Characteristics and description of the Rapunzel tomato variety, its yield
Rapunzel is a young tomato variety that is actively winning the hearts of gardeners. Got its popularity for the possibility of breeding on the balcony and loggia. Tomatoes resist fungal diseases well and are highly productive.
Variety characteristics
The Rapunzel tomato is an indeterminate tomato species. The first description of the variety appeared in 2014. Bushes of plants differ in height, reaching 240 centimeters. Tomatoes are a hybrid variety.
Rapunzel is an early ripe species. The ripening period of the crop is about 80 days. Plants are suitable for planting in greenhouses, greenhouses, open ground, on the balcony. Plants prefer well-lit areas with acidic or slightly acidic soil. High humidity and low temperatures can lead to a lack of crops.
Rapunzel tomato is characterized by small rounded fruits. They resemble cherry tomatoes. The skin is shiny, bright red. The pulp is juicy and has a sweet taste. From 20 to 40 tomatoes ripen on one brush. The arrangement of the tomatoes is compact.
The characteristics of the variety indicate its table purpose. The fruits are intended for fresh consumption. Great for salads. They are characterized by poor keeping quality.
Growing features
Given the description, Rapunzel tomatoes are light-requiring. Plants prefer sunny areas with acidic or slightly acidic soil.
Tomatoes are planted with seedlings in the spring, when the threat of frost has completely passed. Plants are placed in a hole more than 10 centimeters deep. A deep planting gives the Rapunzel tomato bushes a lot of resistance. The distance between seedlings is at least 40 centimeters. As they grow, the bushes are tied up. To increase yields, plants are pruned. On each form 1 - 2 stems.
Tomatoes need regular watering, which is done every 2 to 3 days as the topsoil dries out. In addition to regular watering, tomatoes require feeding. During the period of fruit ripening, it is produced every 2 weeks. Complex formulations and slurry are used as fertilizers.
Rapunzel tomatoes coexist well with crops such as carrots, lemon balm, thyme, asparagus. The presence of marigolds and nasturtium in the garden or in the greenhouse allows you to avoid infection of plants with diseases.
Seedling preparation
Seeds are used to breed the variety. To obtain high-quality seedlings, they are sown in early March. Seeds suggest early sowing when planting plants in hotbeds and greenhouses. With prolonged frosts and temperate climates in the region, seed germination can be postponed until early April.
Before sowing, the seeds are prepared:
- The seeds are sorted by immersion in a saline solution. All floating units are discarded.
- The seed is pickled with a solution of potassium permanganate, boric acid or chemicals.
- For better germination, the seeds are hardened. To do this, they are placed in water that covers half of the grains. After that, within 1 - 2 weeks, the temperature regime is alternated day and night in the range of 16 - 20 and 0 - 2 degrees.
Seedlings are grown in special containers that are filled with nutritious soil. The soil must be well moistened. If soil from a garden plot is used, it is recommended that it be calcined or treated with disinfecting compounds. Seeds are sown on the surface of the soil and sprinkled with a layer of 3 to 4 millimeters.
For successful germination indoors, temperature and light conditions are observed. The backlight is carried out for 12 hours. The air temperature should be between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
Seedlings are dived when 3 leaves appear. As the plant grows, it is possible to harden the seedlings, which consists in a gradual decrease in the air temperature at night.
Breeding at home
The lack of a garden area and a closed greenhouse is not a reason to abandon the cultivation of Rapunzel tomatoes. This variety is great for balcony cultivation. The main task is to create suitable conditions for the formation and ripening of a bountiful harvest.
Before growing tomatoes on the balcony, it is necessary to assess the temperature and illumination. If there is not enough light, additional lighting with lamps will be required. To obtain a crop in winter, it may be necessary to additionally heat the premises.
When growing tomatoes on the balcony, a number of nuances are taken into account.
- For plants, volumetric containers are used, which allow the development of a powerful root system.
- Containers with grown plants are regularly turned. This allows you to improve the illumination of the brushes with fruits and reduce the damage to the plant by fungal diseases.
- To ensure maximum ovary, gently shake the flower brushes on the plant.
- Watering the plants is done more often. This is due to the drier air on the balcony.
- The limited amount of soil requires frequent fertilizing, which are performed once a week from the moment the plants dive. Complex formulations are used for feeding. It is important to adhere to the feeding schedule during the period of fruit setting and ripening.
In general, the rules for growing tomatoes on a loggia do not differ from caring for plants in a greenhouse or open ground. A detailed description of the variety allows you to calculate the timely sowing of seedlings to obtain a harvest throughout the year.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Rapunzel tomatoes have a lot of advantages over other varieties:
- Resistance to various types of diseases. The fruits and greens of plants are well resistant to the effects of various types of pests.
- High productivity. This parameter is due to the abundant ovary and a high degree of fruit ripening. About 20 small fruits are formed on one brush.
- Good taste characteristics. The fruit resembles cherry tomatoes. They have a delicate sweetish taste.
There are no obvious flaws in the variety. Experts say that tomatoes have a short shelf life. They do not differ in keeping quality. For most gardeners, these are the characteristics of the variety. Numerous reviews of gardeners indicate a number of difficulties in purchasing seeds. Despite the high taste and yield characteristics, tomato seeds are not always found in direct sale.
