An ideal variety for a rich, tasty, early harvest of tomatoes: Skorospelka tomato
Among early tomatoes, the Skorospelka variety is especially popular. These are low-growing, unpretentious plants, the fruits of which are suitable for early salads and processing.
We will analyze the characteristics of the variety and decide whether it is worth growing it on your personal plot.
The content of the article
Description of the variety
The Skorospelka tomato is ultra-early. The first fruit ripens already 87-95 days after sowing the seeds. The variety bears fruit well both in open field and in greenhouses. The height of the bush reaches 50-70 centimeters. Plants require moderate pinching and anchoring to support.
Variety subspecies
In addition to a simple early ripening, the following hybrids are distinguished:
- "Syzran early ripening" - tomato bred by breeders from the city of Syzran, Vladimir region. The main distinctive characteristics of the variety include: a tall, indeterminate bush, up to 180 cm high; a plum-shaped fruit with a pointed nose and a raspberry-colored skin at maturity.
- Tomato "People's early ripening" - removed and improved for the northern regions of Russia. Differs in smaller fruits (up to 100 g), increased yield, dense pulp and sweet taste.
Distinctive features
The peculiarities of the Skorospelka variety include unusually early ripening of fruits even compared to other early maturing varieties. For an early variety, the tomato has an impressive fruit size and is resistant to temperature extremes in spring, when the plant is just beginning to take root after planting in a permanent place of growth.
Fruit characteristics and yield
Fruits have a rounded, slightly flattened shape... The peel of ripe fruits is red, however, an orange tint is observed under uneven lighting.
The pulp has a high content of nutrients, has a sour-sweet taste and a pronounced aroma. Fruit weight on average ranges from 130 to 150 g. The average yield of one branch is 6-7 fruits or 5-7 kg per 1 sq. M. m landings. The flowers are simple, white with a yellow base.
Good to know:
How to grow seedlings
Let's consider in stages how to grow viable and productive seedlings for this variety.
Seed preparation
You can sow seeds dry, but it is better to soak them firstsince this will not only increase and accelerate seedling, but also allow the selection of low-quality seed.
Choosing a solution for soaking seeds:
- a weak solution of potassium permanganate (pick up the powder on the tip of a match and dissolve in 1 liter of water);
- ash solution (dissolve 2 tablespoons of powder in 1 liter of boiling water);
- solution of the drug "Fitosporin-M" (the dosage is indicated on the packaging of the drug).
This procedure will disinfect and disinfect the soil., will accelerate seed germination and increase the protective functions of the plant against various diseases. Seeds that float up during soaking are discarded and not used in planting.
Capacity and soil
For growing seedlings, there is a large assortment of ready-made soils for sale... For self-made soil in equal parts, mix garden soil, peat and sand. Pour the resulting soil into the box.
In terms of alkaline composition, a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 5-6 is preferable. It is very convenient to use specially made containers or the most common food containers from a hardware store as a landing box.
Sowing
It is optimal to plant early ripening tomato seeds 50-60 days before the expected date of planting the plant in a permanent growing place... In the prepared planting box, distribute the seeds over the surface of the earth and sprinkle a little with earth.
The height of the soil layer should not exceed 1.5 cm. Pour with warm water and after 6-7 days the first shoots will be visible. Temperatures below +24 degrees at this time can harm immature plants.
Growing and care
As soon as two leaves appear on the seedlings, we proceed to pick them. This happens around the 15th-21st day. When transplanting a seedling, it should be buried to the cotyledon (lowest) leaves and closed from direct sunlight for several days for adaptation. For good growth and health of seedlings, a special temperature regime is important. During the day, keep the temperature from +20 to +25 degrees, and at night not lower than +18 degrees.
In watering, seedlings love moderation: excessive humidity will lead to the development of diseases (eg black leg) and plant death. Watering young shoots only when the soil dries out a little. The seedlings are fed every two or three weeks. Fertilizers based on potassium and phosphorus are mainly used for feeding.
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Landing
12 days before planting in a permanent place, the seedlings begin to harden... Plants are brought out for several hours a day in the open sun and temperatures from +10 to +15 degrees.
To prevent disease before planting in open ground, the ground is treated with a manganese solution.
No more than 6 plants are planted per square meter... A mixture of earth and humus is applied to the bottom of the planting hole.
Advice! After planting, it is advisable not to water the plants for 7-10 days. So their root system is formed stronger and the roots go deeper.
Plant care
Consider main principles of care for plants.
Lighting
Tomato is a thermophilic and light-loving plant. The brighter and more intense the light, the better... The most favorable temperature range is from +20 to +25 degrees. From lack of light, the plant stretches and weakens.
Watering
Tomatoes don't like watering too often. It will be optimal to water abundantly once a week.
