Determinant varieties of tomatoes: description, breeding and care

Experienced gardeners know that the variety of tomato varieties is manifested not only in the taste and shape of the fruit, but also in the height, the pomp of the bushes. There are species that are characterized by abundant growth. These are so-called interdeterminant varieties. Some, on the contrary, are small bushes, which are called determinant. About them will be discussed in this article.

Ignorance of the characteristics of the cultivation of a particular type of tomato can lead to both partial and complete loss of the crop. Owners of even small plots, having correctly selected a variety of tomatoes, can achieve the highest yields in their garden. If interdeterminant varieties are planted on a small bed allotted for tomatoes, over time, you can be terrified by the abundant growth of bushes, which will clearly lack space. Or, on the contrary, the plot on which the determinant varieties of tomatoes have been planted may turn out to be empty, not pleasing to the eye. The determinants at the end of the shoot are associated with the fruits, because of which the growth of the bush is limited. In the interdeterminants, the central apex continues to grow, despite the floral ovary.

Experienced gardeners can easily determine whether they belong to a particular variety immediately after seed emergence, when the cotyledonous knee begins to finish. For interdeterminants, it is about 3-5 cm, and for determinants, it is 1-3 cm. It must be remembered that if there is insufficient lighting, sprouts of any kind will be strongly drawn, which makes it difficult to determine the species. Then the variety is determined after the appearance of the flower brush. For varieties that do not have growth restrictions, the appearance of inflorescences after 8–9 leaves is characteristic, and in the species restricted in growth, they appear after 6–7 leaves.

It turns out that a plant that is properly selected for open ground is able to satisfy the host’s need and help to make rational use of space in the area allotted to it. Interdeterminants give fruit throughout the season, and the ability to grow up saves space. Determinants are so-called horny tomatoes, which means they allow you to harvest the whole crop early enough. This variety stops growing after the appearance of a number of inflorescences.

Inflorescence ovaries are laid through fewer leaves. In addition, inflorescences are tied at the same time, which leads to a "friendly" yield of the crop. The negative side of such varieties can be called a small, in comparison with interdeterminants, the number of fruits.

If you do not pursue large amounts of the harvest, but want to get the fruits as early as possible, the determinant varieties are what you need. However, it is worth knowing that they, in turn, are also divided into two types.

• Semi-determinant. They stop growing when 10-12 flower brushes are formed, which form after 2-3 leaves. The name of the variety was due to the fact that it is sometimes confused with interdeterminant varieties due to the height of the bush, which reaches 1.5-2 meters (therefore, a garter is required). The species is sufficiently resistant to disease, has a good yield and fruit quality. Ideal for growing in a greenhouse, where it saves space, since up to 4-6 bushes are permissible on 1 meter.
• Super determinant. So called not only early grades, but also hybrids. The peculiarity lies in the fact that floral brushes are laid in 1-2 sheets and are formed after the first 6-7 sheets. Plants limit their growth, not reaching a height of more than 0.5 meters. On a fairly strong stem is 4-5 flower brushes. The undoubted advantages include minimal care, no need for pinching and tying.The variety is quite hardy, which allows planting tomatoes immediately in open ground.

If you live in a place where weather surprises are not uncommon, then you should pay attention to hybrid varieties of tomatoes, which are mostly deluxe. Specially bred breeding species in many countries are famous for resistance to diseases, various types of viruses and infections (bacterial and fungal) and bad weather.

With regard to weather conditions, the greenhouse is not always able to replace the natural heat. Some varieties may begin to suffer from high greenhouse temperatures or its drops. In this regard, recently, agronomists are aimed at removing special heat-resistant varieties with a high probability of ovary. The fruits of these varieties have the same type, the yield is stable and relatively high (depending on the type).

Consider the best hybrid varieties in more detail.

• Inkas - This is a determinant middle-early hybrid (105 days), reaching a meter height. High-density fruits have an elongated oval shape, weighing about 80-130 grams. This variety bred in Holland is suitable for cultivation in Russia.

• Torquay - Dutch mid-season tomato. The period from germination to maturation is 119-123 days. The determinant type of bush reaches a maximum height of 100 centimeters.

• "Mariana" - the development of French-Japanese breeders, reminiscent of the "Incas". Fruits can reach 70-180 grams.

• "Bagheera" - French hybrid, characterized by large fruits (up to 220 grams). The fruit has a rounded, flattened on top, slightly ribbed shape.

• Strawberry Cherry - semi-determinant variety, which received its name due to fruits weighing 25 grams, having the form of strawberries. The height of the bush can reach 1-1.5 meters.

• "Caspar"which is a bush about 60 centimeters high, has cylindrical fruit with a spout about 11 centimeters long. The weight of tomatoes in this variety can be 95-115 grams.

• "Aunt Valya" - a relatively new hybrid, dense oval fruits of which have a weight of 95-115 grams.

