In this publication, I want to talk about such a vegetable crop as tomato, about their importance in human nutrition, morphological and biological characteristics, as well as about the conditions for growing tomatoes and caring for them.

The fruits of these plants are used fresh, pickled, salted and in cooking. Calorie contentThe number of tomatoes is low and amounts to (150 - 200 kcal per 1 kg), while their main value lies in the content of vitamins, organic acids and mineral salts. Tomato fruits contain sugars (3 - 5%), organic acids (0.4 - 0, 6%), proteins (0.6 - 1%), essential oils (0.2%), mineral salts (0.5 - 0.6%) and vitamins.

Of the refreshing organic acids in tomatoes contain citric and malic, as well as oxalic acid in the amount of 8 mg%. They are distinguished by a high content of ascorbic acid (25 - 30 mg%), carotene (1.5 - 2 mg%), lycopene (3 - 3.5 mg%). Tomato fruits also have phytoncidal properties. All substances contained in the fruits of tomatoes play an important role in the normalization of metabolism in the human body.

At the same time, they contain a small amount of the poisonous substance of plants of the Solanaceae family, solanine, in a small amount, which decreases as the fruits ripen. By the time the fruits ripen, solanine completely disappears. Therefore, you should not consume excessive amounts of fresh unripe fruits, since a dose of solanine, equal to about 0.2 g, causes headaches, fainting, sore throat and other ailments. In canned unripe tomatoes, solanine is diluted with brine so much that eating tomatoes in normal quantities is not a concern.

Morphological features

They belong to the nightshade family. A perennial tomato plant is grown only as an annual, as it dies off even in mild frosts.

Propagated by seeds. Seeds are flat, reniform, silvery-gray, pubescent. 1 g contains 250 - 350 seeds. Seeds germinate within six to eight days. Seeds of tomatoes retain their germination capacity for about 5 - 6 years. The root system of tomatoes is well branched and reaches 1.2 - 1.5 m in diameter and 1.0 - 1.5 m in depth.

In seedling culture, the roots are distributed, mainly in the upper soil horizons. Adventure roots appear on the stem almost anywhere with high humidity and soil.

The stem of tomatoes is rounded, often lodging, covered with glandular hairs, juicy at the beginning of development, but in the process of growth it hardens to lignification. Leaves are dissected, pinnate. From the axils of the leaves, stepchildren grow - lateral shoots.

The stepchildren grow most quickly under the inflorescence. The inflorescence of tomatoes is a curl, usually called a brush. The brush can be simple (not branching), semi-complex (one branch) and complex (3 or more branches). The flowers are yellow, medium in size with 5 - 6 petals and the same number of stamens, fused into a cone-shaped column, inside which there is a pistil. When the pollen ripens, the anthers crack from the inside and the pollen gets on the stigma of the pistil, so self-pollination and fruit setting occurs.

The fruit of tomatoes is a berry of various shapes (spherical, flat-round, oval-round, slightly tetrahedral, irregular, etc.). It can be two-, three-, four- and multi-chamber. The chambers contain seeds surrounded by a gelatinous mass.

Biological features

- a thermophilic plant that does not tolerate temperatures below 0 degrees and suffers when exposed to low positive temperatures. Seeds begin to germinate at 11 - 12 degrees.

The best temperature for the germination of tomato seeds will be 22 - 26 degrees, for the photosynthesis process 18 - 26 degrees, at 13 - 14 degrees flowering stops, and at 10 degrees and below, plant growth stops. Long-term (more than 4 - 5 days) lowering the temperature to 6 - 8 degrees can lead to the fall of flowers. The cold resistance of plants can be increased by hardening the seeds and seedlings.

At temperatures in the region of 33 - 35 degrees, pollen becomes sterile and fruit formation does not occur. The optimum soil temperature for tomatoes is 20-24 degrees, lowering it below 15 degrees leads to a decrease in water absorption, as a result of which the plants wither.

Tomatoes are very demanding on light and prefer direct solar radiation, rather than diffused. In case of insufficient illumination, the growth and development of plants slows down, underdeveloped flowers and sterile pollen are formed, fruits are not formed. Optimal illumination for tomatoes is in the range of 17-24 thousand lux.

