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The controversy over the so-called purple, or blue, tomatoes continues on the Internet. But the "blue" selection is gradually finding increasing favor with gardeners due to the taste, the stability of the varieties and the beneficial properties of tomatoes. It is these varieties that the Blue Lagoon tomato belongs to. What are its unique qualities - in detail in the article.
Description of tomato variety
The Blue Lagoon tomato variety is classified as tall, or indeterminate, it was bred by breeders specifically for growing in closed ground, film greenhouses. The originator of the Blue Lagoon variety is the Moscow company "Gavrish"; in 2018, the variety was included in the State Register of the Russian Federation and recommended for cultivation in all regions of the country. The manufacturing company focuses on the fact that obtaining the variety was associated with traditional breeding methods, therefore it is not GMO.
The Blue Lagoon tomato has a thick stem. The plant of this variety has a powerful branched root system. Tomato leaves are small, their color is dark green. The foliage of the bush is medium.
In terms of ripening, the Blue Lagoon variety is classified as mid-early: the time for the appearance of ripe fruits from the moment of germination is 100 - 120 days.
Description of the fruit (shape, color, size, weight, area of application of the fruit)
The fruits of the Blue Lagoon variety on the bush are strewn with bunches, the tomatoes are flat-round, from 6 to 8 pcs. from each brush. The mass of tomatoes ranges from 160 to 190 g.
Ripe tomatoes are sweetish in taste, with an aroma rich in light fruity notes.
By design, the Blue Lagoon variety is classified as a salad. The fruits are recommended to be consumed both fresh in salads and in pickles.
The Blue Lagoon tomatoes owe their unusual blue color to anthocyanin pigments. It is their presence that gives the purple-blue color to eggplants, blueberries and blue cabbage. The increased interest in tomatoes of atypical color is associated not only with color, but also with their medicinal capabilities.
The high content of anthocyanins in tomatoes was achieved through long-term selection in order to enhance their antioxidant properties to increase the protective ability against free radicals. It helps with the development of cancer, problems of the cardiovascular system, senile dementia.
The advantages of blue fruits are also an increase in their shelf life up to two times, compared to red ones, and also the fact that the activity of enzymes involved in softening the skin during ripening is reduced.
Thus, the fruits of the Blue Lagoon tomato are suitable for long distance transportation.
Determination of the ripeness of the fruits of the variety is carried out on the tip: its yellow color indicates the onset of a phase of technical ripeness, and red - biological.
Main characteristics
Since the Blue Lagoon variety is classified as an indeterminate plant by type, this means that it has no growth restrictions, therefore it needs to be formed and tied to a support.
The resistance of the Blue Lagoon variety to diseases is also associated with a high content of anthocyanins, which can reduce the softening of fruits when they are overripe. This, in turn, increases the plant's resistance to such a typical nightshade disease as gray rot (Botrytis cinerea).
The fact is that infection with gray mold fungus contributes to an "oxidative explosion" in the soft tissues of the fruit. In purple tomatoes, due to their antioxidant capacity, such an oxidative reaction is localized and, thanks to this, the containment of the spread of the fungus.
The photo demonstrates the experimentally established susceptibility of red areas of fruits, where the key enzyme of anthocyanins is absent, to softening and gray mold damage:
The prevention of gray rot and late blight, necessary in any case, is carried out with special preparations according to the instructions.
Tomato yield Blue Lagoon
The yield of the Blue Lagoon variety is characterized as high and with regular watering and feeding is 10-12 kg per bush.
From the appearance of the first shoots in March to the beginning of the harvest in July, 3.5 - 4 months pass.
Purple tomato varieties are able to bear fruit until autumn: from July to the end of August.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the Blue Lagoon tomato variety are:
- disease resistance;
- pleasant, without sourness, with notes of fruit taste of tomatoes;
- the ability of fruits to be stored for a long time;
- high content of antioxidants;
- ideal characteristics for canning.
The relative disadvantages of the Blue Lagoon variety can be:
- intended only for cultivation in greenhouses;
- some difficulties in determining ripeness.
In general, the improved characteristics of the Blue Lagoon tomato variety achieved by the selection methods are their undoubted advantage.
Planting and care rules
The rules of agricultural technology for the Blue Lagoon tomatoes are to carry out the following activities:
- The quality of the seedlings must be high.
- You should not save on space: the bushes will grow well with enough space.
- Periodic hilling of tomatoes will create conditions for sufficient air flow to the roots.
