Breeders still continue to develop new varieties of tomatoes, although there are already several tens of thousands of them. Growing tomatoes is a common thing for summer residents who annually try to grow something new on their site. Tomato Valentina is a known variety for many years and has not yet lost its popularity.
Grade description
Valentin's tomatoes were bred at the S.I. Vavilova by Russian breeders. This is an early ripe productive variety, which is recommended to be grown in open ground and in a greenhouse. The type of plant is determinant, about 60 centimeters high.
The fruits begin to ripen after 105 days from the moment the seeds were planted on seedlings. When growing it in the beds, it is not necessary to pinch, so as not to reduce productivity. In greenhouses, tomato bushes stepchild moderately. The plant stem must be tied to a support.
The tomato variety Valentine belongs to non-standard varieties, the bush is slightly leafy semi-spreading. The leaves are similar in shape to potato and have a greenish-yellow color with a slightly corrugated surface. Tomato is resistant to major diseases, easily tolerates a slight drought .
For gardening lovers, this variety is especially popular in terms of quality. Very suitable for beginner gardeners, as it is undemanding to care.
Growing seedlings
It turns out that Valentine's tomato seedlings can be grown without using land. Toilet paper and polyethylene film - this is what is required for seed germination. This method is convenient in that:
- seedlings do not take up much space;
- a strong root system appears;
- fruiting of tomatoes will begin earlier in the week;
- the black leg disease does not appear.
From packages of polyethylene make strips whose width is equal to the width of toilet paper. A strip of toilet paper is placed on a strip of polyethylene and sprayed with water from a spray bottle. Stepping back from the edge of the strip by about a centimeter, spread tomato seeds with an interval of three centimeters. Seeds are covered with another layer of toilet paper moistened with water, and a layer of polyethylene is placed on top. It is not tightly twisted and placed in a glass, the edge with seeds should be at the top. Pour a little water into a glass.
Moisture on toilet paper will moisten the seeds, the film will create a greenhouse effect. From above the glass can be covered with a plastic bag so that the paper does not dry out. Shoots will appear in a week, and after 14 days, sprouts with two leaves can be planted in the ground. Further, seedlings are looked after in the usual way.
Soil preparation for seedlings
Properly prepared soil for seedlings is an important condition that tomato Valentina (photo below) will give a high yield. Light soils rich in nutrients and low acidity are suitable for tomatoes .
The composition of the soil should include sheet land, peat and sand, everything is taken in equal proportions and thoroughly mixed. The resulting soil must be disinfected. To do this, it must be frozen in the freezer, steamed in a water bath or calcined in the oven.
Features tomato care Valentine
Tomato Valentine is a non-standard determinant variety. They have limited growth and quickly ripen. Bushes of such tomatoes are compact and have few stepsons. In the open ground, such plants do not need to form a bush. But in the greenhouses you should leave one stalk.
In tomatoes, growth stops after the formation of an inflorescence, so a small shoot is left under the first of them to continue growth. After the formation of two inflorescences and three leaves on it, pinch it. The stems of the variety are reclining, so the bushes are tied with twine to the wire. These are the features of care tomato Valentine has .
The lower leaves begin to pick a month after the seedlings are planted in a permanent place. Leaflets are best to break off in the morning when the sun is shining. They should not be below the first inflorescence when the fruits ripen on it.
The remaining leaves continue to be removed until the third inflorescence. This design of the bushes makes it possible to quickly ripen the fruit and increases air exchange. In August, pinch the main stem, all new stepsons are removed.
Tomato Valentine: reviews
This is a fairly popular variety of tomatoes. All summer residents who tried to grow tomatoes of the variety Valentina note the following advantages:
- It does not require special care;
- the plant is compact, low;
- variety resistant to tomato diseases;
- early ripening of fruits;
- resistant to drought;
- pinch moderately;
- stable and high yield;
- excellent taste;
- during transportation, the fruits are well preserved.
According to reviews by gardening enthusiasts, Valentin was not found to have flaws, except for the fact that the bushes must be tied to the trellis due to the weak stem.
Conclusion
Tomato Valentine is good both in fresh and in canned form. It is believed that the beneficial properties of the fruit do not lose during heat treatment. Due to the content of vitamins and microelements, serotonin and lycopene in tomatoes, their consumption helps to lower cholesterol and normalizes metabolism. With the constant presence in the diet of tomatoes, the mood improves and the vitality of the body rises.