Insufficient illumination is especially often observed when growing seedlings, seedlings begin to stretch, the stems become thin, the quality of seedlings deteriorates. In no case should the thickened standing of plants be allowed.

During the period of seed germination and fruit filling, the need for plants in water is maximum and should be 75 - 85% of the total moisture capacity (FWC).

During the period of growing seedlings and at the beginning of flowering, the optimum soil moisture should be 70 - 75% PPV. When there is a lack of moisture in the soil, leaves curl and the fruit is affected by apical rot.

Sharp changes in soil moisture during the ripening period lead to massive cracking of the fruits, and the leaves are affected by brown spot and other diseases.

Lack of moisture during flowering leads to the fall of flowers and ovaries, and excess moisture before flowering enhances the vegetative growth of plants to the detriment of fruit formation. Relative humidity is also important.

At high air humidity (above 75%), tomato plants are strongly affected by diseases, in addition, pollen sticks together and does not spill out of the anthers. In the event that, on the contrary, the air humidity is very low (less than 45%), the pollen becomes sterile and also does not germinate. The optimum relative humidity for tomatoes is 50 - 65%.

Tomatoes respond well to the use of organic and mineral fertilizers. They are also characterized by a high consumption of potassium, especially during the fruiting period. In low light conditions, the role of potassium also increases.

Classification of varieties

Depending on the nature of growth and branching, all varieties of tomatoes are divided into 3 groups:

1 - superdeterminant. They form 2 - 3 inflorescences on the main stem and their vegetative growth stops. Lateral shoots (stepchildren) also quickly end their growth in inflorescences. The height of the first inflorescence is 7 - 8th leaf. There is usually one leaf between subsequent inflorescences on the main stem. This group includes the earliest ripening varieties of tomatoes.

2 - determinant. In these varieties, 3-4 inflorescences are formed on the main stem. The height of the first inflorescence is 8 - 9 leaves. Subsequent inflorescences most often follow through 2 leaves. This group includes early and mid-early varieties of tomatoes. The beginning of ripening in these varieties occurs 5 - 7 days later than the 1st group.

3 - indeterminate (with unlimited growth). These varieties are characterized by the absence of restriction on the growth of the main shoot, they are able to form 8 - 10 or more inflorescences. The first inflorescence is laid after the 9-10th leaf. This group includes late-ripening varieties.

Features of growing tomatoes (tomatoes)

They love fertile soils rich in organic matter - chernozems, dark forest, floodplain and podzolic soils. In terms of texture, light loamy and heavy sandy loam quickly warmed up soils.

When using sandy soils for growing tomatoes, special attention should be paid to watering in order to ensure optimal soil moisture, as well as the introduction of increased rates of manure or compost. In household plots, you can almost always create acceptable soil conditions for growing tomatoes.

Long-term stagnation of water in the soil is difficult to tolerate, since this contributes to the almost complete cessation of air flow to the roots of plants. The optimal reaction of the soil environment for tomatoes is from mildly acidic to neutral.

Cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, peas, greens (lettuce, spinach, radish, etc.) are good precursors for tomatoes. Tomatoes should not be placed after potatoes, since these two crops are closely related and have practically the same set of diseases and pests. For the same reason, potatoes should not be placed after tomatoes. In autumn, it is advisable to plow deeply the soil for tomatoes and, if necessary, apply manure at a dose of 3 kg per 1 m 2.

With this treatment, in the spring just before planting tomatoes, it is necessary to loosen the soil. All these activities will contribute to a relatively rapid heating of the soil.

In the initial growing season, tomatoes poorly absorb nutrients. However, during the fruiting period, the intake of nutrients, especially nitrogen and potassium, increases dramatically. Despite the fact that tomatoes take out relatively little phosphorus from the soil, during the seedling period they especially need high doses of highly soluble forms of phosphorus fertilizers.

Both organic and mineral fertilizers are applied under the tomatoes. Of the organic ones, it is most advisable to use rotted manure, humus and peat-manure composts.

