Tomatoes are a nightshade culture originating from Peru, where the climate is hot and dry. Favorable conditions for this crop are moderately moist soil, warm, dry air. Tomato came to Europe in the middle of the 16th century, thanks to the well-known Columbus, and was grown as an ornamental plant. For a long time, this fruit was considered poisonous. In Russia, a tomato appeared in the XVIII century. The agronomist A. T. Boltov classified tomato as a vegetable, food crop. Today, tomato, thanks to its nutritional qualities, is one of the most popular vegetable crops.
Tomato "Japanese crab" - one of the best salad varieties of tomato. This is a large-fruited variety - the king among tomatoes. It is grown on open ground, as well as in greenhouses. Bushes of this variety have unlimited growth and grow up to 150 cm. Tomato can be grown until November. On average, Japanese crab tomatoes ripen on the 110th day from the shoot of a bush. They are characterized by good productivity and excellent resistance to disease. Fruits are unusually beautiful in their pink color and flat round shape. The mass of the fetus is 250 - 300 grams. This variety is great for salads thanks to juicy, tasty pulp.
Cultivating a crop like crab tomato is not for lazy people. At its core, this culture is moody and will make you work hard. We will tell you some agronomic techniques that will help grow beautiful and unusually tasty tomatoes in your garden.
For a variety such as tomato "Japanese crab", light, highly fertile soil is best suited. A very effective way to improve the land is to mulch the beds with everything that will decay further and thereby fertilize the soil. Mowed grass, weeds, sawdust and even paper are used. Mulching the beds will not only fertilize the soil, but also reduce the need for watering by half! For seedlings, seeds are sown in early March to a depth of 2 - 4 cm. It is advisable to process the seeds in potassium permanganate before sowing, and then rinse with clean water. At the same time, the Japanese crab tomato will grow much better and faster.
There is one special way to increase the number of seedlings. It is necessary to allow stepsons to germinate by 15 cm, then cut them with a knife and put in water. After 5 days, they will be overgrown with roots and they can be safely planted in the ground. You can feed the seedlings with full fertilizer no more than three times. About 10 days before transplanting, it must be tempered.
If you have a heated greenhouse, feel free to plant seedlings in April, and if it is film, then plant bushes when it is about 65 days old. Tomato "crab" is desirable to plant more spacious. Bushes are watered with strictly warm water. During the growing season, they feed the plant 2-3 times with special mineral fertilizer enriched with microelements. The dosage of fertilizers in top dressing varies depending on the condition and age of the bushes. Tomato "Japanese crab" is formed in 1-2 stems, all other stepsons are advised to remove.
It is necessary to monitor the weather conditions. For example, in hot weather, the plant needs more nitrogen than potassium, and vice versa in cloudy weather. In wet weather and on cold nights, preventative spraying of the bush should immediately begin. A solution for spraying can be prepared in the "field" conditions: a bucket of water, 1 liter of milk, 25 drops of iodine. All this is thoroughly mixed, and the solution is ready. By spraying Japanese crab tomatoes with this solution, you protect plants from disease. Do not forget about pinching - one of the most important procedures that promote healthy plant growth.
Tomatoes "Japanese crab" will always be distinguished by their sunny brightness, excellent taste and deservedly called the "kings of the garden." Provided that you carefully ensure proper care, large yields are guaranteed.