Hybrid tomato "Rhapsody" - we grow on our site on our own without hassle

Tomato Rhapsody F1 has won the hearts of many gardeners in a short time. The secret of its popularity lies in the ease of care and excellent taste of the fruit. What exactly is Rhapsody and what advantages it has, we will consider further.

Description of the variety

The Rhapsody variety is a hybrid, that is, it is obtained as a result of crossing other varieties. Due to this, it has many advantages, one of which is increased resistance to major diseases of the culture. Rhapsody is recommended to be grown in greenhouse conditions, especially when it comes to central Russia.

Distinctive features

The bush of the variety is indeterminate, that is, it is not limited in growth. Reaches up to 1.5-2 m in height. Due to its large size, the plant needs to be tied, otherwise the branches may break under the weight of mature tomatoes.

Rhapsody is an early ripe variety, the first harvest is harvested within 50-60 days from the moment of planting. There are few leaves on the bush.

Tomatoes grow in clusters on a bush, so they are often called bunch tomatoes. The variety loves warmth and light, it is best to grow it in a greenhouse.

However, in the southern regions of the country, rich in fertile soils and sun, and in the open field, a good harvest is obtained.

Characteristics of tomatoes and productivity

Tomatoes have a pleasant red or raspberry color.

They are round in shape, slightly flattened.

Like most hybrids, Rhapsody is a large tomato, one weighs about 140 g.

The pulp of the variety is dense and fleshy, the skin is dense. With proper care, you can get about 5-6 kg of tomatoes from one bush, which is an excellent indicator.

The taste of tomatoes is sweet and sour.

Variety subspecies

The Rhapsody variety is classified into several types. Let's consider each and identify the distinctive features.

Golden Rhapsody

The name of this variety speaks for itself - the yellow-orange tomatoes have a wonderful juicy taste. The shape is round, smooth. Weight of one reaches 150-200 g. Bushes are late-ripening, indeterminate. Require obligatory garter and removal of stepchildren.

Golden Rhapsody has a rich sweet taste, therefore it is widely used for cooking. Tomatoes also contain a large amount of useful elements and antioxidants, therefore they are recommended for use in baby and dietary food.

Raspberry Rhapsody

The bushes are abundantly covered with pink tomatoes - hence the name of the variety. Gardeners harvest already 90-95 days after planting.

The bushes are not tall, with an average height of about 60 cm. Suitable for growing both in a greenhouse and in the open air.

Tomatoes Raspberry Rhapsody reach large sizes, the weight of one varies from 200 to 300 g.

The surface is ribbed, so the variety looks impressive even in simple slicing. The yield is high - about 15 kg per 1 sq.m.

Northern Rhapsody

We turn to the description of the North Rhapsody tomato variety.Tomatoes have a beautiful oval shape and a rich raspberry color. Average weight - about 150 g. Juicy pulp. The height of one bush is about 2 m. There are few seeds in tomatoes, the taste is pleasant.Northern Rhapsody is suitable for consumption both fresh and after heat treatment.

Experienced gardeners recommend growing it exclusively in greenhouses. For a rich harvest, it is recommended to use feeding and growth stimulants.

How to grow seedlings

In order for the variety to take root well and delight you with a good harvest, it is important to prepare the seedlings according to all the rules.

Seed preparation

When choosing seeds, trust only trusted producers. Study the information on the packaging, pay attention to the shelf life of the material, the rules for its cultivation. For reliability, consult with familiar gardeners, find out which seeds they prefer. Also, it will not be superfluous to study the information on the Internet.

After purchase, seeds should be disinfected. Perfect fit potassium permanganate solution: Soak the seeds in it for a day, then wrap them in cheesecloth. This easy action will help to avoid unwanted diseases and pests in the future.

Pay special attention to germination: wrap the seeds in damp gauze and place in a saucer. Maintain a moderate moisture level - do not let the seeds dry out or be too wet. Seeds are germinated for 10-15 days. It is recommended to use growth simulators during this time.