Before you buy seeds, you need to determine the desired result and the conditions in which you plan to plant tomatoes. First, estimate the area of ​​the garden-dacha plot and select a place for growing tomatoes. The presence of the greenhouse will be only a plus, which allows planting seedlings in an open warm soil quite early. If there is no greenhouse or greenhouse on your site, then you should not plant the seedlings on the site before May, because so-called root frostbite can occur in the cold land, after which it will be useless to care for the plant.

Secondly, decide whether you really are not pursuing the goal of harvesting throughout the summer season. Only in this case, you can pay attention to the determinant varieties of tomatoes. If the space reserved for growing tomatoes is not large, this option would also be the best choice. If you are not limited in space and want to harvest all summer, then you better get interdeterminant varieties.

The scheme of growing tomatoes is quite simple. The conditions for the formation of bushes of some varieties of determinants include pasynkovanie, that is, the removal of additional leaves between the main stem and side. Thanks to such a plucking, the seedling does not have to waste energy on growing additional foliage.In addition, plants are not overloaded with fruits.

Due to the pinching all the energy goes to the formation and timely ripening of the optimal number of fruits. In order for the bush to grow and form properly, it is necessary to stepon to bed regularly (approximately every 10 days). It is important not to let stepchildren reach a length of more than 8-10 cm.

By the rules of care, allowing you to collect the desired crop, applies competent watering. Watering is rarely necessary, but copiously and systematically, allowing the soil to dry out. Water should not accumulate and stagnate on the leaves (especially in greenhouses, where ventilation is not good enough). The stagnation of water leads to the occurrence of phytophtorosis fungus, which is manifested by the blackening of the leaves, which further leads to the death of the bush.

It is believed that tomatoes are unpretentious cultures. However, improper watering, over-feeding, or the presence of numerous diseases and pests in the soil or the seeds themselves can simply destroy the plant. Modern agronomists have many different diseases of tomatoes. Consider the most common ones.

Mosaic, which is a viral disease, is manifested by covering leaves and fruits with yellow mosaic spots. The first source of the disease are infected seeds. In order to avoid mosaics, experienced gardeners treat seeds with preventive substances (solution of potassium permanganate, etc.) before planting.

Bacteriosis is manifested in the instant wilting bush. The lack of moisture is not here. In about a day, the stem and leaves of the plant become covered with a dark brown color. It is useless to treat the damaged bush. It is better to remove it as soon as possible in order to avoid infection of neighboring bushes. When bacteriosis is found in a vegetable garden, experts recommend treating all plants with the “Fitalamin-300” preparation.

Necrosis is the appearance on the stems of deep dark green cracks, inside of which are visible bumpy formations. Necrosis treatment will be useless, because the virus sinks into the soil, which, after removing the infected shrub, must also be treated with Fitalamin-300.

Alternaria (spotting) is a fungal disease that affects a shrub as a whole with dry brown spots (less often, fruits are affected). Defeat starts from below. When it is first detected, it is necessary to treat the plant with preparations containing copper.

Septoria, being a fungal disease, does not completely destroy the plant, but significantly reduces the yield. At the first occurrence of white spots on the leaves, it is necessary to spray the plant with preparations with copper.

Also, the future harvest can be spoiled by various pests. The Colorado beetles, aphid, winter scoop, whitefly, bear and others are considered the most difficult to destroy.

Colorado beetles, breeding very quickly, are able to eat the whole foliage of tomatoes for a few weeks. When they are detected (and this is easy to do thanks to the bright orange insect shells), it is necessary not only to regularly spray plants with a special solution, but also to collect pests from the bushes manually.

Aphid, hiding at the bottom of the sheet, drinking the juice from the plant. Because of this, it becomes dry and dry, which leads to wilt. When this pest is detected, it is necessary to immediately start treating the bushes with a special solution. For prevention, it is recommended to plant garlic near the tomatoes, the smell of which repels aphids.

Winter scoop and whitefly are small insects in the form of butterflies resembling moths. Fighting them is difficult because of the rapid and numerous reproduction. Small size does not allow collecting them as beetles.But it is permissible to tear leaves from a bush with numerous insects (it is recommended to burn off the leaves together with pests). Bushes are necessarily treated with the appropriate solution.

A bear is a caterpillar that destroys the root of a plant. It is difficult to fight it, because it dwells in the ground, leaving only a trace on the surface, speaking of its appearance. There are some rules that prevent the pest invasion. First, it is impossible to fertilize the soil with manure for the winter, leaving it to lie in a thick layer. It can serve as a "blanket" caterpillar. Secondly, digging the garden in the spring is also capable of preventing the appearance of a pest. Thirdly, the smell of the nearby flowers of marigold or bird cherry frightens away the uninvited guest.

Do not be afraid of the difficulties associated with the cultivation of determinant tomatoes. If you follow the basic requirements, then tomatoes really can be called an unpretentious crop. The main thing is to provide plants with light, moisture, heat and partially nutrition.

For information on how to form and care for determinant tomatoes, see the next video.