Among the huge assortment of tomato seeds, it is very difficult for a novice gardener to choose a suitable variety for growing in a greenhouse or greenhouse. When choosing a planting material, it is necessary to take into account many factors - the type of greenhouse, the climate of the area, as well as the taste of the fruits, yield and much more. If you take all this into account and create optimal growing conditions for tomatoes, then a good harvest is ensured with fairly simple tomato care.
How to choose tomato seeds
Each variety and hybrid of tomatoes has its own individual characteristics and quality characteristics:
- The type and size of the tomato bush.
- The yield.
- Fruit shape and size.
- Duration of ripening.
- Taste characteristics.
- Storage resistance.
- Resistant to climatic and weather conditions.
- Resistance to pests and diseases.
Bush type and size
For keeping in a greenhouse, indeterminate (i.e., unlimited in stem growth) varieties of tomatoes are more suitable. Such tomato bushes will require the creation of special supports in greenhouses, to which they will need to be tied. Some varieties are woven upwards on taut cords instead of wooden pegs.
Of the determinant (undersized) types of tomatoes, the varieties "Pink Honey" and "Eleanor" feel favorable in greenhouse conditions. Experienced gardeners recommend planting them around the perimeter of the greenhouse.
Yield
The amount of the resulting crop will depend not only on the selected variety or hybrid. Here, it is much more important to create favorable conditions for keeping in the greenhouse. Indeed, in different climates, the same variety can manifest itself in different ways. Although gardeners - breeders have developed universal species and varieties for such cases, which are suitable for different growing conditions. For many years, Auria, De Barao, Banana Legs and Pink Raisins have been considered the most popular. Their seeds in greenhouse conditions bring bountiful harvests of tomatoes with excellent flavoring characteristics.
Fruit shape and size
This characteristic includes tomatoes:
- Large-fruited.
- Medium-fruited.
- Small-fruited.
Tomato varieties with large fruits (for example, "De Barao", "Pink giant", "Siberian giant") can be eaten fresh, stored for a long time in a cool place and used for canning vegetables for the winter.
Tomato varieties of medium standard sizes (for example, "Plum", "Precious") are perfect for preparing fresh salads, as well as for winter preparations.
Small-fruited varieties of tomatoes (for example, "Cherry", "Balcony Miracle") are popular in cooking as a decoration for dishes, but are most often used for pickling and pickling.
Ripening terms
Even under the same conditions in the greenhouse, the ripening time depends on the particular tomato variety.For example, the best early ripening hybrid varieties are Druzhok, Typhoon, Semko, Verlioka. The process of flowering, forming and ripening fruits is much faster than standard tomatoes and therefore the harvest is carried out approximately 3-4 weeks earlier. The planting material of these varieties is ideal for a greenhouse.
The most popular ultra-early ripening tomato varieties for greenhouses and greenhouses among gardeners are "Joy of Summer", "Uragan", "Junior", "Samara" and "Yantarny". It is worth noting that undersized (determinant) tomato varieties ripen much earlier than indeterminate ones.
Taste qualities
When describing the taste characteristics of tomato fruits, it is imperative to take into account the purpose for which they are grown. After all, you can plant tomatoes for fresh consumption, for canning and pickling, or for storage for an extended period. The fruit can be tight, fleshy, with a thick or thin skin, juicy or not very juicy. For example, tomato varieties that are subsequently dried and canned (or frozen) are small in size and dense in flesh.
When buying hybrid varieties for canning and eating in salads, Kaspar, Druzhok, Sultan and Rosemary are considered the most suitable for growing in a greenhouse and bringing abundant harvests. Their taste characteristics can be considered satisfactory, despite the fact that they are hybrids.
Among large-fruited tomatoes, the best in taste are Black Prince, Pink Honey, Pink Giant and De Barao. Experienced summer residents and gardeners consider these varieties popular for growing in greenhouses.
"Cherry yellow", "Cherry", "Cherry red" and "Sweet tooth" are excellent varieties that are rich in vitamins, antioxidants and many useful substances. They can be used in the diet, but they are best suited for winter preparations. Canned tomatoes acquire a bright and unique taste.
Storage resistance
This quality is of great importance to those who grow tomatoes for sale. The fruits should be able to be transported and, if possible, stored for the longest time. It is good if long shelf life does not affect the taste and quality indicators. Unfortunately, these tomato varieties, which are undersized, are artificially bred and are hybrids with low palatability. They can be stored for a long time and tolerate long-distance transportation well - these are Salahaddin F1, Ivanovets F1 and Krasnobay F1.
Resistant to climatic and weather conditions
It is very important for greenhouse growing conditions to select varieties of tomatoes that are not afraid of sudden temperature changes, small frosts and a prolonged harsh climate, as well as insufficient natural lighting. Such varieties as "Verlioka", "Ural" and "Olya" feel great in various climatic and weather conditions, their growth and development do not suffer, and these factors do not affect the yield.
Disease resistance
Diseases of tomato crops occur for various reasons. The most common of these are violations of the rules of care and maintenance. When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, gardeners try to create the most favorable conditions for vegetable plants. But there are various situations in which tomato plantings experience a lack of lighting or a high level of humidity is unexpectedly created. Sharp fluctuations in air temperature also have a bad effect. All these unfavorable factors provoke the appearance of a fungal or infectious disease.
In order for the varietal qualities of tomatoes to be preserved under any conditions, it is necessary to choose hybrid varieties with the highest possible resistance to a variety of unforeseen and extreme situations, as well as to diseases.Tomato varieties intended for greenhouses and considered among the most sustainable are Gina, Blagovest, Druzhok, Soyuz 3 and Soyuz 8.
Another reason for the disease in tomato crops is the condition of the soil in the greenhouse. Land in an open area or in greenhouse conditions is also often subject to diseases (for example, mosaic and late blight). Soil diseases are transmitted to vegetable crops of various varieties. Experienced gardeners and summer residents recommend replacing the soil in the greenhouse every year, or at least carrying out disinfecting preventive measures before planting tomato seeds. If for some reason this cannot be done, then all that remains is to choose the right seed varieties. Hybrids "Roma F1", "Blagovest F1", "Semko F1" and "Budenovka F1" are highly resistant to infectious and fungal diseases (in particular, to late blight).
Growing tomatoes in summer greenhouses
When choosing seeds, it is very important to determine the right variety intended for growing in a greenhouse under certain conditions. After all, the greenhouse can be equipped only for one season or for the whole year, with high-quality additional lighting and heating and without them.
For example, a greenhouse usually does not provide heating during the summer, and therefore the air temperature in it drops significantly at night. Cellular polycarbonate, ordinary glass or a dense transparent polyethylene film are purchased as building materials for this construction option. This translucent covering material protects against rain, but does not guarantee adequate warmth and light.
For such cold greenhouses, the early ripening hybrid varieties "Cavalier", "Shustrik", "Blagovest", "Gina" and "Cherry" are ideal.
Growing tomatoes in winter greenhouses
This type of greenhouse is equipped with stationary lighting and artificial heating, with glass or polycarbonate cover. Hybrid varieties that have a short growing season, early to medium ripening, can be grown well in winter greenhouses. Such structures (with an additional heat source) are also very relevant for the regions of the middle lane.
The most suitable varieties of tomatoes for winter greenhouses are “Honey King”, “Verlioka”, “NK-Overture”, “Pink Flamingo”, “NK-Etude” and “NK-Sprinter”.
Among the variety of hybrids and varieties of tomatoes, it is difficult to independently choose those that will grow in greenhouse conditions and bring a rich harvest with excellent appearance and taste. The advice and advice of experienced professionals will help you achieve the expected result much faster.
