Description and Cultivation of Tomato Variety Virginia Candy
The name of the tomatoes "Virginia Sweets" is translated as sweets, or Virginia sweets. The description of the taste of tomatoes is fully consistent with the name. Gardeners who have already tested the variety on their plots leave rave reviews about the taste characteristics of tomatoes. Everyone talks about the excellent taste, somewhat reminiscent of a peach, and the complete absence of sour tomato aftertaste.
It is for this that it is recommended for cultivation, although the variety, bred in the USA, is thermophilic and demanding in care.
Main characteristics
Cultivation of the variety in the conditions of central Russia is recommended only in greenhouses. This is how its varietal characteristics look:
- a variety with a growing season of 90-115 days, which allows it to be classified as mid-season;
- medium leafy bush, not limited in growth, reaches a height of 180-240 cm;
- ordinary leaf, smooth, the first raceme is formed over 9-12 leaves;
- the plant requires the timely removal of stepsons, the formation of a bush in 1-2 stems, pinching of the growth point, a garter to the support;
- fruits are large, weighing 300-500 g, flat-round shape, with well-defined ribbing;
- the color of the fruits is yellow-orange with pink stripes and spills;
- the pulp is two-colored, lemon-yellow with pink blotches, very juicy, excellent sweet taste;
- fruits for salad purposes, but can be used in winter preparations in a crushed form;
- the yield is average and largely depends on the light regime and care.
The peculiarity of the variety is its responsiveness to heat, timely watering, and high-quality care. The fruits are prone to cracking and do not last too long. But the taste is rated by everyone as a solid five, which is the main characteristic for salad varieties. There are examples of successful cultivation of the Virginia Candy tomato, when the fruits reached almost a kilogram weight. Sweet lettuce tomatoes are already recognized by our gardeners.
Growing features
This thermophilic tall variety is grown according to traditional rules. But if you want to pick tomatoes before the onset of frost, which usually begins in the last decade of August, then you need to plant the plants a little earlier. In addition, in the column about the germination of the variety, the manufacturer indicates the terms of 7-14 days.
- Preparation and sowing of seeds begins 60-65 days before the planned planting in a permanent place. Seedlings dive with the appearance of 2 permanent leaves. It is important to maintain a balance of light and temperature, preventing the seedlings from overgrowing.
- Plants are planted in a permanent place when the danger of return frosts has passed. Planting pattern 60 x 60 cm. Planting density depends on how many trunks you intend to form the variety. When grown in one stem, it is allowed to plant up to 4 plants per 1 sq. m. The stem must be tied to a reliable support or trellis.
- This variety allows the formation of 2-3 stems. This is due to the fact that only 3-4 large fruits are laid on one hand. With this option, 1 sq. m. area accommodate no more than 3 plants.
- In indeterminate varieties, which include the Virginia Sweets tomato, flowering and fruit formation are slower due to the intensive growth of lateral shoots. Each stepson strives to form his own flower bud. This non-stop process takes a lot of energy from the plant.
- For earlier ripening of the variety, it is important to remove all lateral shoots and defective ovaries in time, which slow down the growth of the main stem and the maturation of the formed fruits. After laying 4-5 brushes, the growth point should be limited.
- Every 2-3 weeks, fertilizing is carried out, the composition of which is determined by the stage of development and the state of the plant. At the initial stage, you need to provide the bush with the required amount of phosphorus. From the moment of flowering and fruit formation, the need for potassium and nitrogen increases.
- After watering, you should loosen the soil and slightly huddle the base of the stem. Loosening prevents moisture from evaporating from the surface, which means that it provides a lower humidity in the closed volume of the greenhouse. It is also necessary to remove all the leaves to the level of the first flower brush, which enhances ventilation and air exchange in the lower part of the bush.
- The variety requires moderate soil moisture, with an excess of moisture, tomatoes crack. Overripe tomatoes should not be allowed, which leads to liquefaction of the pulp and spoilage of the fruit right on the branch.
Simple and understandable methods of caring for tall tomatoes help the plant to form flower brushes in time and allow the fruits to ripen during the growing season.
