A good tomato crop in a greenhouse can be obtained only by choosing the right variety. First of all, it should be intended for cultivation in closed ground. When buying planting material, several other factors should be considered. In this article, we’ll talk about how to choose the best tomato seeds for a greenhouse.
The basic rules for the selection of varieties
On a small site, closed on all sides, favorable conditions arise for the development of various pathogenic microorganisms and harmful fungi. Therefore, choosing tomato seeds for a polycarbonate greenhouse , you should pay attention to the resistance of a particular variety to disease. This is especially true of late blight.
The selection of the variety depends on the design of the greenhouse itself. For a small, not too high structure, the so-called determinant (undersized) tomatoes are well suited. Tomato bushes of this group take up very little space and are characterized by early maturity in combination with good yield.
In high greenhouses, lianoid tomatoes are usually grown. A distinctive feature of such a tomato is the unlimited growth of the stem. Its length can reach 3 meters. Moreover, the whole plant is usually covered with fruits. That is, when growing high varieties, it is easy to compensate for the lack of soil area. The advantages of lianoid tomatoes, otherwise called idents, include a long fruiting period and ease of care. From one such bush you can collect up to 15 kg of fruits.
Sometimes both of these varieties of tomatoes are planted in greenhouses: high and low. In this case, lianoid tomatoes are located in the center, and determinant tomatoes are located along the perimeter of the beds.
When choosing tomatoes for a greenhouse, you need to pay attention to one more factor. The variety should not be afraid of waterlogged soil. There is usually a lot of dampness in the enclosed space of a greenhouse.
Fruit use
Choosing the most suitable tomato seeds for a polycarbonate greenhouse, one should also consider why this crop will be grown. In specialized stores today you can buy planting stock of three main types of tomatoes: salad, used for canning and intended for sale.
The fruits of tomatoes of the first group usually have a sweet taste, juicy pulp and large size. Color salad tomatoes most often have pink. A characteristic feature of the fruits of varieties intended for canning is their small size and the ability to tolerate heat treatment without changing the shape. Typically, these tomatoes have a classic bright red color. The fruits of varieties grown for sale are distinguished by their neat shape, fairly dense pulp structure and transportability.
Red, yellow, green
Many owners of suburban areas choose tomato seeds for a polycarbonate greenhouse, taking into account, among other things, what color will ripen fruit in the future. Most summer residents like the classic red, yellow, or orange tomatoes. However, some gardeners like to experiment and acquire seeds of purple, green or black tomatoes.
Fruits of different colors can differ both in taste and in the composition of the beneficial substances contained in them. So, yellow tomatoes, for example, are much less high-calorie than red ones. In addition, their pulp contains much less substances that cause allergies. Provitamin A gives the yellow color to the fruit, which is able to prevent cancer, among other things.
Orange tomatoes contain a lot of lycopene, an antioxidant that can protect against various diseases of blood vessels and the heart.
Varieties with purple fruits are also very interesting. The pulp of such tomatoes contains in large quantities anthocyanins - a substance belonging to the group of glycosides, which has a beneficial effect on blood vessels and helps strengthen immunity.
Not so long ago, genetically modified purple and blue tomatoes were bred abroad. There is a lot of anthocyanin in them, but they can be purchased only in those countries where the use of products with GMOs is allowed. In our country, the seeds of such tomatoes are not sold.
High grades
Focusing on some features of adult plants, you can actually choose the best tomato seeds for the greenhouse. High tomatoes, due to their productivity and endurance, are quite deserved popularity among summer residents. Most often, domestic gardeners grow such varieties as:
- Honey saved. This salad ripening tomato of medium ripening has yellow fruits, large and very tasty. An adult plant can reach a height of 1.5 m. The main advantages of this variety include resistance to disease and cracking. Productivity - 4-6 kg per bush.
- Mushroom basket. Indeterminate variety with large fruits (up to 500 g) of classic red color, the main distinguishing feature of which is a pronounced ribbed shape. The variety is mid-season and can reach a height of 2.5 m.
- Black Moor. Exotic variety with a height of up to 1.3 m. Its rounded, slightly elongated smooth fruits, having a chocolate-red color, are distinguished by transportability, keeping quality, and are suitable for canning.
Those who want to get a good harvest should buy just such tomato seeds. Tall green tomatoes actually work very well for a greenhouse. The peculiar vertical beds formed by long plants allow you to use the limited space as rationally as possible.
Features of growing lianoid tomatoes
Of course, in order to get a good harvest, you need to choose high-quality tomato seeds from verified producers and not expired in the store. Self-pollinated tomatoes are suitable for a greenhouse, as already mentioned, very well. But, of course, even the most unpretentious variety requires care.
Tomatoes of this group are grown in greenhouses using almost the same technology as in open ground. A gardener, for example, will have to do bush shaping without fail. The lateral processes of the lianoid tomato are removed. This stimulates plant growth. According to the rules, you should leave only one stem at the bush. However, there is usually not much space in greenhouses. Therefore, domestic gardeners often grow plants with two stems. Harvest in this case can also be obtained very good.
Of course, for high tomatoes you will need to arrange backups. The most suitable option is an ordinary trellis, similar to grape. For its manufacture, two columns are installed at the edges of the beds and connected with a transverse crossbar. Throughout the entire height of the resulting structure, wire or cords are pulled in parallel rows.
It is not recommended to plant tall varieties too thickly. On 1 m2 there should be no more than 3-4 plants.
Best undersized tomatoes
The advantage of determinant varieties of tomatoes, among other things, is early maturity. Therefore, not only the owners of small low greenhouses, but also those who want to harvest as early as possible, should buy exactly the seeds of undersized tomatoes. For greenhouses, varieties are excellent:
- Ballerina. Tomato with sweetish red elongated compact fruits of medium early ripening. Its bushes can reach a height of 0.5-1 m.
