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Increasingly, gardeners prefer yellow or orange tomato varieties and this is absolutely justified by their beneficial properties. So, several years ago, American scientists proved that tetra-cis-lycopene contained in orange tomatoes slows down the aging process of the human body. These vegetables also contain a large amount of carotene, minerals and vitamins, which often exceeds the content of similar trace elements in red fruits. Orange tomatoes do not cause allergies and can be used not only by adults, but also by children. Distinctive characteristics of yellow tomatoes and became the reason for their widespread distribution. At the same time, the assortment of orange varieties is large, and it can be quite difficult to choose one good variety.
Today we invite our readers to get acquainted with the Orange Heart tomato, the description of the variety and its characteristics.
Detailed description of the orange variety
Tomatoes "Orange Heart" were bred by Russian breeders relatively recently. They quickly gained recognition from farmers due to their unpretentiousness and excellent fruit characteristics. Resistance to various climatic conditions made it possible to grow orange tomatoes in all regions, from the south to the north of the country.
Plant information
Tomatoes "Orange Heart" are indeterminate, strongly leafy. Tall bushes of this variety grow up to 2 meters or more, requiring careful shaping and a reliable garter.
It is recommended to form orange heart tomato bushes into two stems. The experience of farmers shows that it is this method that allows you to get the maximum crop yield. The process of such formation is described in detail in the video:
The leaves of the Orange Heart tomatoes are powerful, dark green. They are formed in large quantities on the trunk of the plant. The lower ones must be removed every 10-15 days (3-4 sheets at a time). This will help to correctly distribute nutrients in the plant's body, increase the yield of tomatoes and reduce the likelihood of developing diseases.
The root system of tomatoes is powerful. It requires a large area for its successful development and nutrition of tomatoes, therefore breeders recommend planting no more than two bushes per 1 m2 land.
Tomato inflorescences appear every 2-3 leaves. The first of them is formed in the 7-8 sinus. Each flower-bearing brush contains 3-6 simple flowers. Ovaries are formed, as a rule, successfully, providing a consistently high yield of tomatoes.
Characteristics of tomatoes
Tomatoes "Orange Heart" not without reason got their name: their shape is heart-shaped, and the color is orange. The compliance of this description with external characteristics can be assessed by looking at the following photo:
The heart-shaped form of tomatoes is complemented by a number of ribs at the stalk and a pointed tip. The skin of these tomatoes is thin and tender. The inner flesh contains a large amount of dry matter and very few seeds. The aroma of vegetables is bright and rich. The taste of tomatoes is dominated by sweetness and there is a subtle sourness.
Orange heart-shaped tomatoes are large. Their average weight is 150-200 g.The very first fruits ripen weighing up to 300 g. Tomatoes grown in especially favorable conditions can reach the same record figures.
Excellent-tasting tomatoes can be used in fresh snacks, pasta and winter preparations. Vegetables are also suitable for baby food. The juice from the Orange Heart tomatoes turns out to be very sweet.
It is worth noting that Orange Heart tomatoes can also be grown commercially. Slightly immature tomatoes are characterized by good keeping quality and transportability. The presentation of such fruits remains for a long time.
Crop yield
The ripening period of the Orange Heart tomatoes is 110-120 days. This is exactly how much time is needed so that from the day of emergence you can enjoy ripe tomatoes. The fruiting process of the variety is long and in favorable conditions can continue until the onset of frost. In the open field, it will be possible to remove ripe tomatoes of this variety for 40-60 days.
For the entire period of fruiting, each bush of tomatoes "Orange Heart" gives the farmer from 6 to 10 kg of tomatoes. At the same time, the yield indicator can change both up and down, depending on external factors, soil fertility, compliance with the rules of cultivation. In general, it should be noted that the Orange Heart variety is very grateful and always responds positively to the care shown by the farmer.
