoes are often used in cooking to create salads. It is rarely eaten fresh as it is too dry for that. You can get more than 3 kg of tomatoes from a bush.
Quite often, Zhigalo is confused with Auria tomatoes due to the fact that their fruits have the same shape.
Growing
Growing tomatoes without pinching is much easier than other tomato varieties. In this case, a person does not have to constantly care for the bushes in order to get a sufficient number of tomatoes. Even novice gardeners can grow such plants, as they tolerate high humidity well and cope well with sudden temperature changes.
However, when choosing seeds, you should still take into account the climate. Recommended to grow determinate tomato variety, which develops quickly and bears fruit earlier. The first harvest begins to appear literally after a month and a half. In this case, all the fruits begin to ripen at the same time. The average weight of a ripe tomato is about 100-800 grams.
When growing low-growing varieties, you must adhere to certain principles:
- plant the seed in the ground in early spring;
- It is recommended to sow tomatoes in a pre-prepared soil mixture consisting of garden soil, river sand and humus;
- tomatoes are planted in moist soil to a depth of no more than 1-2 cm;
- To speed up the appearance of the first shoots, it is recommended to grow bushes at a temperature of at least 25 degrees.
Conclusion
Anyone can grow tomatoes without pinching. To do this, you should familiarize yourself with the known varieties of such tomatoes and recommendations for growing them.