The rates of organic fertilizers for tomatoes depend on the type and fertility of the soil. If manure was already applied under the previous crop, then organic fertilizers can not be applied under the tomatoes. Tomatoes respond well to mineral fertilizers, especially phosphorus fertilizers. Approximate doses of nitrogen: 8 - 9, phosphorus - 9 - 10, potassium - 6 - 7 g. by 1 m 2.

Growing tomato seedlings

In order to grow seedlings of good quality, it is necessary to strictly observe all agrotechnical methods based on the biological characteristics of the tomato culture.

The seeds must be of the same size and weight. To do this, they are divided according to density - they are dipped in a 4 - 5% solution of sodium chloride for 5 minutes. Lightweight seeds will rise to the surface, while the heaviest and fullest will sink to the bottom.

Then the seeds will need to be rinsed in running water and dried. Having carried out, in this way, the selection of seeds of each variety, they are tied in gauze and for disinfection they are etched in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes.

To do this, take 1 g of potassium permanganate for 1/2 cup of hot water and stir until completely dissolved. Then the seeds are dipped into the cooled solution. After 20 minutes, the seeds will need to be rinsed with cold water under the tap. Many vegetable growers use seed hardening.

After soaking in water or fertilizer solution, the seeds are kept at a temperature of 18 - 20 degrees for 12 hours, then put in a refrigerator for 12 - 16 hours, with a temperature of 0 to -1 degrees, then they are kept warm for 8 - 12 hours and so they act with variable temperatures until the seeds begin to hatch (this happens after about 8 - 10 days).

Seeds are sown at different times, depending on the timing of planting seedlings in a permanent place. If the seedlings are grown, they begin to sow for film greenhouses on March 5-10, if for temporary film shelters - March 10-15, and when growing seedlings for open ground, sowing can be done - from March 25 to April 5 ( for the conditions of Tatarstan).

Each variety is sown in a separate vase, cup, cup or jar so that, as soon as shoots appear, you can move the plant to conditions with a lower temperature and good lighting.

A small hole is made in the bottom of all the cups (for these purposes, you can use, for example, an awl), then a nutrient mixture consisting of peat and humus (in a ratio of 1: 1) is poured into them, seeds are sown with a distance of 7-10 mm between them, fall asleep with the same substrate 1 cm thick and watered with warm water.

Until the shoots appear, the cups and jars are covered with plastic wrap and the temperature is maintained at about 22 - 23 degrees. When shoots appear (after about 2 - 4 days), the seedlings are placed on a window (best of all, the south or east side), where it will be cool enough and good lighting is provided. In the first: 3 - 5 days, the temperature should be maintained at 14 - 16 degrees during the day, and 10 - 12 degrees at night. Then the temperature must be increased by 5 - 6 degrees. Seedlings should be watered in the morning.

As soon as the cotyledon leaves take a horizontal position, and the process of formation of the first true leaf begins, they begin to pick the seedlings into pots with a diameter of about 8 - 10 cm. Put the pots in a box, previously covered with foil, and fill them with nutritious soil. For 1 bucket of peat mixture, add half a glass of granular superphosphate, as well as 1.5 glasses of wood ash.

Even before picking, the soil in the pots is treated with potassium permanganate (at the rate of 1 g per 3 - 4 liters of water). When carrying out a pick, the main root of the plant is pinched by one third, and the hypocotyl knee is buried in the soil to the level of the cotyledon leaves, trying to press the soil well to the roots. For one day, the plants are kept in the shade, and then transferred to the lightest windows.

The boxes are placed with an inclination of 20 - 25 degrees towards the window, for this, a wooden block 5 - 6 cm thick can be placed under the edge of the box. To improve the illumination of the plants from the side of the room, you can put a reflective shield made of foil or a mirror. It is not necessary to water the seedlings often, but abundantly, and it is better in the morning. Three fertilizing of plants is carried out: 1) It is carried out a week after picking for 10 liters of water (it is best to use melted snow or rain), take 0.5 matchbox of ammonium nitrate, 2 box of superphosphate, and 1 potassium chloride.

2) When the plant has formed from 4 to 5 true leaves, apply the same fertilizers, but increase the dose by 1.5 times. If the plants show good growth, then nitrogen fertilization is not applied.

3) Top dressing is carried out 3 - 4 days before planting plants with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers.

