Recently, we have not heard anything about the Banana tomato variety. But a newcomer to the market for gardening quickly gained popularity due to the fact that it was zoned specifically for the middle lane. These tomatoes give excellent yields, bear fruit well both in greenhouses and in the open field. To date, several varieties of banana tomatoes are known, which differ mainly in the color of the fruits. The description and characteristics of this variety are given below.
Description and characteristics of the variety of tomatoes Banana
The unpretentious and easily cultivated banana tomato is found in three varieties:
- red;
- yellow;
- pink.
Surprisingly, the most widespread is the red Banana... It belongs to the early varieties and can yield a harvest already 95 days after germination. The bushes are not tall, but under certain conditions, their height can exceed 1 meter. Up to 10 rather large fruits are formed on each cluster.
A distinctive characteristic of the variety is that it tolerates short-term drought and heat well. A sharp drop in temperature is also not scary for Banana. The gardeners noted that these tomatoes have increased resistance to late blight, which is another positive quality.
The fruits are oblong, dense, fleshy. Ideal for both fresh consumption and canning. The weight of one fruit can vary from 50 to 100 grams... It tolerates transportation well, has excellent keeping quality. The color of both red and pink and yellow Bananas is uniform, very beautiful. Thanks to this, tomatoes have a good presentation and are suitable for trade.
Advantages and disadvantages
With a careful study of the characteristics and reviews, it becomes obvious that the Banana tomato variety has much more advantages than disadvantages. First of all, this should include:
- excellent seed germination;
- good transplant tolerance;
- does not need tying up;
- amicably blooms;
- fruits are almost the same size and shape;
- sustainability to major diseases and weather conditions.
But there are also some disadvantages. They are connected, first of all, with taste. As practicing gardeners note, the Banana tomato variety is somewhat dry, which is why the taste of the fruit is bland and not pronounced. But in conservation, it deserves a lot of praise.
Soil requirements for planting
The banana tomato prefers loose and nutritious soil for good growth. For seedlings, you can purchase ready-made soil mixture For tomatoes. But the soil prepared by yourself must also be disinfected so that all pathogens of fungal diseases die. For this purpose, the prepared soil is calcined in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Sowing rules
Tomato seeds are sown in peat pots or other containers suitable for this purpose. You need to sow a couple of months before the seedlings are planned to be transplanted to a permanent place of growth.
In the prepared soil, a deepening is made for a couple of centimeters, no more. If it is deeper, the seeds will germinate for a very long time. After that, sowing is carried out and the container is covered with polyethylene or glass. This will create a greenhouse climate.
After sowing, tomatoes should be provided with long-term bright lighting. The room temperature should be maintained at + 20-25 degrees. Watering is carried out as the soil dries.
Sowing must be periodically ventilated and moisture stagnant must not be allowed. Otherwise, there will be more harm than drying out.
Transplanting tomatoes into open ground
Tomatoes are planted in open ground after the threat of night frosts has passed and the night temperature is stably fixed at a positive thermometer mark. Plants are transplanted so that 4 bushes are placed on 1 square meter.
Before planting seedlings in the garden, it must be hardened. For this purpose, the boxes are taken out daily for a couple of weeks. The first time in the open air they are left for an hour, and then gradually increase the time and bring it to a full day. For landing, choose a sunny place protected from the wind.
Variety care after transplanting
After planting in the garden, tomatoes need some care. Watering them should be carried out at the root, trying not to wet the leaves. Its frequency directly depends on how quickly the soil dries out on the site. It is best to carry out this procedure in the morning or in the evening. You should try to apply fertilizers every 2 weeks.
Weeding - also a necessary measure of care for banana tomatoes. To prevent fungal diseases, the soil is periodically treated with fungicidal preparations.
If the need arises, the grown plants can be tied up. But in no case should you pull the stem at the same time, otherwise fruiting will never come.
Diseases and their prevention
The banana tomato is resistant to late blight disease, but the breeders did not take care of resistance to other fungal diseases. That is why the soil in the tomato garden must be treated with fungicides.
Cladosporium is a dangerous disease. If preventive measures are not taken in time, then the bush can completely die. The main preventive measures are pre-sowing seed treatment and preventive treatment with fungicides. Bordeaux mixture is a good disinfectant that can help fight many diseases and pests on the site.
Tomatoes can be affected by pests such as whiteflies. It is she who causes colossal harm to plants. To combat it, it is good to use the drug Commander or Iskra.
Tomato harvest and storage rules
The harvest of banana tomatoes is carried out as the fruits ripen. As a rule, they keep pace with each other and almost simultaneously. To collect a larger amount of the crop, brown (or slightly yellowed, depending on the species) fruits are also plucked. In a few days they will perfectly mature in the sun. The taste will be exactly the same as that of a tomato ripe on a bush. Harvesting is stopped by the time the outside temperature is set at +5 degrees or threats of cold rains appear. By this time, you must try to collect all the fruits, and pull out the tops.
Store banana tomatoes in wooden boxes. They are laid there in rows, selecting not overripe fruits of good quality. After that, the box is sent to a cool non-residential area. The shelf life is about a couple of months, but under good conditions the harvest could be maintained for 3 months.
Conclusion
The banana tomato is ideal for growing in the middle lane. Summer residents are simply delighted with this variety and are happy to recommend it for growing to all gardeners. Despite the fact that these tomatoes are not very suitable for the production of tomato juice, in canning and for fresh consumption, they are just perfect. And it is not difficult to grow a Banana, since the culture is unpretentious and resistant to pests and diseases.