Today there are countless varieties of tomatoes. They differ from each other in color and size of fruits, size and structure of the bush. It is the differences in the shape of the plant that served as the reason for the division into determinant and indeterminate tomatoes. These complex names for some do not say anything, although even an ordinary gardener can easily distinguish between these varieties. Indeterminate tomatoes are characterized by unlimited growth of the bush, and determinant tomatoes - by stunting.
General information on such varieties
Indeterminate tomatoes are tall plants. And this means that for their cultivation it is necessary to use trellises or other supports, to which the bushes are tied. In order to answer the question about what indeterminate tomatoes are, first of all, it is necessary to determine the morphological characteristics of these plants. On such bushes, inflorescences are formed after 6-10 leaves. Such tomatoes belong to late-ripening varieties, which can bear fruit almost to the very frosts. As a rule, the largest yields are harvested from bushes in which 1-2 main stems were left by pinching at the beginning of growth.
General Information on Determinant Varieties
These tomatoes are characterized by limited growth and low shrubs. They have leaves and inflorescences densely located on the stem. There are 3 groups of this kind of tomato:
- determinant - differ in a double wave of growth. At the first fruit setting, there are up to 6 inflorescences, then the so-called stepsons grow on the shoots, on which other inflorescences form, giving a second crop. These tomatoes are characterized by early maturity. In this case, fruiting lasts 1-2 months;
- superdeterminant - are characterized by early maturity. They have a bushy plant, the height of which reaches 0.7-1 m. As a rule, after the formation of 2-3 inflorescences on the shoot, it stops growing. These varieties are characterized by the ripening of fruits. Such tomatoes are often planted in large areas when you need to collect the entire crop in a short time;
- semi-determinant - represent the average of the two previous groups. The height of the bushes reaches 1.2 m. Later ripening is characteristic of them. These tomatoes, the cultivation of which does not require pinching (removal of second-order shoots), will bear fruit earlier if they are nevertheless removed on the bushes.
Determinant and indeterminate varieties do not stepchild.
Features of indeterminate tomatoes
Among the other advantages of varieties of this kind of tomato, it is necessary to highlight the following:
- inflorescences on plants are laid every 3 leaves;
- in large-fruited varieties, 4 fruits are tied in a brush, and up to 20 in small-fruited varieties;
- in greenhouses, these tomatoes often grow up to 5 m, which allows you to get up to 40 brushes from the bush.
Varieties of pink tomatoes
There are many varieties that give beautiful pink fruits. Breeders every year bring out more and more tomatoes. Among these new products, some varieties should be noted.
- Pink Paradise F1 - has a well-leafed powerful bush. A variety of medium ripening. Differs in high productivity, good keeping quality, resistance to cracking. It is characterized by good fruit setting and increased resistance to disease. This variety can be grown in open ground and in greenhouses. The average weight of the fruit is 180-200 g.
- Pink Samurai F1 - has a powerful bush. A variety of early maturity. It is characterized by excellent fruit setting. Pink Samurai is used for indoor cultivation. The fruits have a mass of 190-200 g. They are distinguished by good keeping quality.
- Machaon F1 - he has not too high, but well-leafed bush. A variety of medium early ripening. The mass of roundish fruits is 190-210 g. They are distinguished by excellent taste. Due to the high density of fruits, the variety is used for long-term storage and transportation over long distances.
Many varieties of pink tomatoes are distinguished by very large dense fruits that retain their taste for 3-5 weeks.
Varieties of tomatoes
Description of tomato varieties will help in choosing seeds for planting. So, recently the following indeterminate varieties have been especially popular.
- Aston F1 - is intended for cultivation in the closed and open field. Strong-growing powerful plant. Differs in high productivity. Fruits are flat-round, red. Their average weight is 170-190 g. The fruits are resistant to cracking. The plant forms ovaries well, resistant to diseases.
- Kronos F1 is a great early variety for indoor and outdoor cultivation. Differs in high productivity. The first brush is already located above the 6th sheet. Red flat-round fruits weighing 140-170 g are characterized by good transportability and keeping quality (1-1.5 months). The variety is resistant to most diseases.