An effective and convenient method is drip irrigation, when a thin tube is supplied to each plant, from which the plant constantly receives a small amount of water.
Tomatoes respond to such watering with increased fruiting and larger fruits.
Weeding and loosening
Regular weeding and loosening of the soil will improve oxygen circulation at the plant roots, thanks to which it will more efficiently absorb the necessary nutrients and elements.
The hard crust of the earth will not only create unfavorable conditions for the roots, but also can damage the delicate skin of the stem, which will weaken it before fungal and bacterial infections.
Grassing and shaping the bush
7-10 days after planting the plants, pinching is carried out. It is optimal to grow a precocious bush in three stems. For this, two lower stepsons are left on the main stem. All other stepchildren on the plant are removed.
Try to remove stepchildren before they reach a length of 3-4 centimeters. When breaking off a stepson, it is preferable to leave a small penny, so the growth of stepsons in this bosom will be stopped.
Garter
The early ripening bush has a fairly spreading bush that requires a garter... Seedlings are tied up immediately or after 6-7 leaves appear on it. Bushes are tied up: to a stand, which is installed 10 cm from the plant; to the trellis with tensioned wire or to the greenhouse guides.
Top dressing
At different stages of plant growth, fertilizers of different composition are used... So, at the stage of growth of a young plant, it requires nitrogen-containing fertilizing, and during flowering and fruiting, potassium-phosphorus.
Important. It is important to apply nitrogen fertilizers only according to the instructions, strictly following the prescribed dosage! Lack of nitrogen will slow down the growth of the bush, and excess nitrogen will slow down the formation of fruits.
Features of cultivation and possible difficulties
Early ripening is an undemanding plant to care for... It is enough to provide it with regular watering, loosen and weed the soil, periodically pamper it with mineral-organic dressings and the plant will thank you with a generous harvest.
Huddle tomatoes twice a seasonthis will allow the plant to grow additional roots from the stem.
Diseases and pests
Tomato variety "Skorospelka" unpretentious and has good immunity, however, for prophylaxis and additional protection, it is advisable to use microbiological preparations (for example, "Fitosporin").
If pests were found on the plant (spider mites, aphids, caterpillars and others), then the leaves and stems of the plant are treated with pesticides of natural or synthetic origin (for example, copper sulfate).
Advice! To prevent late blight from settling in the greenhouse, open and at an equal distance place 2-4 bottles of ordinary iodine from the pharmacy in it! Its pairs will effectively fight against spores of fungal infections and pathogens of bacterial diseases!
The nuances of growing in open ground and in a greenhouse
There is no fundamental difference in the type of cultivation. Outdoors, watering varies with rainfall. In a dry season, it is sufficient to water abundantly once a week; during rains, additional watering is not required.
Harvesting and application of the crop
Harvesting early ripening occurs from about 90 days after sowing the seeds... The fruits ripen amicably, which is convenient for their further processing.
The variety has a universal purpose, therefore, it is consumed both fresh and processed. Dense tomato skin prevents cracking during transportation and heat treatment.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The advantages of the variety:
- unpretentiousness and good plant immunity;
- the bush blooms and bears fruit early, late blight appears much later;
- simultaneous ripening of a large number of fruits, which is convenient for harvesting;
- good transportability of fruits, resistance to mechanical stress;
- high yield at low temperatures;
- increased content of nutrients in the pulp of the fruit;
- suitable for growing both in the open field and in the greenhouse.
Disadvantages of the variety:
- the need to remove stepchildren and tie plants to a support;
- relatively low yield (in comparison with later varieties);
- lower sugar content (in comparison with later varieties).
Farmers reviews
The experience of farmers cultivating early ripening on an industrial scale has shown a tomato yield of 5-7 kg of tomatoes from 1 square meter of plantings... Fruits of the Skorospelka variety are used most often for the manufacture of tomato juices.
In reviews of the Skorospelka tomatogardeners note the high quality of the resulting conservation and early dates for the first harvest.
Elena: “I bought seeds according to the description, there was no experience in growing. The result is excellent - canned tomatoes taste beyond praise. At the same time, the fruits almost did not burst. I will plant again next year ".
Vladimir: “If you need an early variety, you can't find Skorospelka better. I have been planting seedlings of these tomatoes for the third year - all the time I get a crop earlier than my neighbors in the country. "
Conclusion
Among the early ripening varieties of tomatoes, "Skorospelka" will be an excellent choice for a gardener. It is an unpretentious and stable variety with large fruits relative to other early crops. Ripe tomatoes are well stored and transported. Resistance to temperature extremes makes the variety attractive for cultivation in the northwestern regions of Russia.
Probably, you shouldn't plant Skorospelka over the entire area of the greenhouse, but it makes sense to grow a few bushes in order to enjoy fragrant and fleshy homemade tomatoes from your backyard as soon as possible!