Ritchie is a tomato that is suitable for both small household plots and large farmers growing tomatoes for sale. This early-ripening hybrid with high yield can be grown in beds in areas for which not all varieties are suitable. The seeds of this tomato are in great demand in the central regions of the country.
Description and characteristics of the variety
Tomato Ritchie F1 is a product of selection by scientists from the Netherlands.When breeding tomatoes, breeders tried to obtain a vegetable crop that could grow in open ground in regions with a short summer season and had early fruit ripening.
The description of the variety should begin with the general characteristics of the plant. This hybrid belongs to the determinant standard type. The bushes are low, with medium foliage.
The shoots are low, erect, up to 0.8 m high. Richie F1 is an early ripening variety - no more than 3 months pass from planting seedlings to ripening tomatoes.
Although growing recommendations indicate that Ritchie tomatoes should be grown under film, they also grow well in open beds. Some amateurs grow this hybrid on the balcony. The variety is resistant to all fungal diseases. Hybrids of the same name are also available for sale.
Characteristics of the fruit: ripe tomatoes of this variety have a round shape, a fairly thick skin of a bright red color. The weight of one tomato is about 130 - 140 g, the number of chambers is about 3, the dry matter content of the fruit is no more than 5%. Ripe tomatoes are not prone to cracking, tolerate long-distance transportation well, and can be stored for a long time after picking in a cool place.
In greenhouses, up to 1.5 kg of ripe fruits are collected from one bush per season, and per 1 m2 They plant up to 7 Ritchie bushes, which is why they harvest up to 10 - 12 kg per square meter. In open ground, yields are slightly lower. Ripe fruits are consumed fresh, used whole for canning, lecho and puree are prepared, and very tasty juice.
Breeding history
The history of the creation of the Ritchie tomato begins in 2000, when Dutch breeders began work on developing a new variety.In 2010, after testing, Ritchie was officially registered in the Netherlands as a filmy early ripening hybrid.
Over the past years, tomatoes of this variety have taken root in many regions of our country. In the central regions, Richie grows well and bears fruit in open ground; in more northern regions it is grown under film or in greenhouses.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety are best described by the reviews of vegetable growers who have been growing Richie F1 for several seasons. Experts consider the main advantages:
- early ripening of the crop;
- the ability to grow tomatoes in the central and more northern regions of Russia;
- versatility of using ripe fruits;
- high resistance of tomatoes to fungal diseases;
- possibility of long-term storage of crops;
- good transportability of fruits;
- Possibility of growing even on the balcony.
The negative features of the Ritchie tomato include average yields and capriciousness in care: the bushes “respond negatively” to a lack of watering and fertilizing, and react to fluctuations in ambient temperature.
Growing Tips
Despite the fact that the shoots are not too tall, they need to be tied up and supports placed under the stems with fruits. In open ground and in greenhouses, bushes can be formed into 3 - 4 stems, and when grown on a balcony - no more than two.
This hybrid is demanding on the watering regime and the amount of sunlight during the period of growth and fruiting. Plants should be fed regularly.
