Growing tomatoes in the garden for any gardener is a fascinating and informative process. There is an opportunity to experiment and bring something more, more rational. It is even more interesting to try cultivating a vegetable right on the windowsill of a house.. Among the wide range of varieties of many varieties of dwarf plants. One of these representatives is tomato Bonsai, the description and characteristics of which are presented below.
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Description and characteristics of tomato bonsai
The Bonsai variety (Banzai) is distinguished by the small size of a bush, whose height barely reaches half a meter (usually 25-35 cm). This gives the ability to grow fruits at home (on the windowsill, balcony). However, the possibility of cultivation in the open field is not excluded. Agrotechnology does not contain difficult conditions, there is no need for stading. Vegetation - 85-90 days.
The appearance of the bush has an aesthetic value, a beautiful overlap of green with red dots adds to the design of natural features. However, in addition to the beauty of the fruit have excellent taste. Productivity varieties high, with one bush removed 1-1,7 kg of tomatoes. The average weight of a tomato is 35-55 grams; a good tomato flavor is noted during tasting. Vegetable is ideal for different salads, saturate the dish with freshness or become an ornament.
Advantages and disadvantages
Growing tomatoes Bonsai has several advantages:
- high yield, about 2 kg of fruits can be collected from a compact bush;
- the plant brings natural freshness to the interior thanks to beautiful shapes and color contrasts (thick greens are literally lined with small red tomatoes);
- simple agrotechnology, the bush does not need to be tied up;
- from planting to harvest passes about 98 days;
- You can eat vegetables at the time when tomatoes have long been collected from the beds;
- the place for culture is chosen well lit, but whether it is shading or direct sunlight the role does not play.
The main advantage of the variety lies in the possibility of cultivating it both at home and in the open field.
There are no obvious flaws in Bonsai, except that the plant is slightly capricious to watering. The peculiarity of crops grown on the windowsill is the difficulty of creating favorable conditions with centralized heating.
Landing time
Planted seeding at the end of February or early March. Upon reaching the seedling age 55 days you can prepare for a transplant. It is usually performed in early May, but given that the culture is grown at home, the time allowed to shift by 2-4 weeks.
Soil preparation for tomatoes
The soil for tomatoes should not be heavy, as an option to use a universal substrate from the hardware store. A self-prepared mixture of the following components is also suitable:
- fertile soil;
- wood ash;
- peat;
- river sand.
After thorough mixing the soil needs to be decontaminated weak solution of potassium permanganate.
Seed preparation for planting
Many gardeners are of the opinion that the seeds of hybrids bought in bags do not need special preparation. Disinfecting seed should be in cases of acquiring it from strangers.
Routine preparation includes moistening the seeds and wrapping them in a damp napkin. After 1-2 days, the seeds will be ready for planting.
Landing
Seeds are laid in boxes with moistened soil mixture. Works are planned for February - March. Filled containers even a few days before seeding watered with warm water. This should be done in small portions by spraying. The seeds are buried in the ground on 0,8-1 cm, the surface is lightly sprinkled with earth, the top is covered with film or glass. You should not put more than 2-3 seeds in a plastic cup. Shoots appear after 5-6 days. Of the sprouts that appear, leave one of the strongest ones, which must then be pinned.
Ready seedlings should be transplanted into separate pots, the capacity of which is 5-7 liters. At the bottom of the containers used should be drainage holes, which will ensure that the excess moisture from the soil. Approximately the fourth part of the hill is filled with expanded clay or other drainage, after which the soil mix is poured. Before planting seedlings need to moisten the hole.
In addition to home growing some gardeners planted seedlings in open ground.Seeding is performed in early March. In small plastic cups filled with a moistened substrate, put 3 seeds and cover the surface with film. Through 55-60 days the seedlings will be ready for transplant, this period falls on the end of May. For early harvest should be planted in early May, but the beds must be covered with foil to protect against frost. When disembarking a scheme is used: 70x30 cm (7-9 plants per 1m2). The bed must be well lit, without shading.
Features care and cultivation varieties
To install the pot is better to pick up the window sill from the south or south-east side. This will provide the plant with good light. With a lack of light, it is recommended to install fluorescent lamps.
It is enough to water the crop once a week, leaves may turn yellow or fungus from the abundance of moisture. When the air temperature rises, the number of procedures increases up to 2-3 times a week. Before the flowering period, foliage can be additionally sprayed with water at room temperature.
At the stage of gaining strength, the plant needs nitrogen fertilizers, and in the formation of fruits, potash fertilizers.During the growing season, 3-4 supplements are administered.
Ganging a grade the Bonsai does not demand. However, to increase the yield should be before the flowering to remove the top of the stem.
Pollination Rules
The plant copes with pollination on its own, but it will be helpful. To do this, lightly shake the branches during the flowering period every 3-4 of the day It will not be superfluous to water after the procedure, so that the pollen sprouts on the stigma of the pistil.
A beautiful colored bush on the windowsill will not only decorate your home, but also allow you to enjoy the taste of fresh tomatoes in late autumn or even in winter.