What summer resident does not dream of collecting the most rich harvest in his small area? To do this, new care methods, modern or folk fertilizers, the newest varieties are used. It is not surprising that many gardeners are aware of the "princess" tomato variety. It has a high yield, excellent taste and many other important advantages. Therefore, to learn more about it will be quite out of place.
Grade Features
First of all, it is worth characterizing the princess tomato. It is perfect not only for greenhouses, but also for open ground - subject to the use of seedlings. Productivity is quite high - on average, one square meter can manage to collect 13-14 kilograms of ripe fruit, which is a very good indicator.
Ripening dates - about 100-110 days after the appearance of the first seedlings.
The bushes are quite tall - about 150-160 centimeters. Therefore, it is very important to use a garter so that they do not fall under the weight of the fruit - in this case there is a high probability of the appearance of rot, especially if mulch is not used on the beds. You also need to form bushes in order to achieve better productivity.
Main advantages
Having appeared on the market relatively recently, the variety quickly gained considerable popularity. This is not surprising - it has a number of major advantages that make it a good choice for almost any gardener. We list the main ones.
First of all, it is resistance to many diseases that affect tomatoes and nightshade in general. This is especially important for small cottages, where due to the small area it is necessary to plant crops on the same sites year after year, not being able to change the location of the beds.
In addition, the bushes quite well resist many pests, which can cause considerable harm to both the fruits and the plants themselves.
It is impossible not to say about the excellent taste, but we will dwell on them a little later.
A sharp drop in temperature (of course, without falling to minus temperature) and a lack of sunlight, although it reduces productivity, still does not pose a serious danger to plants. For many regions of our country, this is very important.
Fruit Description
Now it’s worth briefly telling about the fruits of the “princess” tomatoes, photos of which are attached to the article. After all, it was for their sake that summer residents spend a lot of time and effort working diligently in the beds.
The fruits are quite large - an average of 150 to 250 grams. With good care, the first fruits from those formed on the bushes can reach even enormous weight - up to 450 grams. But their number, as a rule, is small. The taste is great. High sugar content is successfully combined with meaty pulp, which makes tomatoes a good choice for salads, pickles for the winter, ketchup and tomato juice.
The peel is quite thin and smooth - the color is deep raspberry or red. However, it is because of the thin bone that the fruits are not suitable for long-term storage, and also poorly tolerate transportation over long distances. For some summer residents who have to drive on a bad road for many hours, this can be a serious drawback - some of the tomatoes, alas, will certainly be spoiled during transportation.
Sowing seedlings
As mentioned above, in most regions of our country for the cultivation of tomatoes in the open field will have to use seedlings. An exception is the southernmost regions, where summer lasts six months, and winter is very mild.
The first step is seed preparation. Experienced summer residents soak them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate - a few crystals in a glass of warm water to only slightly tint the liquid. It is enough to soak the seeds for half an hour. On the one hand, this will destroy any infections that are on the seeds. On the other hand, get rid of empty ones that will float to the surface. They should not be used during planting, so as not to occupy a useful place in the sowing container.
Sowing should start 45-60 days before planting in the ground. Then, by the time the earth warms up well, and the threat of frost is finally gone, strong, well-rooted plants will be at the disposal of the summer resident.
After soaking, the seeds are planted in a container or in separate peat pots. It is best to use a store mix or make it yourself, using black soil, compost, a small amount of peat and sand to make the substrate easier.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings do not require special care. Immediately after planting, the soil must be moistened and covered with polyethylene or glass, removed to a warm place - the optimum temperature is +25 degrees Celsius. In a few days, the first shoots will appear. After that, the glass or polyethylene is removed, and the seedlings are placed on the windowsill, preferably on the sunny side. The more light the sprouts receive, the better.
But at the same time, you need to protect the seedlings from excess heat, otherwise it will simply dry out, despite heavy watering.
Earth is moistened as needed. A small amount of nitrogen fertilizer can be used to stimulate leaf development and stem growth.
Care
When the earth warms up enough, you can safely plant seedlings in open ground. The optimal planting scheme is 50 sizes between the bushes and the same between the beds. In this case, the plants will not interfere with each other. Immediately after planting, it is worth watering the beds with a small amount of phosphorus fertilizers dissolved in warm water - this contributes to the development of the root system and helps the tomatoes to take root in a new place.
The bushes do not need special care. It is enough to regularly remove weeds so that they do not draw nutrients from the soil, as well as loosen the ground. Watering - as needed, once or twice a week, if there is not enough rainfall.
Parasites also quite rarely cause problems for summer residents who choose the "princess" variety.
But do not forget about tying. The bushes are very high, so you need to install fairly long rods on the bed and tie tomatoes to them from 1 to 3 times during the season.
Some summer residents also practice formation. There can be two options - in one stalk or in two. The first option will be a good choice for open ground - on a high stem, tomatoes are clearly visible and receive a large amount of sunlight and heat. In two stems, the bush should be formed when grown in greenhouses - thanks to this, the usable area is saved and a rich crop can be harvested from a relatively small area.
Reviews
Due to its many advantages, reviews about tomato "princess" are mostly positive.
Many farmers note the ease of care and resistance to parasites, diseases. Versatility is appreciated - the ability to grow in greenhouses and open ground. The fruits did not go unnoticed - excellent taste was one of the reasons why the variety is so popular today.
However, some note the high cost of seeds and not the highest productivity when grown outside greenhouses in the middle lane.
Conclusion
This concludes our article on agriculture. Now you know more about the princess tomato variety. And reviews and photos will allow you to form the most objective opinion, thanks to which each summer resident will easily decide whether this variety is suitable for him or it makes sense to look for another.