Experts who know a lot about cultivating tomatoes say that the Japanese tomato does not cause any difficulties when growing, even for beginners. Varietal seeds of this tomato are in many collections of amateur enthusiasts, however, seed production farms do not multiply this seed.
Japanese has quite a lot of advantages:
- can be planted both in open ground and in greenhouses;
- high quality seeds and high percentage of germination;
- seedlings from selected seeds are resistant to plant diseases;
- The fruits from which the seeds for sowing are taken are grown in compliance with all agricultural standards.
However, the Japanese variety also has some disadvantages:
- You can purchase seeds only from some tomato collectors;
- the seeds are expensive (for 10 seeds you will have to pay about 100 rubles).
Features of the variety
When describing the Japanese tomato, one should emphasize its high yield and the ability to bear fruit until late autumn. There is no reliable data on where tomatoes come from, but there is a version that the variety was first grown in the city of Bogorodsk. Why this seemingly family variety, grown in the Nizhny Novgorod region, has such a strange name is also unknown.
Japanese is a hybrid crop, which should have been grown in greenhouse conditions, however, today it is also planted in open ground. The characteristics of the variety are as follows:
- unlimited stem growth (up to 2 m);
- the need for pinching and gartering;
- formation of a plant into 1 or 2 stems;
- recommended for growing in greenhouses;
- can be planted in open ground in the southern regions;
- mid-early tomato (when planting seedlings in May, ripe fruits can already be collected in July);
- the bush is slender, not too spreading, the leaves are dark green, medium-sized;
- simple brush (up to 5 tomatoes);
- the fruits are heart-shaped and have a pointed nose;
- on average, the weight of the fetus is 300–350 g;
- ripe tomatoes are distinguished by their red color with a raspberry tint; they taste sweet as they contain sucrose;
- the thin skin is highly dense, so the fruits are well preserved in salads;
- tomatoes contain many nutrients;
- The variety is suitable for use raw, as well as for making juices, sauces, and soups.
Specifics of cultivation
It is recommended to sow Japanese tomato seeds in the second half of February. Two months later, the seedlings are planted in the ground. Cultivation of this tomato variety is carried out in several stages.
Sowing seeds
In order for tomato seeds to “wake up”, their growth should be stimulated with a special solution.
Important! Planting material should be treated before sowing. This will prevent the plants from getting sick. The most effective treatment is aloe juice, in which the seeds are soaked. To prepare the juice, take the lower leaves, wrap them in cloth and keep them in the refrigerator for 1–2 weeks. Afterwards, the leaves are crushed to a pulp and the juice is squeezed out. Soak the seeds for 15–18 hours. They are not washed before sowing or germination.
Sow tomatoes in loosened soil, which should be slightly moistened. The sowing depth is 2 cm; it is better to sow all the seeds in small separate pots. The ground is covered with a layer of snow on top. When the snow melts, it will saturate the soil with melt water. This will speed up seed germination. Afterwards, the pots are placed in a warm place, after putting plastic bags on them. The first shoots can be seen in a few days. The sprouts will need a lot of light and a temperature of +14–16 °C. After the seedlings have become a little stronger (7–10 days), the temperature should be +18–23 °C. Moisten the soil as it dries.
In order for the seedlings to be productive, they need to be fed: 2-3 feedings with a solution of mineral fertilizer.
Planting tomatoes
The Japanese planting rate is 4 sprouts/1 m². After the planted seedlings you need to care for them as follows:
- mulch the soil;
- provide watering as needed;
- ventilate the greenhouse every day;
- feed the plants once every 2 weeks;
- remove stepsons to form 1 or 2 stems;
- When the fruit is forming, remove the leaves on the cluster;
- pinch the tops in July-August depending on the climate.
The high-yielding Japanese tomato variety is universal. Even inexperienced vegetable growers can grow such tomatoes. After harvesting, you can stock up on seeds from your own grown fruits. This will make it possible not to spend money on purchasing seeds next year.
