Every gardener wants to grow unusual, beautiful, and at the same time tasty fruits on his personal plot. Tomatoes are a very common vegetable and can be found in almost all households. One of the breeding novelties is the Chocolate tomato variety. Next, we will try to figure out how to grow tomatoes of this variety in our garden, and also consider a detailed description and description.
Description and characteristics of chocolate tomato
This culture was bred by breeders in the 21st century. The fruits of the plant are distinguished by exotic color, as well as high taste.
Description of the bushes:
- Medium in size, reach a height 120-150cm.
- Root system: strong with horizontal branches.
- The stems are strong and require a garter for high yields.
- Leaves: green, medium in size.
- Inflorescences: intermediate type.
About 5 fruits are formed on one cluster.
Description of fruits:
- fruits are round, slightly flattened;
- average weight 200-400 grams;
- tomato color: red-brown chocolate;
- pulp: fleshy, juicy.
Fruit not intended for long-term storage and in cooking they are used in salads, sauces, vegetable snacks, and canning.
By the type of growth, this hybrid is a non-standard semi-determinant culture. It is a mid-season variety and the first crop ripens in about 3 months. The average yield per season is 10-15 kg / m2.
Tomatoes of this variety can be grown both in greenhouses and in open areas.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main difference between black-fruited varieties and other tomatoes is their taste. Chocolate endowed high sugar content and due to the special ratio of the sugar-acid index has a pleasant taste.
The main advantages of the bottom variety:
- Unpretentious cultivation.
- Ease of cultivation.
- Bushes of medium size.
- Disease resistance.
- High taste.
- An interesting type of fruit.
This variety has no particular drawbacks; the main one is the impossibility of long-term storage of fruits.
Sowing rules
As already mentioned, tomatoes of this variety can be grown both in greenhouse conditions and on open soils.
When to sow
Seeds should be sown approximately 2 months before planting seedlings... You need to plant seeds in a greenhouse 10 days earlier.
When calculating the time for sowing tomatoes, it is necessary to analyze the weather forecast so that the plant does not slow down in growth and gives a rich harvest.
We prepare seeds and soil
Due to the fact that Chocolate is a hybrid variety, its seeds no need to disinfect, soak or harden.
First, they are sown in deeper and larger containers, previously filled with an earthen mixture. The latter can be purchased in stores or prepared by yourself.
To prepare an earthen mixture:
- mix in equal amounts peat, humus, and turf;
- add 1 tbsp to a bucket of the resulting mixture. a spoonful of ash;
- add 1 teaspoon of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers.
The resulting mixture must be disinfected. To do this, it is calcined at a temperature of 200 degrees in the oven for several minutes. In addition, for disinfection, the soil can be watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.
How to sow
Immediately on the day of sowing, the earthen mixture is tightly laid out in containers, making shallow depressions. The spacing between grooves is on average 2 fingers. Seeds are thrown into these holes and then they fall asleep.
Seedling care
Seedlings in containers must be kept in a well-lit place with an air temperature of +18 +25 degrees.
The moisture content of the mixture should be monitored every day and, if necessary, sprayed.
When sprouts appear in warm weather, the containers must be taken outside. On the first day, take it out for 5 minutes, and then every day increase the time the seedlings stay in the fresh air by 5 minutes.
Plus, tomato sprouts need feeding... You can feed the plant once every 2 weeks.
After about 10 days, 2 leaves appear on the shoots. During this period, it is necessary to spend pick and plant the seedlings from a large container into small containers. These can be pots or plastic cups. Seedlings are planted neatly, along with the ground.
Transplanting
After a few weeks, flower brushes appear on the seedlings, and it is time to plant them in open areas. To obtain a high yield, this crop should be planted into light soils with a neutral acid-alkaline environment.
Soil preparation before planting seedlings:
- Loosening the soil to the height of the shovel.
- Cover the place where the landing will be carried out with black film to warm the ground up to +15 degrees.
- Apply fertilizer at a rate of 3 kg per square meter.
Seedlings of tomatoes in open ground are planted approximately in the end of May... Usually 3 bushes are planted per square meter.
Saplings should be planted in a calm, not windy or sunny weather.
Variety care after planting
After planting, the Chocolate tomato is undemanding to care for. The main care consists in watering, fertilizing, weeding, garter.
To collect large fruits, you need to monitor the formation of the bush: tie it up in time, and also remove unnecessary ovaries.
Watering
This culture is unpretentious in care, but needs periodic watering. The soil should not dry out... In the first week, the seedlings are acclimatized and during this period the seedlings should not be watered.
It is necessary to water the plant between rows or under roots... It is best to water in the early morning or late evening. Ash water is suitable for the procedure.
Top dressing
The plant is recommended to be fed three times per season... You can apply top dressing every two weeks until the fruits ripen. All fertilizers with a low nitrate content are suitable for feeding.
Young bushes need to grow and develop magnesium, and during the flowering period, the bushes need boron... With a lack of calcium, it is necessary to add preparations containing this element.
When adding mineral fertilizers, the agrochemical composition of the soil must be taken into account. Feeding begins on the 10th day after planting the seedlings. It is recommended to feed tomatoes for the second time on day 20.
Weeding
Tomato beds should be weeded regularly, and the soil should be loosened to obtain a rich harvest. Weeds should be actively controlled as they take up nutrients and moisture and create shade.
Garter bushes
Tomato bushes must be tied up so that they do not break from their own weight. In order for the bushes to take root for the garter, pegs are used, 1.2-1.5 m long. immediately landing field.
The pegs are driven into the ground from the north side of the plant. An indent of 10 cm is made from the stem.
In addition, it is necessary to carry out pinchingby removing unnecessary side shoots. It is recommended to do this in the morning.
Diseases and their prevention
Tomato variety Chocolate is characterized by good immunity. However, there is no need to relax and not carry out prevention against diseases, since the risk of infection still exists.
Basic recommendations for preventing infection:
- addition to soil ash or bone meal;
- daily alternating spraying of greens with a decoction of ash, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulfate and other inorganic fungicides.
And also with the help of pest control pests should be dealt with: aphids, ticks and cicadas.
Vegetable growers' reviews about chocolate tomato
Reviews about tomatoes of this variety are mostly positive. Everyone praises the extraordinary taste of the fruit and the high yield.
Valentina, Tatarstan
She grew tomatoes in the open field. Just a wonderful variety. Fruit juicy, sweet, meaty... Gathered an average crop.
Alexander, Omsk
He grew tomatoes in a greenhouse. I got the miracle seeds by accident. During this period, I have already planted another tomato seedlings. Collected very early harvest and rich of all planted varieties. Recomend for everybody. I will plant this variety constantly.
Tatiana, Gornozavodsk in the Perm region
She grew tomatoes in an open area. Alas, disappointed in this variety. The yield is 4 points from 5. But in terms of taste, the fruits were sour, watery and absolutely tasteless... The part of the fruit near the stalk remained green. However, next year I will try to plant Chocolate tomatoes again.
Marina, Kiev
She grew tomatoes in the open field. I was satisfied. The fruits are juicy and sweet. Perfect for fresh use. As well as made juice and adjika.
Nadezhda, Saint Petersburg
Growing striped chocolate in a greenhouse. Due to the rainy weather, the fruits were sour, watery... Gray rot and phytophthora were not noticed. Collected seeds because the ones bought in the store did not germinate well. I will try to plant next season.
Tomato Chocolate is a mid-season variety. It is not intended for long-term storage. In addition, green fruits should not be left to ripen. However, despite this, this variety is not in demand for care and has good taste. Subject to all recommendations, this variety will delight you with a rich harvest.