Approximately 12 - 15 days before planting, you can start hardening the seedlings. In sunny weather, it is taken out onto a balcony, loggia or any other protected area near the house, for a start for a short period of time during the day, and then for the whole day.

A few days before disembarkation, the seedlings are left in the open air and overnight, if frosts are not expected.

To avoid stretching the seedlings due to insufficient illumination, 15 days before disembarkation, they are arranged. Seedlings from one box are placed in two, the gaps are covered with sawdust or peat-humus soil. This is best done in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

At night, if frosts are expected, the seedlings are covered with thick paper, burlap and other materials.

We hope that the article " Features of growing tomatoes and caring for them"Was interesting to you, and you learned something new about it. If you have something to add, write in the comment section.

Tomato is a plant of the Solanaceae family. Its fruits are rich in vitamins C, P, PP, B1, B2, carotene. Having 6% dry matter, tomatoes contain 0.95% protein, 3.5-4% carbohydrates, 27 mg% vitamin C and other vitamins, as well as potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron salts. Ripe fruits contain citric and malic acids. Depending on the variety, it takes 100-130 days from germination to the first harvest.

Tomato culture very heat demanding. The optimum temperature for the germination of tomato seeds is 18-21 ° C, for growth and development - 22-24 during the day and 16-18 ° C at night. Seeds that have been hardened by variable temperatures begin to germinate at a temperature of 14-16 ° C, grow and develop at 16-20. For flowering, a temperature of at least 15-16 ° C is required. The tomato is picky about soil moisture. At humidity below 70-80% PPV, it often sheds buds and ovaries.

Tomato culture loves moist soil and dry air. At high air humidity (above 70%), the flowers crumble, as there is no normal pollination and fertilization. The tomato is a self-pollinating plant.

One flower contains anther stamens (male organ) and pistil (female organ). When the pollen ripens, the anthers open, and the pollen spills out on the stigma of the same flower, ensuring fertilization and fruit set. At high humidity, the maturation of pollen is delayed or, when it is ripe, it does not spill out when it is wet, and the stigma dries up at this time.

With fluctuations in air humidity, it is affected by brown spot, late blight and apical rot of fruits. The optimum relative air humidity for a tomato is 45-60%, however, when a tomato is planted as a cucumber sealant (for shading on the side and front sides), it grows well and bears fruit in an even, increased "cucumber" mode of air humidity.

Tomato develops well both with short and long days (12-16 hours), meanwhile, varietal exactingness fluctuates significantly, as a rule, intensive sunlight is needed (at least 5000 lux).

Under tomato culture emit fertile, humus-rich, warm neutral light and medium-textured soils. This is the most demanding vegetable crop for assimilable phosphorus.

The tomato production conveyor includes growing (by seedling) in winter wall greenhouses from early July to the end of July, in spring greenhouses with additional heating - from the end of March - from early April to mid-August, in warm greenhouses and spring greenhouses with biofuel - from the end April - early May to mid-September, in solar-heated greenhouses, in frames and tunnels with film cover - from mid-May to mid-September and in open ground - from early June to mid-September. In addition, in winter and near-wall greenhouses, a culture is introduced with planting of seedlings in mid-late July-early August and the final harvest in December (Table 1).

1. Conveyor growing of tomatoes, selection of varieties

Tomato varieties are divided into early ripening (95-115 days from germination to the first harvest), mid-ripening (up to 115-125 days) and late-ripening (up to 125-140 days). By the nature of the formation of a bush, tomato varieties are divided into branching (indeterminate or indeterminate); weakly branching small, self-limiting growth (determinant) and standard (a kind of determinant).

In branching varieties, lateral shoots (stepchildren) are formed from the axils of all leaves of the main shoot, from which, in turn, shoots of the second, third and fourth orders are formed, on each of which, with a long growing season (in the south), fruits can be obtained.

This type of tomato in the Non-Black Earth Region requires large costs for pinching and garter (Erliana 20, Brekodey 1638, Plum, etc.). In weakly branching varieties, lateral shoots are formed only from the leaf axils of the lower part of the main stem. This is where the branching of the bush ends, and the fruit harvest is formed on the first two or three inflorescences. Varieties of this variety usually do not require pinching. In the middle zone of the country, the fruits of such varieties almost completely ripen in open ground (Gruntovy Gribovsky 1180, Siberian Skorospely, Talalikhin 186, etc.).

