Most owners of summer cottages grow vegetables in their gardens. At the same time, tomatoes are especially popular. Before you start planting tomatoes, you should decide on the variety. Quite often, gardeners plant the tomato Strawberry f1. This variety is perfect for people who want to get an early harvest.
Description
The variety belongs to medium-sized plants, which during the growing period reach a height of 120-150 cm. Because of this, the bushes should be tied to strong supports so that they cannot break due to strong gusts of wind or due to the large weight of the fruit.The plant grows well in any conditions and therefore can be planted both in open beds and in a greenhouse.
The first harvest of Strawberry tomatoes appears quite early. Literally 90 days after planting the seedlings in the ground, you can harvest the fruits. Ripe tomatoes differ from the fruits of other varieties of tomatoes in their shape, which is very reminiscent of strawberries. The weight of tomatoes is not too large - only 20-50 g. However, this does not affect the yield in any way, since about 5 kg of tomatoes can be harvested from one bush without any problems. If you properly care for the bushes, the yield can increase by several kilograms.
Tomatoes are much denser than other varieties and because of this they are often used when preparing preserves. They can also be consumed fresh. When making tomato paste or juice, Strawberry cherry tomatoes are not used, as they contain too much dry matter.
Growing seedlings
Before planting tomatoes in open soil, you need to start growing seedlings from seeds.
Preparation of planting material
In order for plants to germinate better, you should prepare the seeds in advance. To do this, they are soaked for several hours in a solution prepared from boric acid, copper sulfate or even aloe juice. However, there are other ways to process seed material.
For example, they can be soaked in ordinary water. To do this, place a cloth in a small plate and fill it with water. After this, the seeds are laid out on its surface. They should be soaked for 2-3 hours, after which the water is drained and the seeds are transferred to a plastic bag for three days.
Manganese solution is also often used for processing.It is poured into a saucer with seeds. Soaking should last no more than half an hour, after which all planting material is washed with water and dried.
Landing
For growing tomatoes, it is recommended to choose loose and light soil. Therefore, before planting seeds, you should add a little sawdust and peat to the soil.
Seedlings should be grown in peat tablets, as with their help you can avoid transplanting seedlings.
It is recommended to plant tomato seeds in early spring. However, some plant them at the end of March. The seeds should be planted in small holes, the depth of which should not exceed one centimeter. If they are planted in boxes, then you should think about the distance between the holes, which should be 5-7 cm. The timing of seedling germination depends on a considerable number of factors. When grown in optimal conditions, seedlings begin to appear after 5-10 days.
After the first shoots appear, you need to take care of lighting, since without it the sprouts will begin to seriously stretch, which can cause damage to the stems. Daylight hours should be 15 hours a day. Some gardeners recommend organizing round-the-clock lighting in the first days after the first shoots appear.
Planting seedlings
Seedlings are planted in open ground after the end of night frosts. It is recommended to do this in the second half of spring or even early summer. By that time, the young bushes will have their first brushes and the root system will be strengthened.
Site selection
To plant any vegetables, you must choose an area that is well lit and protected from strong gusts of wind. Therefore, it is not recommended to plant tomatoes on a hill that is subject to strong wind.
Also, when choosing a place to grow, it is worth remembering what grew there before. Tomatoes will grow well after potatoes, peppers or eggplants.
Soil preparation
Many tomato varieties are not very picky about soil, and Strawberry is no exception. However, in order for the bushes to grow faster, they need to be grown in soil with a lot of nutrients. That is why before planting you should think about fertilizing the site. The soil should be fed with compost and humus. For one square meter, 5 kg of fertilizer will be enough.
Mineral fertilizers are also often added to the soil. In the fall, before digging the site, phosphorus and potassium are added to the ground.
Planting
Planting germinated seedlings begins with creating holes in the area. They should not be too deep and therefore their depth should be such that they cover the root of the plant without any problems. The distance between each hole should be 40-50 cm, and between each row - 60 cm.
If the seedlings are more than 35 cm in height, then they will have to be planted in the soil at a right angle. In this case, you will have to dig into the ground not only the root, but also a third of the stem of the bush. After the seedling has been placed in the hole, it should be sprinkled with soil and compacted. You should also water each bush and install strong supports near them for further gartering.
Conclusion
The Strawberry tomato is an excellent choice for gardeners who prefer to grow early-ripening varieties. To plant such a tomato on your plot, you need to familiarize yourself with the basic recommendations for planting seeds and look at the reviews of people who have been growing this variety for several years.
