In their suburban areas, summer residents grow different varieties of tomatoes. But in most cases, in the gardens in our country, a little space is surely allocated for salad tomatoes. Such tomatoes usually differ in early ripening and at the same time have fruits of very large sizes. One of these varieties that have earned good reviews from summer residents is Watermelon. Tomatoes are quite fruitful, tasty and at the same time resistant to diseases.
general description
Watermelon tomato belongs to the group of indeterminate varieties. Such bushes can grow above 2 m per season. In most regions of Russia, this variety is recommended to be cultivated in a greenhouse. Unfortunately, the Watermelon tomato does not differ in frost resistance.
To plant these tomatoes in the open ground is also allowed. However, the cultivation of watermelon tomato in this way is possible only in the southern regions of the country. Sometimes right on the beds in the open air, these tomatoes are grown in central Russia. However, in spring and early summer, it is recommended to cover Watermelon tomatoes in such regions with a film or any other similar material intended to protect garden plants from the cold.
Variety Characteristics
Watermelon tomato belongs, among other things, to a group of varieties of medium early ripening. Ripen the fruits on the bushes of such tomatoes begin already on 107-113 days after planting. In any case, in central Russia, these tomatoes should be grown by seedlings. In the southern regions, such tomatoes can be planted immediately on a permanent place in the greenhouse.
The yield of these tomatoes in most cases is 2-2.5 kg from 1 bush. With 1 m 2 of plantings, summer residents collect about 6 kg of such tomatoes.
Which, according to summer residents, has advantages
In most cases, Russian gardeners respond very well to watermelon tomatoes. The main advantage of these tomatoes summer residents consider resistance to late blight. Tomatoes of the Watermelon variety are not infected with this disease, usually even in the wettest years with a small amount of sunny days.
Also, gardeners include a good yield to the advantages of these tomatoes. Judging by the reviews, it is really possible to collect at least 2 kg of fruits from one bush of tomatoes. Another plus of tomatoes of the Arbuzny variety, according to summer residents, are excellent taste. Salads from such tomatoes, as gardeners note in specialized forums on the Web, are simply excellent.
Are there any negative reviews about watermelon tomatoes
In care, these tomatoes, according to most gardeners, are relatively unpretentious. However, the variety is still indeterminate. Therefore, it is somewhat more difficult to care for it in a summer cottage than for undersized tomatoes. Such bushes, for example, must be tied to a trellis. This many summer residents, of course, are attributed to some of the disadvantages of the variety.
Another disadvantage of these tomatoes is gardeners consider the tendency to crack fruit. Also, watermelon tomatoes differ, unfortunately, not too good keeping quality and portability. Therefore, grow such tomatoes in large quantities, for example, many gardeners do not recommend for sale. In commercial plantings, this variety is usually not cultivated.
Characteristics of watermelon tomatoes: fruits
Like many other salad varieties, tomatoes on Watermelon grow very large. Their weight is usually 160-200 grams. But some fruits on bushes of this variety can grow up to 500 g. Especially large tomatoes are poured on these tomatoes if the summer clerk uses the correct technology for plant formation.
The shape and color of the fruits of this variety are quite unusual. On each such tomato, among other things. characteristic green streaks are present. The shape of these tomatoes is round, slightly flattened. At the same time, the fruits are ribbed near the peduncle. In many tomatoes, this ribbing even turns into large waves. Thanks to this unusual color and coloring, the fruits of these tomatoes look like small watermelons. From here, in fact, the name of the variety went. Photos of watermelon tomatoes can be seen on the page. As you can see, the fruits of this variety really have a rather unusual appearance.
The peculiarity of these tomatoes is, among other things, large, clearly visible seeds in the section. As the watermelon tomatoes ripen, small brown stripes also appear on their skin. The pulp of these tomatoes is predominantly red. Coloring Watermelon tomatoes are not too uniform. The flesh of these tomatoes may be lighter in some places, and darker in others.
Fruit use
Watermelon tomatoes are grown, as already mentioned, mainly for the preparation of summer salads. It is in such dishes that the fruits of this variety best reveal their taste. Also, many summer residents are advised to use fresh watermelon tomatoes. The pulp of the fruits of such tomatoes is very juicy, pleasant sour-sweet.
For preservation, the fruits of this variety, according to many summer residents, are, unfortunately, not very good. The sizes of watermelon tomatoes are large. And therefore, they usually simply don’t fit into a jar entirely. Sometimes quite small fruits grow on bushes of this variety. Such tomatoes, of course, if you wish, you can try and roll them in jars. However, many summer residents still believe that these tomatoes show fresh taste best. In addition, the skin of tomatoes of this variety is quite thin. Therefore, when pouring boiling brine, Watermelon can simply burst. Yes, and there are such salted tomatoes, most likely, it will not be too convenient.
Transplanting
Thus, we found out what the watermelon tomatoes are. The reviews and photos on the page make it possible to judge these tomatoes as being very well suited for growing on a suburban area. But how to plant and care for this variety?
Watermelon tomatoes are beginning to grow in our country, like almost any other tomato, of course, on the windowsill. Seedlings of this variety are planted with standard technology. Experienced summer residents believe that it is best to plant Watermelon seeds immediately in glasses. You can, of course, sow them in boxes. But in this case, young plants in the phase of two real leaves will have to dive.
The soil for watermelon tomatoes is neutral or slightly acidic. Sowing seeds should be carried out to a depth of 1.5 cm. The ground before planting tomatoes of this variety, despite the fact that it is considered resistant to diseases, it is advisable to shed boiling water. After sowing, the box or cups with seeds should be covered with a film.
After the shoots of the plants, the covering material from the containers with tomatoes must be removed. The cups or box themselves should be placed on the windowsill on the south or east side of the house. On the northern window, it is not recommended to grow seedlings of Watermelon. In this case, the plants may stretch too much.
How to care in a permanent place
In the greenhouse or in the beds, Watermelon tomatoes are planted in three bushes per 1 m 2 . The variety is, as already mentioned, very high. In the greenhouse, such tomatoes grow to a height of 210 cm, and in the open ground - usually up to 190 cm. Therefore, next to the beds on which these tomatoes grow, it is imperative to install a trellis and immediately tie the seedlings to the ropes.
Like almost any other indeterminate variety, Watermelon requires the formation of bushes. Remove the stepsons from these tomatoes in such a way that on each plant in the future there remains one stem.
Watering and feeding
Watering tomatoes Watermelon should not be too often, but plentiful. Fertilize these tomatoes, like any others, three times a season. If desired, in the spring at the watermelon plantings, preventive treatment against late blight can be carried out using, for example, Bordeaux fluid.
Harvesting
One of the features of Watermelon tomatoes is that the fruits on them ripen gradually. On the bushes, tomatoes of this variety, judging by the reviews of the summer residents, still hold rather tightly. Therefore, it is not necessary to rush to collect such tomatoes. Moreover, the longer the fruits of the Watermelon hang on the bushes, the more sweet they will become.
According to the description provided by the creators of this variety for watermelon tomatoes, as well as, according to many summer residents, these tomatoes, unfortunately, do not differ. When removed from the bush, these tomatoes after a short period of time begin to burst and flow. However, on the plants themselves, before harvest, such tomatoes usually hang completely intact. That is, on the bushes, judging by the reviews of summer residents, these tomatoes usually do not burst.