In the standard tomato varieties, short lateral shoots are formed only of the first and second order, their stem is upright growing, stable, not requiring garter and pinching (Nevsky, Alpatieva 905a, Karlik 1185, etc.). In the Non-Black Earth Region in tomatoes are grown outdoors determinant varieties - Gruntovy Gribovskiy 1180, Bely Naliv 241, Tambovskiy Urozhainy 340 and others; standard varieties - Nevsky, Karlik 1185, Alpatieva 905a. Heterotic hybrids are widely used outdoors.

Economic value and nutritional value of tomatoes

The culture of tomatoes, due to the high nutritional value of the fruit, occupies a leading place in vegetable growing in most countries of the world.

The fruits of tomatoes are eaten raw in the form of salads, numerous spices (for meat, fish and vegetable dishes), salted, pickled, stuffed.

The value of fruits as a food product is determined by the carbohydrates, organic acids, mineral salts, aromatic substances and vitamins contained in them (C, carotene, B 1, B 2 PP, K, etc.)

The varieties widespread in Moldova contain dry matter in fruits - 4.5 - 9.2%, sugars 1.9 - 4.9, starch - 0.05 - 0.26, fiber (with hemicelulosis) - 0.18 - 0, 42, pectin 0.12 - 0.33, nitrogenous substances - 0.55 - 1.65, organic acids - 0.30 - 0.85%, ascorbic acid - 12 - 36 mg%, carotene - 0.6 - 14 mg%, vitamin B 1 - 80 mg.

The composition of dry matter in the fruits of tomatoes contains the most carbohydrates (36 - 62%), which are mainly represented by soluble sugars among sugars - glucose and fructose. There is little sucrose in tomato fruits (0.1 - 0.5%). The glucose content is 1.5 - 2 times higher than that of fructose.

Pectins make up an insignificant percentage of dry matter, but they play a very important role in the formation of the structure and density of fresh fruits, the consistency of tomato processed products also depends on the bottom. Most pectins are in unripe fruits, and as the fruits ripen, their amount decreases.

In the group of organic acids, citric and malic acids prevail; there is also a small amount of tartaric, succinic, oxalic and lactic acids.

The ash elements contain a lot of potassium (38.14%), sodium (17.03%), magnesium (8.63%), phosphorus ((9.14%), calcium (6.1%), sulfur (4, 78%), silicon (4.80%), chlorine (6.93%), iron (2.33%).

The fruits of tomatoes contain a large group of vitamins (C, A, B 1, B 2, PP, etc.).

Biological features of tomatoes

Tomato is a herbaceous annual plant of the nightshade family. The stem and shoots are soft, juicy and fragile at a young age. as it grows, the stems grow dry and lie down. The plant is very branching. The branching of tomato stems is sympodial, namely: the initial shoot ends growth with the formation of the first inflorescence, in its place is the next lateral shoot, which grows together with the leaf bearing it and grows upward with it. The first inflorescence is pushed aside.

After the formation of 1-3 leaves (depending on the variety and growing conditions), a flower raceme is formed on the first-order shoot, its growth stops and the stem continues with a lateral second-order shoot, etc.

Stems are rough, densely covered with glandular hairs, swollen in places of branching. Leaves are alternate, once or twice pinnately dissected, unpaired, rough. The flowers are bisexual, collected in an inflorescence - a raceme with a different number of flowers in it. The calyx is cleaved with 5-6 lobes. Corolla spine-petal, stamens 5-6 or more, filaments very short, ovary multi-celled. The column is straight, stigma with 2-3 or more lobes. The flowers are adapted to self-pollination, but there may be cross-pollination by wind and insects. The fruit is a berry, juicy with various colors (red, raspberry, yellow, white).

Seeds are flattened, reniform. The root of young plants is rod-shaped, but then it becomes thin and does not stand out from the rest. In addition to the main root, lateral roots arise. They grow almost horizontally.

