The Pineapple tomato appeared in the gardens of our compatriots not so long ago, but has already gained popularity. Reviews about it are enthusiastic; summer residents recommend this variety to their friends and neighbors. This is due to the fact that tomatoes are distinguished not only by their excellent taste, but also by long-term fruiting.
Description of the variety
The Pineapple tomato belongs to the early-ripening, rather rare varieties of the indeterminate type. It is characterized by increased resistance to diseases. It gets its name from the unusual color of ripe fruits, which have yellow ribs on the surface. External characteristics make tomatoes look like pineapple. The bush is tall. It is recommended to mold in 3 stems.
Pineapple fruits are large, the weight of one reaches 900 grams, but the average is 250 grams. The taste is at a high level. The fruits are sweet, with a barely noticeable citrus aroma and fruity notes. By the end of the season, the taste of the tomato becomes even better and richer. The pulp is dense, there are few seed chambers.
Pineapple tomatoes are used mainly for fresh consumption and for preparing salads. Can be used for preservation and processing. Due to its large size, it is not suitable for whole-fruit canning. Tomatoes are resistant to cracking and tolerate long-distance transportation well without losing their commercial qualities..
Advantages and disadvantages
The description of the variety allows us to say that the Pineapple tomato has many more advantages than disadvantages. Its advantages can be considered:
- early ripening;
- long fruiting period;
- high productivity;
- unusual appearance of the fruit;
- excellent taste;
- suitability for transportation;
- Possibility of use in cooking and processing;
- unpretentiousness in care and cultivation;
- large fruit size;
- suitability for growing in greenhouses and open ground.
Gardeners did not notice any negative qualities. A minor inconvenience is that the plants require mandatory garter.
Features of cultivation
The Pineapple tomato belongs to the mid-early varieties, therefore, to obtain an earlier harvest, seeds begin to be sown at the end of March or beginning of April. The pre-seed material is placed in well-moistened gauze or a cloth and left for a couple of days in a warm room. Periodically check that the gauze is damp.
Nutrient soil is poured into a pre-prepared container and sowing begins. To do this, make grooves 1.5 cm deep and place the hatched seeds in them at a distance of 2 cm from each other.
Leave 4 cm between the rows. Cover the crops with a thin layer of soil on top and moisten it, if necessary, with a spray bottle. The container is placed in a well-lit, warm room and wait for seedlings to emerge. As soon as the first sprouts of the Pineapple tomato begin to appear, the room temperature is reduced to +17–18 °C.
Daylight hours for seedlings should last 12 hours. If planting was done early, additional lighting may be required using a special phytolamp. As the soil dries, it is moistened by spraying from a spray bottle. A week before planting in open ground, Pineapple tomatoes begin to harden. To do this, they are taken out into the open air for several hours. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, which can cause burns.
Every day the stay on the street increases. If there is no threat of night frosts, then Pineapple tomato seedlings are left to spend the night outside after 3-4 days.
After preliminary hardening, young plants are planted in a permanent place of growth. Pineapple is a tall tomato, so it is better not to thicken its plantings. 3-4 bushes are placed on one square meter. Supports or trellises are installed in advance to which the tomatoes will be tied. Watering should be moderate to prevent overwatering. Otherwise, not only fungal diseases develop, but also the roots rot. Once every 2 weeks, fertilize with complex mineral fertilizers. It is advisable to add organic matter to the site with the exception of fresh manure.
With proper care, the Pineapple tomato will delight you with a bountiful harvest until autumn. Its peculiarity is that the taste of the fruit does not deteriorate by the end of the season, like most other varieties, but, on the contrary, improves. Numerous enthusiastic reviews from summer residents once again confirm this.
