Ampelous tomato mixtures are an excellent alternative for those who do not have the opportunity to grow vegetables in the country or do not like long-term work on caring for garden plants. Such varieties allow you to get tomatoes without chemicals, which will delight you not only with their appearance, but also with their taste.
The horticultural market today offers a wide variety of species that can be grown in flowerpots or boxes. Mini-varieties can be grown not only outdoors, but also indoors.
Advantages of varieties
Varieties of hanging tomatoes have a number of undeniable advantages over traditional varieties of tomatoes. The main advantages of planting such garden crops include the following:
- tomatoes can grow in heavy shade;
- are not afraid of drafts;
- do not have a tendency to stretch;
- due to the fact that the plant does not come into contact with the ground, the risk of disease and pest damage is minimized;
- a wide variety of varieties.
Reviews from gardeners indicate that, despite the small size of the fruits of ampelous varieties, they are often superior in taste to varieties of traditional crops. Today, the horticultural market offers a large assortment of mini tomatoes, differing in shape, color, taste, and shoot formation.
What varieties are popular?
Among the wide variety of hanging varieties, gardeners annually select the most impressive ones and compile a rating. Traditionally, the following cultures are among the leaders:
- Garden pearl.
- City dweller F1.
- Cascade.
- Brindle.
The ampelous Garden Pearl reaches a height of no more than 40 cm. The plant is an early ripening crop. The first fruits are harvested 93 days after the first shoots appear. The culture produces small, neat pink tomatoes, the weight of which varies from 15 to 20 grams. It is not difficult to grow such mini-tomatoes, since the advantage of the variety is that it is undemanding to growing conditions and there is no need for pinching. The only requirement is that the growing container must be at least 3 liters in volume.
The advantage of the hanging variety Gorozhanin F1 is its early ripening and high yields.The average height of the bushes reaches 80 cm. The plant produces bright red fruits with an average weight of 30 to 50 grams. Unlike most hanging tomatoes, the variety requires pinching and the growing container must have a volume of at least 4 liters.
The Cascade variety is presented in two varieties: Yellow f1 and Red f1. The first fruits are obtained after 100-110 days. A special feature of this variety is the ability to form long shoots up to 1 to 1.5 meters in size. The plant produces yellow or red vegetables with an average weight of 40 to 60 grams. The volume of flowerpots for this type should be at least 5 liters. It is not recommended to remove the stems of the plant, otherwise the yield will decrease. Only yellow or dried leaves are removed.
The Tiger variety is considered one of the most popular and in demand among gardeners. The name is due to the unusual appearance of the fruit, which has characteristic dark stripes. The color scheme of the tomato resembles tiger coloring. The first fruits are harvested within 55 days from the moment of planting the planting material. The bushes are distinguished by the splendor of their shoots, which can reach 45 cm in diameter.
The average height of the shoots is 15 cm. Abundant greenery perfectly protects the soil from excessive evaporation, so the plant does not need frequent watering.
Nuances of cultivation
Seeds hanging tomatoes immediately before sowing, place in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 60 minutes and then wash with running water. Sowing is carried out in small depressions, which must be made no more than 2 cm. The recommended sowing time is the beginning of March; sowing during this period will allow you to get an early harvest.
If you make your own soil, it should consist of humus, peat, and turf.A container volume for planting of 5 liters is considered the most suitable. Ampelous tomatoes are afraid of stagnant moisture, so a 2 cm drainage layer is formed at the bottom of the pot.
Diving is carried out after the appearance of 2 leaves. Plants are taken outside in May if there is no threat of frost. When transplanting, the plant is buried 3 cm lower compared to the level of previous growth. Experienced gardeners talk about 2 golden rules for growing hanging varieties. The first is the need to periodically shake the plant when growing indoors. The second is related to feeding every 14 days. Complex fertilizer is applied to the soil in an amount of 5 grams for every 1 kg of soil.