Important! Do not forget about hardening the seed. With its help, it will be easier for the plant to endure weather changes in the future. To do this, place the seeds in the freezer overnight, then place them at room temperature for 10 hours. Then back into the freezer - and then back into the room.

Capacity and soil

Seedlings are planted in clean plastic jars, wooden boxes, flower pots. The main thing is that the container is dry and clean. A good option is containers specially designed for seedlings: a large assortment is presented in shops for the garden and vegetable garden.

The same goes for the soil. There are two methods:

1. Prepare the mixture yourself. To do this, you need peat, ash, sawdust, sand, soil (in a ratio of 3: 1: 1: 1: 3). This composition is ideal for tomato seedlings, it will provide the plant with all the necessary substances. In order for the seedlings to feel good, it is necessary to sift the resulting mixture - this will give the soil the necessary air, making it even more useful. We also recommend hardening the earth: place it in the freezer. Low temperatures eliminate all pathogens and larvae.
2. Buy ready-made soil in the store. Their compositions are already saturated in advance with all substances that have a beneficial effect on tomatoes. The most popular mixtures are "People's soil", "Fart", "Ambulance" soil. The price of such land varies from 50 to 200 rubles per 0.5 kg.

Sowing

Pour the prepared soil into a container. Make holes 1-1.5 cm deep, place the seeds in them. The distance between the pits should be at least 4 cm, otherwise the plant will not have enough space and light. Cover the holes with soil.

From above, it is recommended to cover the containers with thin glass or cling film - this will help keep warm and the desired level of moisture. The best temperature for the development of seedlings is about 25 degrees Celsius.

Important! Place the seedlings near a radiator or other heat source. Check soil moisture every day. If the water level is raised, open the film and let the earth dry, if there is not enough water, spray the seedlings. The first shoots appear in 4-5 days.

Growing and care

The first thing to look out for is lighting. Tomato Rhapsody, like most other varieties, needs full lighting.

After the first shoots appear, place the seedlings on the windowsill. It is also recommended to use additional light - for example, from fluorescent lamps.

Pay attention to sufficient moisture.

Open the film a little every day so that the seedlings get used to the fresh air. Remove the film after 1-2 weeks.

Water the seedlings carefully, at the root, avoid getting moisture on the leaves. A pipette or syringe is recommended for spot irrigation.

Important! For the Rhapsody tomato, excess moisture and cold window sills are destructive. In addition, tomatoes need periodic feeding (ash, grass) and fertilizers. Ash is allowed to add 2-3 weeks after germination. Further fertilization is applied every 3 weeks.

How to grow tomatoes

The stage of plant care after seedling is equally important. Consider what should be given special attention.

Landing

The sprouts should be transplanted with a clod of earth on the roots. The required distance between the beds is about 40 cm. It is better to plant the bushes in cool, windless weather. It is recommended to water the tomatoes with plenty of warm water immediately after planting.

Please note that the soil should be free of pests and pathogens of fungi or infections. The best precursors for tomatoes are cucumbers, cabbage, potatoes. The hybrid likes the presence of sand or ash in the ground.

Care

Properly caring for tomatoes is within the power of both an experienced gardener and a novice gardener. The main thing is on time to water beds and remove weeds. Be careful with water: its excess leads to the development of fungus. It is also periodically necessary to loosen the earth - this saturates it with air.

Since Rhapsody is an indeterminate variety, a mandatory garter is required. The tomato forms many stepchildren - they slow down the development of the bush and take away nutrients, so they should be removed in time. Bushes form both one and two stems.

Important! The development of Rhapsody is positively influenced by nitrogen-containing dressings. However, be careful with them - an excess is fraught with disease. The most popular remedies are ammonium nitrate, bone meal, and potassium salt.

Features of cultivation and possible difficulties

Particular attention should be paid to the removal of stepchildren. Extra shoots lead to a decrease in yield. In Rhapsody, stepchildren appear already at the seedling stage. Removing them is a rather laborious process that requires additional time and effort. After planting in the ground, it is recommended to remove shoots every 6-7 days. Step-children should be cleaned with gloves.