On the lower part of the stem, after backfilling with moist soil, the plant is able to form adventitious roots. The depth of their penetration depends on the density, moisture and aeration of the soil, as well as on other growth factors (on nutrients, on temperature, etc.). Under good conditions, the roots penetrate into the soil up to 1.0 - 1.5 m.

Regionalized varieties of tomatoes and their characteristics

In the farms of Transnistria, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and other CIS countries and far abroad, 40 promising varieties of tomatoes have been zoned.

Breeders of the Transnistrian Research Institute of Agriculture made a great contribution to the development of agricultural science and bred the following varieties that are used by collective farms and farmers.

Early ripening hybrids for film greenhouses of Transnistria and Moldova: Flamenco and Corona.

Flamenco is an early hybrid. Fruit ripening in 105 - 108 days after germination. The plant is powerful, medium-leafy, up to 1 m high. Fruits are round. The color of the unripe fruit is green, the ripe fruit is red. Weight - 90 - 120 grams. Fruit yield in film greenhouses is up to 13 kg / 1 m 2. recommended for unheated film greenhouses and in open ground.

Crohn is an early hybrid. It differs from the FLAMENKO variety in that the fruits are flat-round, weighing 150 gr. used for early production of tomatoes in film greenhouses and in open ground on a trellis.

Early ripening varieties: Lyana and Juliana.

Lyana is a very early variety with amicable ripening of fruits, the duration of the period from mass shoots to the beginning of ripening when grown in a seedling method is 87 - 93 days. The plant is highly leafy and medium-branched. The height of the stem is 35 - 40 cm, the diameter of the grip of the bush is 40 cm. The fruits are round, smooth, bright red, weight - 80 grams.

Juliana is an early variety that ripens in unison. The duration of the period from the emergence of seedlings to the beginning of ripening when grown by seedlings is 102 - 104 days. The height of the main stem is 40 - 45 cm, the diameter of the grip of the bush is 35 - 40 cm. The fruits are bright red. Weight 70 - 80 grams. Designed for multiple cleaning and fresh consumption.

Large-fruited varieties: Perseus, Morning, Quiz, Torch, Potok.

Perseus is a mid-early variety: from germination to the beginning of fruit ripening 108 - 115 days. The plant is powerful, well leafy. Fruits are flat-round, large 130-180 grams, bright red. Productivity in seedlings is from 80 to 100 tons / ha. It is intended for fresh fruit consumption, for canning, making pasta and juice.

Morning - mid-early variety: from sunrise to the beginning of fruit ripening 110 - 115 days. The fruits are round, smooth. The color of the unripe fruit is light green, the ripe fruit is red. Fruit weight 80 - 90 grams. Productivity 45 - 80 tons / ha. Intended for fresh consumption.

Quiz is a mid-early variety; in seedling culture, the fruits begin to ripen 112 - 120 days after germination. The plant is medium leafy. Fruits are round, intensely red. Weight 150-200 grams. Productivity 50 95 tons / ha. Good taste. Can be grown in seedling and non-seedling methods. Designed for fresh use, industrial processing.

Torch is a mid-early variety: from germination to fruit ripening 115 - 127 days. The fruits are round, smooth, red. Weight 60 - 100 grams. Productivity 80 - 100 tons / ha. Designed for multiple cleaning, making paste, juice.

The stream is a mid-season variety: in seedling culture it begins to ripen 115 - 200 days after germination. The color of the mature fruit is intense red. The fruits are round, smooth. Weight 120 - 150 grams. The palatability of the fruit is good. yield 60 - 70 tons / ha. Differs in increased field germination of seeds at low positive temperatures. Can be grown in seedling and non-seedling methods.

Orange-fruited varieties: Luch, Slava Moldavia, Alex.

Ray is an early variety: the period from mass shoots to ripening is 98 - 102 days. Fruits are oblong-oval, smooth, orange in color. Weight 50 -80 grams. Good taste, intended for canning, in order to obtain a dietary product for areas with high radiation and as a prophylactic agent for cancer.

