Each gardener wants to grow unusual, beautiful, and at the same time tasty fruits on his personal plot. Tomatoes are a very common vegetable and are present in almost all household farms. One of the selection of new products is considered to be a variety of tomato Chocolate. Next, try to figure out how to grow tomatoes of this variety in your garden, and also consider a detailed description and description.
Table of contents
Description and characteristics of tomato chocolate
This culture was developed by breeders in the 21st century. Fruits of a plant differ in an exotic color, and also high flavoring qualities.
Description bushes:
- Medium size, reach height 120-150cm.
- Root system: powerful with horizontal forks.
- Stalks are strong, require garters for high yields.
- Leaves: green color, medium size.
- Inflorescences: intermediate type.
Fruit Description:
- fruits are rounded, slightly oblate;
- weight on average 200-400 grams;
- color tomato: red-brown chocolate;
- pulp: fleshy, juicy.
Fruit not intended for long storage and in cooking they are used in salads, sauces, vegetable snacks, canned food.
According to the type of growth, this hybrid is a non-standard semi-determinant culture. This 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.
The advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The main difference of black varieties from other tomatoes is their taste. Chocolate endowed high sugar and because of the special ratio of the sugar-acid index, it has a pleasant taste.
Main advantages of a ground grade:
- Unpretentiousness in cultivation.
- Ease in cultivation.
- Bushes are medium in size.
- Disease resistance.
- High taste.
- An interesting kind of fruit.
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 transplanting. To plant seeds in a greenhouse should be earlier than 10 days.
Calculating the time of 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.
Preparing seeds and soil
Due to the fact that Chocolate is a hybrid variety, its seeds no need to disinfect, soak and temper.
At first they are sown in deep and larger containers, pre-filled with earth mixture. The latter can be purchased in stores or independently prepare.
For the preparation of the earth mixture:
- mix in equal amounts peat, humus and sod;
- Add 1 tbsp to the bucket of the mixture. a spoonful of ash;
- add 1 teaspoon of potash and phosphate fertilizer.
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
Directly on the day of sowing, the earth mixture is spread tightly in containers, to make shallow recesses. The interval between the grooves on average is 2 fingers. Seeds are thrown into these pits and then fall asleep.
Seedling care
Seedlings in tanks should be kept in a well-lit place with air temperature from +18 +25 degrees.
When sprouts appear in warm weather, the containers need to be carried outside. On the first day, take out for 5 minutes, and then every day, increase the time the seedlings stay in the open air for 5 minutes.
In addition, tomato sprouts need feeding. Feed the plant can be 1 time in 2 weeks.
After about 10 days, 2 leaflets appear on the sprouts. During this period it is necessary to hold picking and planting seedlings from large capacity to small containers. These can be pots or plastic cups. Planted seedlings carefully, along with the ground.
Transplanting
After a few weeks, floral brushes appear on the seedlings, and it is time to plant them in open areas. For high yield, this crop should be planted. in light soils with a neutral acid-base medium.
Soil preparation before planting seedlings:
- Soil loosening to the height of the shovel.
- Cover the place where the landing will be carried out, with black film, to warm the ground to +15 degrees.
- Fertilize in proportions of 3 kg per square meter.
Tomato seedlings are planted in the open ground approximately. in the end of May. Usually 3 bushes are planted per square meter.
Grade care after planting
After planting tomato Chocolate undemanding in the care. The main care is watering, feeding, weeding, garter.
In order to collect large fruits, it is necessary to follow the formation of the bush: to tie up in time, and also to remove unnecessary ovaries.
Watering
This culture is unpretentious care, but needs periodic watering. The soil should not dry out. The acclimatization of seedlings takes place in the first week and during this period the seedlings should not be watered.
Water the plant is necessary between rows or under roots. It is best to conduct watering in the early morning or late evening. Ash water is suitable for the procedure.
Top dressing
The plant is recommended to feed three times per season. You can feed once every two weeks until the fruits ripen. For fertilizing fit all fertilizers with low nitrate content.
Young bushes for growth and development is needed magnesium, and during the flowering period the bushes are needed boron. With a lack of calcium, it is necessary to make preparations containing this element.
Adding mineral fertilizers should take into account the agrochemical composition of the soil. Begin feeding on day 10 after transplanting. The second time to feed tomatoes is recommended for 20 days.
Weeding
Rows with tomatoes need to weed regularly, as well as loosen the soil to obtain a rich harvest. Weeds need to be actively controlled with weeds, as they take in nutrients and moisture, and also create shade.
Bushes garter
Tomato bushes must be tied up so that they do not break from their own weight. To make the bushes rooted for the garter, they use pegs that are 1.2–1.5 m long. immediately landing field.
The pegs are driven into the ground on the north side of the plant. From the stem indent by 10 cm.
In addition, it is necessary to conduct cradle, removing unwanted side shoots. It is recommended to do this in the morning.
Diseases and their prevention
Key recommendations for the prevention of infection:
- addition to soil ash or bone meal;
- daily alternating spraying of herbs with a decoction of ash, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, copper sulphate and other inorganic fungicides.
And also with the help of pest control should be dealt with pests: aphids, mites and cicadas.
Vegetable growers reviews about Tomato Chocolate
Reviews about tomatoes of this variety are mostly positive. All praise the unusual taste of the fruit and high yields.
Valentine, Tatarstan
Grown tomatoes in the open field. Just a great variety. Fruit juicy, sweet, meaty. Got an average harvest.
Alexander, Omsk
He grew tomatoes in the greenhouse. Miracle seeds acquired by chance. During this period, has planted another tomato seedlings. Collected very early harvest and rich of all planted varieties. Recomend for everybody. I will plant this variety constantly.
Tatyana, Gornozavodsk in the Perm Territory
Grown tomatoes in the open area.Alas, disappointed in this variety. Yields on 4 balls from 5. But by taste the fruits were sour, watery and absolutely tasteless. Part of the fruit near the stem remained green. However, I will try to plant chocolate tomatoes again next year.
Marina, Kiev
Grown tomatoes in the open field. I was pleased. Fruits picked juicy and sweet. Perfect for fresh use. And cooked juice and adjika.
Nadezhda, St. Petersburg
Grown in a greenhouse Striped chocolate. Because of the rainy weather, the fruits were sour, watery. It was not noticed gray rot and phytophtora. Gathered seeds because the store bought badly sprouted. I will try to plant next season.
Chocolate Tomato is a mid-season variety. It is not intended for prolonged storage. In addition, green fruit can not be left to ripen. However, despite this, this variety is unclaimed to care and has good taste. At observance of all recommendations this grade will please with a rich harvest.