Tomato is one of the must-have vegetables in the garden. There are a large number of seeds of various varieties and hybrids of tomatoes on the market, which differ in ripening time, fruit size, bush height, taste etc. In this review, we will talk about the Torbay tomato, with the description and characteristics of which can be found below.
Breeding history and growing region
In 2010, the Dutch company Bejo Zaden introduced the Torbay F1 tomato hybrid, which quickly gained popularity among gardeners. In our country, he passed State registration in 2012.
This hybrid is determinant, so the crop ripens in a shorter time, than indeterminate. Thanks to this, it can be grown even in regions with short summers.
In the southern regions, it can be grown in the open field; in order to obtain a good harvest in the middle lane, it is better to cover the bushes with a film. In the northern regions, tomatoes are grown in heated greenhouses and greenhouses.
Description of tomato Torbay
The main characteristics of the bush
Torbay tomatoes are medium early hybrids. From sowing seeds for seedlings to harvesting, 100-110 days pass. They can be grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. The height of the plant in open ground reaches 75-80 cm, and in greenhouses - up to 150 cm. About six fruits are formed in the brush. Tomatoes ripen together. Up to 6 kg of tomato can be harvested from one bush.
The plant is quite sprawling, therefore it requires molding.
Fruit characteristics
Ripe tomatoes take on a bright pink and raspberry color. At the beginning of the harvest, the weight of one fruit can reach up to 210g. Tomatoes have a sweet and sour taste. The fruits are formed in a flat-round shape with a slightly ribbed surface. Each tomato contains four or five seed chambers.
The fruits have a dense pulp and rind. Ripe tomatoes lack a green spot near the stalk.
Advantages and disadvantages
Hybrid advantages:
- resistant to most diseases;
- high-yielding hybrid;
- drought resistant;
- tomato can be transported long distances;
- fruits have a long shelf life (2-3 weeks);
- tomato do not crack;
- tomatoes are tall taste characteristics;
- simultaneous ripening of fruits.
Disadvantages of a hybrid:
- high stem, therefore requires a garter;
- sprawling bush, therefore requires molding.
Planting seeds
For seedlings, seeds are sown at the end of March.
Before planting, seeds must be treated with stimulants (if they have not been pre-processed).
Sowing preparation
- Select quality seeds. To do this, they are placed in a saline solution. The empty ones will float, and the full ones will sink to the bottom. Full seeds can be soaked.
- The seeds are soaked before planting. For this, seeds are poured onto a piece of cloth. Then it is tied in a knot. The bag is placed in warm (22-25 ° C water). Soaking is carried out within 3-4 days.
- After soaking seeds are disinfected within 15 minutes in a solution of potassium permanganate. For this, a 0.5-1% solution is prepared. Then they are necessarily washed in running water.
- Treatment biostimulants.
Treated seeds are sown in prepared soil. They are planted to a depth of about 15 mm. The soil should be warm, not lower than 20 ° C.
After the first true leaves appear, the seedlings dive. A pick is needed to create a powerful root system. Plants are removed from the soil and planted again. During this operation, part of the seedling roots is cut off. If the center root is very large, you can remove part of the root manually.
Seedlings grow for about 30 days. Then it can be planted in the ground. It is advisable to start hardening the plants a week before planting.
Transplanting seedlings into open ground
Plants are planted in open ground after the threat of frost has disappeared. Bushes are planted in 4 pieces. per 1 square meter or according to the scheme 30x60 cm.
The soil for growing tomatoes should be light with a neutral or slightly acidic reaction. If the soil is acidic, then it must first be liming.
Near each bush, you need to provide a system for tying plants.
Growing conditions
Caring for tomatoes consists of regular watering, pinching and garter.
The plant forms into one or two stems. If you grow a bush in one stem, then the fruits are larger. When the stepsons reach a length of 5 cm, they are removed. When removed, a small stump is left. In this case, the stepsons in this place will no longer grow.
It is advisable to mulch the soil. In this case, loosening of the soil around the bush is not required. The mulch should be at least 5 cm thick. In addition, this thickness prevents weeds from growing, and the ground under the mulch will be cool to the touch even in extreme heat.
Straw works best for mulch, but cut and dried weeds can be used.
Watering should be abundant enough. If the bushes are not mulched, then watering is performed every two days. If the soil is mulched, it can be done less frequently.
Plant feeding is also required.
Top dressing is performed three times per season: 1.5 weeks after planting, after flowering of the second cluster and after the beginning of fruit ripening.
Features of fruiting varieties
Hybrid Torbay F1 is characterized by amicable ripening and fruiting. The first tomatoes grow larger (up to 210 grams). The following fruits grow smaller.
Also, small tomatoes can grow if agricultural technology is not followed.
Diseases and their prevention
This hybrid is quite resistant to most diseases. The bushes are practically not affected by rot, fusarium, tomato mosaic, and are not subject to verticillary wilt.
Seedlings and mature plants can be affected by the black leg. The affected bushes are removed from the garden and burned. Tomatoes can also be affected by whiteflies, aphids, spider mites and Colorado potato beetles.
To combat insects, special chemicals are used.
This hybrid can be recommended for growing not only for amateur vegetable growers, but also for farmers for industrial production of vegetables.