- Regular watering. Young seedlings require a daily regimen, and for adult plants, one to three times a week, depending on the humidity of the air. Water the plants under the root, while avoiding wetting the leaves.
- The need for support. The indeterminate bush of the Blue Lagoon variety requires a garter to the trellis, otherwise the development and fruiting of the plant will be difficult.
- Regular feeding. Tomatoes should be fertilized with humus, ash, chicken manure solution.
Sowing seeds for seedlings
The term for sowing seeds of the Blue Lagoon variety for seedlings is the end of February - the beginning of March, about 45 days before planting.
For planting, the seed is soaked in water with the addition of potassium permanganate and kept for 10-15 minutes. This procedure helps disinfect seeds and separate empty seeds from full ones: the seeds that have sunk to the bottom are wrapped in a damp cloth and left until they give the first shoots.
Prepare the soil for seeds with the inclusion of:
- 2 parts of peat;
- 1 part of garden land;
- 1 part humus or compost;
- 0.5 parts of sand.
In addition, additives are introduced into the composition:
- wood ash - 1 tbsp.;
- urea - 10 g;
- superphosphate - 30 g;
- potash fertilizer - 10 g.
The soil mixture is sieved, disinfected by calcining, processing with a manganese solution.
After the sprouts from seeds reach 3 - 5 mm (approximately in a week), they are planted in a prepared container. For sowing, disinfected containers from cassettes, boxes, cups, pots, pots, boxes are used, and peat cups are also used.The approximate date is mid-March. The containers are filled with soil by more than a third, the seeds with sprouts are placed and covered with a layer of earth of 2 cm. The top is covered with foil or glass.
The glasses are left at an air temperature of 22 ℃ and a humidity of about 80%. The best place in the apartment would be a place next to the heating system. The time of emergence of the first shoots is about a week.
When the first shoots of the Blue Lagoon tomato appear, the film or glass is removed. Seedlings are provided with additional lighting for 16 hours daily, usually with fluorescent lamps. The soil must be moistened as it dries.
The pick is carried out in the phase of the first true leaf. For this, the plants are thinned out and transplanted into additional containers.
You can clearly see how to grow tomato seedlings in the video:
Transplanting seedlings
After a month and a half, the seedlings of the Blue Lagoon tomato variety will give the first flower clusters, and after another 10 to 12 days, in late April-early May, they are planted in a greenhouse. Thus, it takes two months from sowing seeds to planting seedlings. After a few days, the plants will need a garter.
Seedlings of the variety are considered to be of high quality if they have strong stems, large leaves, developed roots and developed buds.
The soil for planting tomato Blue Lagoon is a mixture of peat and garden soil.
For disembarkation, choose a non-sunny day and follow the algorithm:
- Dig up a layer of soil to a depth of 25 - 30 cm.
- The holes are formed according to the scheme 40x60 cm.
- The seedlings are placed in the holes, burying its stems in the soil by 2 cm.
- Dig in and lightly press into the ground at the base.
- Watered with warm, settled water.
Tomato care
After the tomatoes reach half a meter in height, they are tied up, the support is well strengthened for reliability. The formation of an indeterminate bush is carried out in one stem, with the removal of all stepsons and lower leaves, and at the end of the growing season, the growth point is pinched.
Stepsons 5 cm long are broken out or cut out with a disinfected knife. The procedure should be repeated at least once every two weeks.
Basic requirements for the further care of the Blue Lagoon bushes:
- the frequency of watering per week is 1 - 2 times, in the morning or in the evening;
- in the greenhouse, tomatoes must be provided with a good ventilation system;
- the recommended mode of humidity should not exceed 70%, temperature - 16 - 18 ℃.
After 1.5 weeks from the moment of planting, feeding is carried out, for which granular superphosphates are used, you can also use a solution of chicken manure. The second feeding is carried out after 2 weeks after the first.
To ensure a uniform blue color of the fruit, the brushes are lightened half a month before harvest. The procedure for lightening the bush consists in cutting out the leaves located in the shade: both in the depths of the bushes and facing to the north: in this way, the ventilation of the plants is improved. Ignoring this procedure can lead to partial staining of the tomatoes or the absence of blue pigmentation: the fruits will be red.
Conclusion
Tomato Blue Lagoon is an original variety with a violet-blue color and improved breeding characteristics.The high content of anthocyanin pigments in fruits provides disease resistance, keeping quality and beneficial antioxidant properties of tomatoes for the body.