Disease resistance
One of the advantages of the Orange Heart variety is the high degree of protection of tomatoes from common diseases. And many farmers are confident that genetic immunity is able to withstand even the most powerful attacks of viruses, fungi and bacteria. In fact, this is not entirely true, because the immune defense cannot independently cope with aggressive ailments, in conditions favorable for microorganisms. That is why you need to remember the following rules:
- Loosening, timely weeding, mulching of the soil are the main preventive methods of combating diseases.
- Watering tomatoes should be carried out regularly, while avoiding stagnant moisture.
- When planting tomatoes, you need to take into account the recommendations of crop rotation.
- The optimal conditions for the growth and fruiting of tomatoes are temperatures at the level of + 23- + 260С and humidity of the order of 50-700C. To maintain such a microclimate, you need to regularly ventilate the greenhouse.
- For the prevention of diseases, you can use special biological products or folk remedies. For example, in the fight against common late blight, fungicides, copper-containing preparations, or an iodine solution can be used.
- In the fight against pests, you can use herbal infusions (celandine, wormwood), ammonia solution or soap solution.
Growing Orange Heart tomatoes, it is worth remembering that only a complex of preventive measures in combination with the natural immunity of this variety will help protect plants from the most common and dangerous diseases. At the same time, regular and thorough inspection of the bushes, if necessary, will help to quickly detect the problem and eliminate it.
Advantages and disadvantages
Tomatoes of the proposed orange variety have a lot of significant advantages, which include:
- Excellent taste and aroma of tomatoes, their meatiness.
- The original appearance of tomatoes.
- High content of vitamins, acids, minerals and fiber in the composition of the product.
- Good yield of vegetables.
- Transportability of tomatoes and their suitability for long-term storage.
- Genetic resistance to disease.
- Highly sensitive varieties to fertilizing, which allows you to further increase the yield of the crop.
The only drawback, or rather a feature of the variety, is the need to form indeterminate bushes, regularly removing stepchildren and powerful lower leaves from them. It is worth noting that such a care feature is typical for all indeterminate varieties.
Tips for farmers
Growing orange tomatoes is not difficult at all if you know exactly how to do it right. And the cultivation technology for the proposed variety is as follows:
- At the end of February or in mid-March (for greenhouses and open ground, respectively), sow tomato seeds for seedlings, having previously treated them with disinfectants and growth stimulants.
- Seeds can be sown in a common container or in separate pots. It is necessary to deepen the grains by 1-1.5 cm.
- It is recommended to water the seedlings from a spray bottle so as not to wash the sealed seeds.
- With the appearance of 2 true leaves, young plants, if necessary, dive into separate containers.
- 1-2 weeks after picking, the seedlings need to be fed with organic matter or complex fertilizer with a high nitrogen content.
- At the age of 60-65 days, tomato seedlings can be planted in the ground, but before that you need to feed the plants with potassium and phosphorus for the development of the root system.
- You need to plant tomatoes on a garden bed 2-3 bushes for every 1 m2 soil.
- After 2 weeks after planting, the tomatoes need to be fed again.
- Form 2-stem plants at the stage of active growth.
The given growing rules are pretty simple. They also act during the cultivation of not only this variety, but also all other indeterminate tomatoes with an average period of fruit ripening. It should be remembered that orange tomatoes actively respond to feeding, and an excessive amount of fertilizer can harm the plants. In order not to harm tomatoes, you need to monitor their condition and signals about a lack (excess) of a particular substance.
Conclusion
Tomatoes "Orange Heart" deserve the attention of beginners and already experienced farmers. They are very tasty, healthy and have an interesting, bright appearance. They have a lot of advantages and are practically devoid of disadvantages. They can be successfully grown in greenhouses and open beds, and the harvest will be abundant in any case. Large tomatoes can be successfully served on the table for adults and children, canned for the winter or stored. At the same time, one thing is known for sure: delicious vegetables will not be lost, because they have many admirers.
Just a delicious variety of tomatoes. The first fruits weighing more than 600 grams were obtained. Very bright taste. Meaty. Grown in open ground, did not calculate the height))) very high! Now it is the most favorite variety. Other tomatoes after these seem tasteless.