The glory of Moldova is a medium-early variety: from the emergence of seedlings to the beginning of ripening when grown in seedlings, 109-120 days, in a non-seed culture, 95-100 days. Medium leafy plant. The height of the main stem is 40 -45 cm. Fruits are roundish, orange in color. Weight 75 - 80 grams. Productivity 50 - 60 tons / ha. Designed for baby and dietetic food, for fresh consumption.

Alex is a mid-season variety: from mass shoots to the beginning of ripening when grown by seedlings, 115 - 120 days. Fruits are oblong oval, smooth, orange in color. Fruit weight 70 grams. Productivity 40 - 60 tons / ha. It is used for fresh consumption, industrial processing and obtaining high quality preservatives with a high carotene content.

Long-fruited varieties: Impulse, Prizewinner, Novelty of Pridnestrovie, Gusar, Credo, Reef, Dedication, Onyx, Maryushka, Moldova Cup. We will give a description of some of them.

Impulse - early variety: from germination to fruit ripening in seedling culture 103 - 105 days. The shape of the fruit is ellipsoidal, the color is dark red. Weight 70 grams. Productivity 50 -70 tons / ha. It is used for one-time mechanized harvesting, used for seedling and seedling crops, for canning and fresh consumption.

Prize-winner - mid-early variety: from germination to full ripening of fruits 112 -114 days. The fruits are oblong-oval. The color of the ripe fruit is red. Weight 60 grams. Good taste. Productivity 60 -90 tons / ha. The variety is recommended to grow in a seedless culture, suitable for combine harvesting. Designed for concentrated tomato products, pickling and fresh consumption.

A novelty of Pridnestrovie is a mid-season variety: from germination to harvest, 120 - 125 days. Fruits are elongated-cylindrical with slight ribbing, red in color. Weight 40 - 60 grams. In seedlings, the yield is 65 - 90 tons / ha, in non-seedlings - 50 - 60 tons / ha.

Hussar is a late variety: from sunrise to one-time harvest 125 - 130 days. The fruits are cylindrical, smooth, the color of the ripe fruit is red. Weight 75 - 80 grams. Productivity 70 - 90 tons / ha. Designed for mechanized harvesting and canning.

Gloria is a mid-ripening variety: from germination to fruit ripening 115 - 120 days. The fruits are red, round-oval in shape. Weight 80 -120 grams. Productivity 5 - 8 kg / m 2. recommended for fresh consumption and for the preparation of high-quality tomato products (tomato juice, pasta, whole-fruit canning).

Varieties for protected ground: Orange, Syuzhet, Quartet, Decembrist, Pridnestrovsky.

Orange is an early hybrid: from germination to ripening in winter greenhouses, it averages 120 days. The fruit is flat-round in shape. Weight 50 - 60 grams., The surface is slightly ribbed. The color of the unripe fruit is light green, ripe orange. Resistant to lack of light, heat and disease. Productivity up to 24 kg / m 2. Recommended for growing in the winter-spring crop rotation of greenhouses, as well as for growing on windows.

Transnistrian - mid-early hybrid: the period from mass shoots to fruit ripening is 130 days. The fruits are round and smooth. Weight 100 -1209 grams. The color of the ripe fruit is red. Designed for growing in winter and spring film greenhouses, the yield in winter greenhouses reaches 20 kg / m 2, in spring film greenhouses - 10 kg / m 2.

The tomato (Lycopersicon eculentum Mill.) Belongs to the Solanaceae family (Solanaceae Pers.), Genus Lycopersicon Tourn.

Tomato is a herbaceous annual plant, but under conditions favorable for growth, it can be perennial (Garanko I.B., Shtreis R.I., Goleshevsky L.F. et al., 1985).

Tomato is a long-term culture. Under appropriate conditions (for example, in the subtropics), plants can grow and bear fruit for several years. However, in agricultural practice, the tomato is kept as an annual crop. In the process of life, tomato plants go through the following phases: the emergence of seedlings, the appearance of the first true leaf, the formation of buds, the beginning and mass flowering, the beginning of the formation of fruits, the beginning and mass ripening of fruits.