- The pink leader. An early ripe variety, the fruits of which are used both for canning and for salads.
- Fontanka. Punched very low grade (up to 50 cm), characterized by early maturity. The red fruits of the Fontanka are oval. Among all early ripening varieties, this is considered the most productive. On one plant alone, up to 40-45 fruits can form.
- Summer resident. Also a very low grade (up to 50 cm). It is resistant to frost. Its red fruits have a rounded shape, small size and are great for canning.
Care for undersized tomatoes
The need for frequent top dressing is what distinguishes determinant varieties. Tomato seeds for greenhouses of this group are sold in many varieties. However, almost all undersized tomatoes have one characteristic feature. They do not absorb nutrients from the soil too well. It is best to feed small tomatoes with organic fertilizers. When transplanting seedlings, rotted manure is necessarily added to the holes. During the growing season, tomatoes of this group are supposed to spud. Also stepsoning is made. Top dressing is carried out before each hilling.
Tomatoes for sale
For those who want to grow fruits that are marketable, transportable, attractive, and in demand by consumers, you should also first select the right tomato seeds. For a polycarbonate greenhouse in this case, according to many gardeners, the following varieties are best suited:
- Monomakh hat. This tomato is appreciated for its delicious and aromatic fruits. At the moment, it is considered one of the most productive in the domestic market. From a square meter of the greenhouse area you can collect up to 14 kg of tomato fruits of this variety.
- Cardinal. Another large-fruited variety (up to 800 gr). It can reach a height of 170 cm. The fruits are distinguished by raspberry color and very flesh-tasting.
- Canadian giant. Tall plant with a stem length of up to one and a half meters. Fruits are large, slightly flattened. The pulp is juicy, with acidity.
- Russian soul. High grade (up to 1.5 m) with large red fruits. It can be used both for salads and for canning. The pulp has a pleasant slightly sour taste.
- Biysk Rosan. Salad variety with delicious red fruits a little irregular in shape.
Cherry tomatoes in the greenhouse
Indoors, these interesting little tomatoes are often grown. In this case, the best varieties for greenhouses can be selected, also focusing on the experience of domestic summer residents. Most often, our gardeners grow tomatoes under a polycarbonate shelter:
- Sweet Cherry. The stem height of tomatoes of this variety can reach 2 m. The fruits have an even shape and smooth surface. Their color can be bright red or yellow, since the seeds are usually sold in a mixture. The pulp is very juicy and sweet. In one brush collected up to 50-60 small fruits. Tomatoes of this variety can be used for canning.
- Minibel. A low-growing early ripening variety with very small fruits of red color. The pulp of tomatoes is juicy, with acidity. You can use Minibel both for salads and for canning.
- Bonsai Perhaps the smallest grade in the world (height 20 cm). Fruits (30 grams) are very dense, as they ripen, they change color from green to yellow, then to orange. Ripe tomatoes are red. The variety is very resistant to all major diseases of tomatoes.
In specialized stores today you can buy absolutely any seeds of Cherry tomatoes. For small greenhouses, tomatoes in this group can be just perfect.
Dutch tomatoes
Good yields in greenhouses can give not only domestic, but also some foreign varieties. For example, Dutch tomatoes are very popular with our summer residents. Varieties bred in this country are usually unpretentious and have high yields. Tulip tomato, for example, is very good for growing in a greenhouse. Its main distinguishing feature is the red fruits of an interesting shape, similar to a flower bud. Their pulp is very tender and juicy. The variety is characterized by high productivity. Dutch tomato seeds for greenhouses can also be easily purchased at a specialized store. Our gardeners usually grow such tomatoes using the same technology as domestic varieties.
New tomato seeds for greenhouses
A large number of new varieties and hybrids are bred annually by plant breeders. Including suitable for growing in greenhouses. Of the varieties that have recently appeared on the market, the most popular are:
- Pink flamingo-2. The fruits of this variety are simply excellent in taste. The advantages also include resistance to disease.
- Father. A large-fruited variety with pink fruits that resemble a heart in shape quickly gained popularity among summer residents.
Hybrids
Of course, not only tomato varieties are grown in a greenhouse. Many summer residents prefer to plant hybrid tomatoes indoors. The best varieties for greenhouses, the characteristics of which were considered above, are characterized by high productivity and resistance to diseases. However, they still cannot compare with hybrids in this regard. The latter are easier to grow. However, quality seeds cannot be obtained from them, of course. The most popular hybrids are:
- F1 Union 8. An early ripe determinant plant that produces fruits that are well suited for salads. Their use for canning is also allowed. The hybrid is highly resistant to major diseases of tomatoes. Its small red fruits have a flat-rounded shape.
- Pablo F1. Mid-season hybrid, giving very good yields. The bright red dense fruits of this tomato have a rounded shape.
Some tips
Those who like to make pasta, light, or tomato juice should buy seeds of large tomatoes. For the greenhouse, the same Monomakh Hat, Canadian Giant or Cardinal are perfect. Large fruit varieties are also commonly used for salads. For pickling, it is worth buying seeds of varieties with compact tomatoes. After all, firstly, the fruit should easily go through the neck, and secondly, when pickling small fruits, the inner space of the can is used more rationally.
Harvest tomatoes for greenhouses of the above varieties are characterized by resistance to diseases and relative ease of care. However, of course, to achieve good results when growing tomatoes in closed ground as well as in open ground, you can only give the plants maximum attention. Water your tomatoes on time, weed and loosen them, do not forget about top dressing. And then you are guaranteed a good harvest of tomatoes of almost any kind.