The Aphrodite F1 tomato of the Ural selection has been on the market not so long ago, but has already found its niche among farmers growing tomatoes on an industrial scale, summer residents of the Urals and the far corners of Siberia. The first generation hybrid has good prospects due to its high productivity.
Main characteristics of Aphrodite tomatoes
Aphrodite F1 - ultra-early ripening tomatoes, they will ripen in a greenhouse at 76, maximum - 80 days from germination. Many summer residents are convinced by this characteristic: it’s great to eat tomatoes picked in your greenhouse in the first half of June. The variety is characterized by uniform yield.The hybrid was bred for protected soil (tunnels, hotbeds, greenhouses); in the south it can be cultivated without shelter without any problems.
The variety is not afraid of high summer temperatures - the ovaries and flowers do not fall off in the heat. However, in the hot summer, painting the greenhouse roof white is welcome; at optimal temperature conditions, the yield is an order of magnitude higher. In tests carried out in industrial greenhouses, high yields were recorded - from 14 kg/m² to 17 kg/m².
A summer resident can achieve a similar result by strictly following the manufacturer’s recommendations:
- planting per square meter - no more than 4 Aphrodite roots according to a pattern of 40 cm by 50 cm;
- maintaining a tomato bush with 3, maximum 4 stems;
- weekly removal of stepchildren;
- installation of a support, fixing the trunk and fruiting brushes on the support;
- filling the soil during planting with mineral fertilizers and organic matter;
- fertilizing with complex fertilizers after transplantation, during flowering, and during the setting of the first fruits;
- organizing artificial or natural ventilation in the greenhouse to maintain an optimal level of air humidity;
- watering at least once a week in moderate weather, in hot weather - 3 times;
- weeding and loosening of rows.
The fruits are medium-sized: the weight of one tomato does not exceed 115 g. The fruits are covered with a strong, glossy skin, red when fully ripe. The ripe pulp is bright red, moderately sweet, and has a mature tomato taste. The fruits are collected in medium-sized clusters of 6 - 8 tomatoes each.
The hybrid is characterized by uniformity of fruits, regular round shape, and simultaneous ripening. Simultaneous ripening of fruits is convenient for industrial cultivation of the variety. The variety is universal in purpose.The dense, elastic fruits are good for decorating sandwiches, slicing, and preparing canned vegetables for the winter.
Bushes of medium height (70 cm), determinate type, well leafy. The bushes need to be formed throughout the season; the stepsons are actively forming. Bushes formed into 2 - 3 stems give a good harvest.
The advantages of the Aphrodite hybrid are obvious:
- Early and friendly maturation.
- Marketable fruits with excellent shelf life and transportability.
- Universal purpose.
- Good taste.
- High yields in protected and open ground conditions.
- Immunity to major tomato diseases.
- The productivity of the variety does not depend on the weather.
Aphrodite is a new hybrid with high resistance to Fusarium wilt, late blight, and blossom end rot. Disease prevention does not require the use of chemicals; it is enough to ventilate the greenhouses, water abundantly but not often, keep the row spaces clean, and regularly remove excess shoots and some of the lower leaves.
From dacha forums
All reviews from dacha forums of tomato lovers are entirely enthusiastic; it is difficult to find negative comments about Aphrodite. There are features of the hybrid that do not correspond to the description of the variety - summer residents identify them during cultivation. You can read reviews and find out new details about the hybrid.
Vera, Chelyabinsk region:
“Last season the summer was unusually hot. In the greenhouses, the temperature in the middle of the day approached 40 °C; no amount of ventilation helped. Several Aphrodite bushes were planted in a greenhouse for the experiment. The hybrid showed good productivity, despite the sweltering heat. Aphrodite bore fruit in waves; there were 2 harvests. I liked it - it’s convenient, you can plan your sales on the market.I grow tomatoes for the market. She formed bushes with 3 stems, although the description allows for 4. Four is definitely a lot, Aphrodite’s bushes with 3 stems turned out to be huge, the greenhouse turned into a jungle because of them.
The description for the Aphrodite F1 tomato indicates the height of the bush - 1.1 meters. All my Aphrodite bushes rested on the ceiling of the greenhouse. This was a slight disappointment; I had to change the stakes: I installed 1.5 m supports in the spring, but the bushes absolutely did not have enough of them.
The Aphrodite tomato harvest smoothed out all the shortcomings. The bushes were hung with beautiful tassels. The tomatoes in each cluster were all the same size and ripened almost simultaneously. Part of the harvest was successfully sold on the market (harvest of the first wave), the second part (harvest of the second wave) was used for harvesting.
I marinated the tomatoes in the usual way. We’ve already tried the preparations, we were satisfied with the taste of Aphrodite F1 pickled tomatoes, the appearance didn’t let us down either, we can give it a solid five.”
Agricultural technology
In the Urals and throughout Siberia, Aphrodite tomatoes should be grown in protected soil; the best option is a polycarbonate greenhouse. In a greenhouse, seedlings can be planted at the end of April. If winter does not subside for a long time, the soil in the greenhouse can be warmed up using shallow trenches filled with biofuel: cattle manure, plant residues.
Seeds and soil for planting purchased in gardening stores must be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. The procedure is not long, but effective. Seed germination is good; boxes with sown seeds should be kept warm for a week to speed up germination. To retain moisture in the soil, cover the boxes with film. Already at the end of May you can plant Aphrodite seedlings in the greenhouse. By this time the soil should warm up to 12 – 15 °C.
Before planting, fill the beds with organic matter (compost, humus), ash and mineral fertilizers. Form holes 6 pieces per square meter. Be sure to place stakes in each hole. In summer, caring for Aphrodite tomatoes comes down to watering, removing weeds, shaping and tying bushes to stakes.
In comparison with other popular tomato varieties, Aphrodite F1 has proven itself to be worthy. Despite its novelty, the variety has already found its admirers among amateur vegetable growers and small farmers.