Also pay attention to disease prevention. Rhapsody is not 100% immune to fungi and infections. To protect the tomato from them, it is advisable to carry out preventive measures. For example, spray the bushes with nettle infusion or fertilize the soil with nutrients.

Diseases and pests

Even if all the rules are followed, the tomato can get sick. The most common cultural disease is late blight... Occurs due to high humidity and excess nitrogen. Signs of late blight are brown spots and white bloom on the leaves.

Getting rid of the fungus is difficult, sometimes the only way out is to remove the infected bushes. Along with late blight, tomatoes can get sick with tobacco mosaic or powdery mildew. Cope with these diseases by virtue of professional drugs or folk recipes. For example, a tincture of garlic and ash.

Also tomatoes are not insured against pests... The most common: spider mite, whitefly, bear, wireworm. These insects take nutrients from the plant, as a result of which the latter dies. To prevent, weeds should be removed and the bushes should be treated with special preparations. For example, "Medvetoks" or "Tsipi" means.

The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse

Before planting tomatoes outdoors, make sure that the soil is not contaminated with infection and does not contain pest larvae. It is best to carry out disinfection - this can be done using the potassium permanganate solution mentioned above.

If you decide to plant Rhapsody in a greenhouse, then in addition to the earth, you also need to disinfect all hard surfaces - walls, doors, pegs.

Important! The hybrid gives more yield in the greenhouse than in the open field.

Harvesting and application of the crop

Rhapsody matures gradually. Avoid overripening tomatoes, otherwise they may crack, which adversely affects both appearance and taste.

The range of application of Rhapsody is very wide: the preparation of soups, side dishes, salads, use as preparations for the winter, the production of tomato juices, ketchup, pastes.

In addition, tomatoes are also used fresh - they go well with meat, fish, and other vegetables. Many gardeners love hybrid precisely because of its rich and juicy taste.

Tomatoes contain a lot of vitamins and minerals: elements of group B, vitamin C, iron, magnesium and calcium. Together, they have a beneficial effect on the human body.

For example, magnesium is a recognized antidepressant, calcium has a beneficial effect on bones, potassium supports the activity of blood vessels and the heart.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

The positive qualities of Rhapsody include:

• great taste;
• versatility in use;
• persistent immunity to diseases;
• resistance to weather changes;
• presentable appearance.

Cons of the Rhapsody variety:

• the need to remove stepchildren;
• obligatory garter;
• gives a good harvest only in a greenhouse;
• due to the large size of tomatoes, it is not always suitable for canning and pickling.

Farmers reviews

You can find many positive reviews on the Internet about the Rhapsody variety.

Maria: «I have been growing a tomato for the third year in a row: I am happy with delicious tomatoes, I prepare salads from them, I make tomato juice. I grow the crop in a greenhouse, because it often rains and cool winds blow in Tyumen. "

Valentine: «I am happy with the harvest. The tomatoes ripened gradually, turned out to be large, with sweet pulp. I planted Rhapsody in the open field, pre-treated the soil. "

Nikolay: “I have had a bad experience of growing Rhapsody. The vegetable garden is located outside the city limits, so it is inconvenient to monitor the education of stepchildren and remove them in time. The taste of the hybrid also did not make much of an impression. I prefer varieties that require less attention. "

Reading reviews on the forums of gardeners, you can find a sharply negative opinion about the variety.

Dmitry Ivanovich: “The Rhapsody variety turned out to be very capricious and problems with cultivation began at the stage of planting tomatoes in the ground. After 2 weeks, I found brown spots on the bushes - as it turned out, the bushes got sick with late blight. After treatment with special drugs, the disease was defeated, but in the future I am not going to plant Rhapsody on my site. "

And yet, most gardeners are satisfied with the Rhapsody variety. This hybrid is good in any form, its popularity is growing every year.

Conclusion

If you have not tried to grow a Rhapsody tomato yet, then we strongly recommend that you try to do it. Large tomatoes have an even shape and an attractive appearance, so vegetables look spectacular even both fresh and canned.

Like many hybrids, the culture has an increased immunity to infections and fungi. Growing Rhapsody is a pleasure for both beginners and experienced gardeners.