The tomato variety Watermelon will definitely intrigue gardeners who like to grow original crops in the beds. And for farmers there is an interesting feature - the bushes planted in greenhouse conditions, according to the characteristics, give large fruits, the weight of which, according to the description, reaches five hundred grams.
Description of tomato Watermelon
The variety owes its name to the appearance of the tomatoes when they begin to ripen. Several dark stripes are clearly visible on them. The number of leaves is slightly above average, their shape is usual, the shade is green.
The plant is more intended for cultivation in the greenhouse... But in areas with warm climatic conditions, tomatoes can be bred in open beds.
The bushes are impressive in description, reaching a height of two meters. Naturally, you have to work with the variety, because it needs shaping and tying... But there is nothing difficult in this.
Summer residents like the tomato variety Watermelon because of its appearance and ability to produce excellent harvests. In addition, the bushes are excellent at resisting the most common diseases.
By maturity, the variety should be classified as medium early. The first harvests can be obtained one hundred and ten days after planting seedlings.
Fruit characteristics
Tomatoes are colored red, have a green shade of ribs located at the stalk. The shape of the tomatoes is somewhat flattened.
The average weight of tomatoes is 200 grams, but with proper care, larger specimens can be grown. The gardener gets from the bush from 3 kilograms of harvest... During ripening, the fruit may crack.
The fruits, according to the characteristics, are distinguished by excellent taste and aroma, can be stored for a long period. Inside, they consist of several chambers filled with seeds. The pulp is fleshy, excellent taste, juicy.
Tomatoes are great for use in fresh salads. Their unusual appearance and ability to survive during transportation are often the reasons why the culture grown commercially.
Breeding history and region of growth
The Watermelon variety owes its origin to the selection specialists of our country, who bred it and entered it into the State Register.
It can only be grown openly in areas located in the south of the country.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Positive signs include the following:
- unique appearance;
- excellent taste;
- long periods of fruiting.
As negative aspects, there are:
- obligatory garter plants;
- weakness of fruits, tendency to crack formation.
Planting seeds
As a rule, the seeds of tomatoes of the Watermelon variety are planted in Marchto start receiving the first fruits by mid-summer. The soil composition for seeds must be different neutral or slightly acidic.
Sowing is best done in separate containers or peat tablets filled with drained potting soil. The planting containers are covered with plastic wrap.
When the first sprouts appear, the boxes must be moved to a more illuminated place, periodically water the seedlings, loosening the ground and turning the boxes so that the seedlings do not bend. It will not be superfluous to apply complex fertilizing compositions.
Transplant seedlings no earlier than in forty daysafter hardening the seedlings. When landing, it is recommended to follow the scheme "40 by 60" centimetersto give the tomato bushes the space they need to grow. Placing the seedlings in a checkerboard pattern will allow you to easily navigate between bushes, performing garters or picking ripe tomatoes.
Before transplanting, the beds are dug up, spilled with special compounds from harmful parasites, holes are arranged at the rate for each square meter of area - no more than three bushes. Fertilizer, humus or a spoonful of ash, taken in equal proportions, are laid in each planting hole. Planting ends with watering.
During the growing season it is necessary loosen the soil, moisten it, remove weeds, apply fertilizers several times.
When watering, care must be taken that water does not get on the foliage and cause burns.
Reproduction methods
As already mentioned, the Watermelon variety is cultivated through seedlings. It is recommended to purchase planting material in specialized stores.
Features of this variety
The gardeners assure that there are no peculiarities in the cultivation of the Watermelon tomato. Like other tomato crops, this plant responds perfectly to the introduction of fertilizing compositions, loosening the soil on the surface of the beds, removing weeds, periodic watering, for which only warm water is used, pinching and tying to supporting pegs.
Watermelon has only one requirement - to soil composition... If you comply with all the conditions of agricultural technology, then you can enjoy delicious aromatic fruits until the first frost.
Watering should be done at the roots. To keep moisture in the soil longer, the beds are recommended mulch.
One of the main advantages of the Watermelon variety is the fact that several tomatoes ripen on one brush at the same time. For maximum yield, the bush formed into one stem and tied to a support.
Diseases and pests
The gardeners who grew such tomatoes confidently claim that the Watermelon variety perfectly resists late blight and fungus... But it will not be superfluous if, at an early stage of the growing season, the bushes are treated with special preparations for preventive purposes.
Wood ash, tobacco dust, special preparations will help from harmful parasites.
If you decide to grow this tomato variety, then until the very frost you will be provided with fresh tomatoes. Their care is minimal, there are no peculiarities. Tomato Watermelon is recommended for breeding even for novice gardeners.