- Shannon F1 is an early ripe hybrid with moderate plant growth. This variety is intended for cultivation in greenhouses and open ground. Tomato is resistant to most diseases. It gives excellent results in early plantings. This variety bears fruit well, even if the air temperature is several degrees lower than necessary for growing other tomatoes. Red, rounded fruits weighing up to 180 g are distinguished by excellent taste. Stored up to 1 month.
- Sprinter F1 - tomato is intended for growing indoors. The plant is very powerful and high-yielding. Resistant to most diseases. This variety is distinguished by an early entry into the fruiting phase. At the same time, up to 4 hands ripen on the plant. Flat-round fruits weighing 150-190 g are red in color.
Tomato varieties (description of tomato varieties) are often indicated on the seed packaging. That is why when buying, you must be very careful to choose the right tomatoes. Other popular indeterminate varieties include hybrids (indicated by the letter F1) such as Axiom, Title, Saxon, Sheila, Vitador, Mengir, Samara, Typhoon, Pisa, Flagship, Etude, Intens Odin, Sreza, Favorit, Jakarta, Castalia.
Grade selection
All varieties of tomatoes, photos of which can be found in the directories, look very appetizing and attractive, but when choosing seeds for planting, it is necessary to take into account the method of cultivation and the region. If you plan to grow indeterminate tomatoes in a greenhouse, you can choose almost any variety you like. Late ripening plants are absolutely unsuitable for many regions of Russia. If the temperature is not high enough and the daylight hours are short, such tomatoes will not have time to ripen. That is why for the more northern regions of Russia varieties of early or medium ripening are more suitable. If you also want to try late tomatoes, you will need to make a small shelter for the plants in the form of a greenhouse with additional lighting in the autumn days.
Also, when planting tomatoes, it must be borne in mind that large fruits are not suitable for preservation as a snack, because they simply do not fit into a jar. Such tomatoes are intended for salads or for processing into juice, sauces or pastes. Lovers of pickles should plant indeterminate varieties with small and medium fruits.
Sowing seeds
If you trust the supplier of seeds, then no pre-sowing treatment is required for them, since licensed seeds are already specially prepared. In this case, their germination and seedling growth will depend on the choice of a suitable substrate and watering. It is best to choose a soil that is specially prepared for growing seedlings. Such a substrate is sold in any specialized store.
Tomato seeds are planted in the soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. After the appearance of the first true leaves, seedlings dive. After this procedure, the root system of plants becomes more fibrous, and the plants themselves are aligned in height. The optimum temperature for germination of tomato seeds is + 24˚. For cultivation in open ground, tomatoes are sown 30-40 days before planting in the ground.
Preparing seedlings for planting
After diving, the seedlings are transferred to a room whose temperature does not exceed + 20 ° C. 1-2 weeks before planting in open ground, plants begin to harden, gradually lowering the air temperature. Seedlings can be planted until the first brush appears on it. To strengthen the plants, it is recommended to water them with the addition of special complex fertilizers. They are bred in a ratio of 20 g per 10 liters.
Seedlings are planted in prepared wells, deepening the plant in the ground to cotyledon leaves. Too long seedlings can be planted even deeper (to the first real leaf), placing it in the hole in an inclined position.
Growing tomatoes in a greenhouse
Such tomatoes are suitable for cultivation in the open field, but it is best to grow indeterminate tomatoes in a greenhouse. In such conditions, they give an earlier and abundant crop. These tomatoes are demanding in care. The main actions in the cultivation of these varieties are associated with the formation of a bush and tying it to a trellis or other supports. In a plant that is properly looked after, growth often stops on its own, but if this does not happen, you can pinch a very elongated stem. To form 1-2 stems, remove all the extra stepsons. During the period of growth and vegetation, tomatoes need regular feeding with complex fertilizers.
Regular watering begins after planting. Tomato requires frequent watering with a small amount of water. Drip irrigation is best suited for this. In the furrow method, perforated plastic pipes with closed ends can be used. They must rest on the furrows themselves. Watering is carried out taking into account lighting, evaporation, soil structure, ventilation. Suitable for this is water, the temperature of which is 15-16 ° C.