Recently, the achievements of domestic and western agricultural science have been more and more pleasing to amateur gardeners with new varieties of fruit and berry bushes. Of particular interest are the so-called dwarf crops, which make it possible to grow them even in ordinary apartments.
Tomatoes "balcony miracle" - bright representatives of plants of this species. The features of this variety, which is becoming more and more popular every day, will be discussed in this article.
A brief history of growing tomatoes
The first mention of this type of vegetables is found in medieval literature. In Russia, this plant was imported in the era of Peter I, when the enterprising ruler borrowed all the best from foreign powers.
However, it is worth noting that initially in our country people did not realize the nutritional properties of the fruits of such a shrub. They began to eat them only in the 17th century. Why did people not have guessed before that tomatoes are edible? The answer is very simple. This culture was grown only as an ornamental plant and did not fertilize with the required frequency.
Therefore, the yield brought by the bushes did not ripen to the necessary condition. Tomatoes did not have time to get the right red color. Our compatriots guessed to taste them only many years later.
Dwarf plants
But after the tomatoes were grown as a vegetable crop, the breeders of our country began to work on the cultivation of more and more new varieties.
The twentieth century brought with it a fashion for small fruit bushes that can be placed in home greenhouses on the balcony. At present, there are cucumbers and tomatoes that feel great in conditions different from the natural environment.
You can even grow pepper on window sills. Moreover, such varieties of this plant are known that, it seems, are not intended for such living conditions. However, the breeders worked so hard on the precocity of this species and their unpretentiousness that now it can produce crops in the room of an ordinary apartment.
Tomato variety "balcony miracle"
Tomatoes and cucumbers are the favorite fruit crops of Russian summer residents. This fact is explained by the fact that the crop harvested from the beds with such plants can be eaten in different species. Cucumbers and tomatoes are suitable for canning, and for the immediate preparation of various dishes and side dishes from them.
Tomato "balcony miracle" is an excellent option for those who have long dreamed of a summer cottage, but currently for one reason or another can not afford to have it. The bushes of these tomatoes are suitable for planting in greenhouses, as well as for outdoor living. But their main advantage is that these plants feel great indoors.
Tomato "balcony miracle": description
It is not known exactly in which country this wonderful culture was bred, as some sources claim that German breeders worked on it, and some of them attribute this merit to Russian specialists. But, despite this, this tomato variety is perfect for the harsh climate of our country.
Bushes of such tomatoes are able to bear fruit all year round. Under optimal conditions, they can yield up to 2 kg each. With such fruitfulness, the plants are by no means large in size. The height of the bushes does not exceed half a meter.
When describing the tomato variety “balcony miracle”, it is important to note that these plants were originally planned as decorative. Therefore, their stems have a proportional round shape, and the leaves are adapted so that they can be trimmed, thereby forming the necessary dimensions of the bush. This characteristic of the tomato “Balcony Miracle” is the main advantage of the species, due to which the choice of amateur gardeners often falls on it.
Harvest
Such plants belong to the number of early ripening varieties. This means that even under the most unfavorable conditions, the first fruits can be removed already three months after the seeds are thrown into the ground for cultivation. Thus, if you take care of purchasing them in early spring, then by the beginning of summer you can get the first dwarf tomatoes, suitable for eating.
If you plant seedlings on a summer garden, which is also possible, then it will begin to bear fruit in a month or two.
Thus, it can be noted that this variety is extremely unpretentious and universal, in terms of growing conditions, which is ideal for gardeners in our country.
Seedlings
In all the characteristics and descriptions of tomato "balcony miracle" it is noted that this culture is grown from seedlings. That is, the seeds are first placed in small pots, two in each, where they arrive until the shoots appear.
It should be noted that before planting the grains, it is extremely important to treat them with a solution of potassium permanganate. This helps to remove pathogenic bacteria, and provides the health necessary for maximum fertility.
Soil preparation
Experienced gardeners, amateurs note that the tomato "balcony miracle" is best grown in land specially designed for tomatoes. Such soil can be purchased at any store for summer residents. This land already contains all the necessary useful substances, which usually enrich it when they are going to grow fruit shrubs.
If there is no similar retail outlet nearby, or if a person who is going to try himself as a home agronomist is already a gardener with experience, then he can independently make the soil for planting. To do this, he will need: humus (about half of all the components of the future soil), ash (about 40%), the rest of the volume falls on various nutritional supplements, which can be used superphosphate and others.
From seedlings to an adult bush
When the soil is prepared, the next step in the process of caring for the balcony balcony miracle tomato is planting seeds. As already mentioned, grains should be pre-treated with a weak solution of manganese. For seedlings, even small plastic cups are suitable. An alternative to them can be pots for peat, and even plastic bags. When the seeds are sown, then the containers with them must be covered with a cellophane film in order to form a greenhouse effect.
After the shoots appear, the film should be removed. When the bushes are of sufficient size, that is, about 10 cm in height, they need to be transplanted into more spacious pots, approximately equal in volume to flower (1 l).
They need to be watered often enough, that is, at least once a week. But, too zealous in this matter should not be either, as this is fraught with the development of various diseases. It is most sensible to check the earth for dryness, and if there is such a need, immediately moisten it. Watering the tomatoes is necessary in such a way as to prevent moisture from entering the leaves. Otherwise, the plants may become ill.
Problems and their solution
Reviews about tomatoes "balcony miracle", as a rule, only the most positive.
Sometimes there are comments on the Internet that the bushes of this plant are much higher than what is stated in the characteristics, but their development is also considered the norm. This is due to lack of lighting. You can solve this problem with the help of lamps. If you follow these rules, then the harvest, as a rule, does not take long to wait. Tomatoes are very tasty and healthy. Moreover, these fruits are dense enough and suitable to be stored frozen. Even after that they do not lose their shape.
Soil enrichment
Although the tomato “balcony miracle” is an extremely unpretentious plant, it nevertheless requires some care from an amateur gardener. The latter is responsible for ensuring that the land on which the bushes grow is in good condition.
To do this, you can use not simple water when irrigating, but enriched with potassium sulfate (about 1 gram per liter), superphosphate (about 5 g) and urea (1 g), all these components can be purchased in almost any specialized store. Also for this purpose, you can use factory fertilizers, which are sold at the same outlets. If you still don’t have such substances at hand, you can use ordinary table yeast in the following proportions: 5 g per 5 l of water.
Shine on us, honey, shine!
An important point in the process of growing tomatoes "balcony miracle" is also the temperature and light conditions. As for the first parameter, these plants are most adapted to exist in warm conditions. That is, the temperature should not fall below plus 16 degrees Celsius. The optimum temperature is about 22 degrees.
If such tomatoes are planted in the cold season, it is necessary to provide them with additional light from artificial sources. That is, in simple words, you need to turn it on in the morning before sunrise and in the evening before sunset.
Conclusion
Subject to all the above rules, the crop should be expected about 2 months after the seedlings have ripened. It will pleasantly surprise you with the taste of the fruit. Such vegetables are sometimes much more nutritious and tastier than their garden counterparts. And the unpretentiousness of this plant makes it a leader among similar crops.