Among early varieties of tomatoes There are both varieties intended for cultivation in greenhouse conditions and ground varieties. The first group includes the Early Girl tomato. All tomatoes can have different sizes, purposes, colors and weights. Some bushes reach quite a large height - they are best suited for growing in greenhouses.
An important advantage of early varieties of tomatoes is the low risk of late blight. The fact is that the ripening of the main part of the crop ends before the peak of the disease, which makes it possible to remove the entire crop from the bushes. Losses are usually minimal.Experienced gardeners prefer not to abandon early varieties, but they also plant tomatoes of other groups that can ripen in mid- and late summer. This allows for continuity of the harvesting process.
When to sow early varieties of tomatoes
Each group of tomatoes, in accordance with the ripening period, must be planted as seedlings at a strictly defined time. If planting dates are observed, the plants will be strong and bring a rich harvest. It is better to buy seeds from trusted producers.
From the point of view of external differences, seedlings of early varieties, including the Early Girl tomato, are distinguished by increased stem thickness and 1–2 inflorescences. The internodes are quite short, the number of full leaves is 6–8.
The time when seeds of early tomato varieties are sown should be determined in accordance with the location where the seedlings are planted and the climatic conditions of the regions.
The main nuances are:
- if the plant is to live in a cold climate, the seeds are sown before mid-March, and planting in a greenhouse must be done no later than the beginning of June;
- Seedlings are planted in open ground after fixing a positive average daily air temperature: frosts should be excluded.
You can calculate the time when to sow the seeds yourself. If the climate is not very warm, it is necessary to move the seedlings into open ground later. This means that the time of sowing seeds should be changed, moving it to the beginning of April. The first flowers on the bush can be seen no earlier than 2 months after germination.
Seeds selected for planting must be of high quality. The way to determine the most suitable specimens is simple: soak the material in a saline solution for 10 - 12 minutes.All specimens that emerge after the specified amount of time must be thrown away, because these seeds are empty. The rest should be thoroughly washed with water and prepared for planting. Sow in heated soil and cover with film.
Features of ultra-early varieties
The attitude of experienced gardeners towards early varieties is extremely positive. The reason is not only that it will be possible to taste the first fruits early enough.
Early varieties have other important features:
- Absence of such a problem as late blight. By the end of summer, when the development of the fungus reaches its highest stage, most of the crop has already been harvested.
- A wide variety of varieties, representatives of which can reach different heights, from 0.45 meters to 2 meters. With this choice, each gardener will choose the tomato variety that suits him.
- The fruits of early tomatoes have different taste qualities. Due to the fact that such varieties ripen in mid-summer, when the sun is most active and daylight hours are long. The tomatoes become sweet, their pulp has a delicate aroma. It is preferable to use tomatoes for making tomato juice. This will be confirmed by every housewife who planted an Early Girl.
- The fruits of early tomatoes are rarely very large. Their weight ranges from 0.05 kg to 0.2 kg. There are exceptions: some tomatoes can reach a size of 400 grams.
- The yield of early varieties is quite high. Depending on the variety, you can get up to 15 kg of tomatoes per square meter from one bush. Before planting tomatoes, you should determine your planting pattern.
Taking into account these specifics, you can select an early variety of tomatoes that is suitable both in terms of taste and in terms of the ripening period.All gardeners who sow the Early Girl tomato variety will be satisfied with its characteristics.
Description of the variety
One of the varieties that has proven itself well is an early variety of tomatoes with the beautiful name Early Girl. The description says that this tomato is a hybrid one. Vegetable growers prefer this species because the fruits ripen quite early.
The number of tomatoes that grow on tomato bushes of this variety can be uncertain. The plant is quite tall, the bush needs to be tied up. The time that elapses from the time of planting seedlings to the appearance of the first fruits is small: from 50 to 60 days.
Early girl is a variety that does not tolerate low temperatures very well. If the threat of the first frost has not passed, replanting in the ground (especially in the open) should be postponed for some time.
The average size of a tomato is about the size of a tennis ball. The average weight of an Early Girl tomato is 130 – 140 grams. The color is very bright, the taste is pleasant, sweet. This characteristic is confirmed by reviews from gardeners.
It is important that Early Girl is not a tomato species that is capable of self-pollinating. It is useful for gardeners to know that in order to obtain a harvest, they will need to carry out the pollination procedure themselves.
Methods of pollinating tomatoes
Self-pollination of Early Girl tomatoes is impossible. The gardener has to create conditions for the plants in which harvesting will become possible. In agricultural technology, there are two methods of pollination: natural and artificial.
Natural pollination
To create conditions for natural pollination in a greenhouse, it is necessary to attract insects into the room and ensure air movement:
- Open the door when there is strong wind outside.All windows and transoms in the greenhouse must be open.
- It is worth planting honey plants between the rows to attract bees and bumblebees. Such plants are an excellent bait. When the bush is flowering, you can place flower pots with plants in the greenhouse.
- Planting marigolds or basil affects the harvest of future tomatoes: the taste will become more delicate and interesting.
If plants are to be grown on a large scale, it is worth putting a couple of hives in the greenhouse. The presence of bees will increase yields by 30 to 40 percent.
Artificial pollination
The Early Girl tomato flower, which is already pollinated, folds its petals back. If this is not observed, and several days after the supposed natural pollination the ovary has not begun to form, you should resort to an artificial procedure.
Tomatoes should be pollinated early in the morning, because the pollen that ripens at night is fresh and untouched by a gust of wind. During flowering, pollination is carried out every other day.
The methods used for pollination are:
- Using a brush. Pollen is transferred from one flower to another with a small brush. A battery-powered toothbrush can be used instead. Vibration causes pollen to be transferred from plant to plant.
- Shaking. This manipulation must be carried out with each plant, carefully supporting its trunk. You should not touch tied tomatoes - a light tap on the trellis is enough.
- Using a fan. To create artificial wind, you need to walk between the plants with the device turned on.
After the pollination procedure, it is necessary to remember the air humidity, which should be slightly increased.To do this, you can water the plants or spray them with a hand sprayer. To increase productivity, you can use a solution of boric acid for spraying.