Tomato plants differ from other vegetables by their highly branched root system. Young plants have a pronounced taproot. Roots of the first order extend from the main root, from them - roots of the second order. There are also roots of the third and fourth orders. All roots are covered with a dense mass of root hairs. With a seedless tomato culture, the roots reach a length of 100 ... 150 cm, individual roots penetrate to a depth of 2 m. The roots branch mainly at a depth of 55 ... 85 cm, covering up to 1.25 m³ of land. In seedling culture, the root system is located in more surface layers of the soil (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012).

As noted by P.M. Zhukovsky (1971), the tomato root system is highly developed and deeply penetrating. Taproot with a large number of well-branched lateral shoots. In the greenhouse, the bulk of the roots are located at a depth of 30 cm.

The stem of a tomato is branched, rounded, lodging or erect; very fragile at first, then strongly hardened, up to 14 m. The tomato lacks a single axial stem. The seeming single stem consists of separate, successively replacing side shoots of increasing orders of stepchildren. The main stem is conventionally considered the one on which the first inflorescence appeared (Krug G., 2000).

There are two types of leaf: normal (ordinary). In which the leaf surface is either smooth or corrugated, and the potato type, in which the leaves have entire large lobes. Like the stems, they are covered with glandular hairs.

The inflorescence is a curl. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, yellow in various shades, often five-membered, but they can also be polynomial. With five petals, flowers are usually found in small-fruited varieties, and a large number of petals in large-fruited. There are usually five anthers, sometimes more, stamens accrete in the form of a cone, the column is filiform, ends with a stigma of a pale green color (Ovoshchevodstvo v Rossii, 2011 - 2012).

Depending on the variety, the brush is complex or simple. The flowering of plants and the opening of flowers on the brush occurs from the bottom up. Bisexual flowers (Brezhnev D.D., 1955; Tarakanov G.I., Mukhin V.D., Shuin B.A. et al., 1993).

Tomato is a self-pollinating plant. Flowering begins 50 ... 70 days after germination and continues until the plants die off (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012).

Tomato is an optional self-pollinating plant. At high humidity and temperatures below 12 ºС, pollination of flowers does not occur. Self-pollination is hampered at an air temperature of 35 ºС and above, since the pistils lengthen and protrude above the stamens (Tarakanov G.I., Gutsalyuk O.D., Korol V.G., 1988; Nikiforova N.V., 1989).

The ovary is superior. Round, smooth or pubescent, two-celled or multi-celled. The ovary, depending on the structure of the flower, is either small-nested or multi-nested (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012).

D. D. Brezhnev (1955) notes that the tomato fruit is a juicy, fleshy berry of various mass, shape and color. Almost the entire inner part of it is occupied by a juicy placenta. The seeds are immersed in a gelatinous mass (pulp), formed due to the contents of destroyed cells of the placental tissue during the period of fruit ripening. Fruit weight from 5 to 400 g. Fruits are three-, five-, and multi-chambered. The mass and intimacy of the fruit are important varietal characteristics.

Matveev V.P., Rubtsov M.I. (1985) believe that the tomato fruit is a complex two-, four-, or multi-chamber berry.

Seeds are small, triangular-reniform or obovate, flattened, pubescent, located in two or more chambers. The seeds are usually pubescent, therefore they have a gray tint. Multi-chambered fruits, as a rule, are low-seeded, and low-chambered fruits are multi-seeded. The seeds reach physiological maturity already in green, mature fruits. Retain freshness for 6 ... 8 and more years (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012).

1 g contains from 220 to 300 seeds. Seed germination depends on storage conditions. The best conditions for long-term storage of seeds are air temperature 14 - 16 ºС, air humidity - not lower than 75%, seed moisture - 9% (Alpat'ev A.V., 1950; Tarakanov G.I., Gavrish S.F., Andreeva E . N. et al., 1998).

Among the huge number of varieties and hybrids, three varieties of tomatoes are distinguished - ordinary, standard and large-leaved. The common tomato has thin stems that tend to linger under the weight of ripening fruits. The standard variety has thick, erect stems that give the appearance of a bush, the leaves have a corrugated surface and a short petiole. Large-leaved tomatoes have large leaf sizes, the only feature that distinguishes it from ordinary tomato (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012). Depending on the nature of growth and branching of lateral shoots, tomatoes are divided into 2 groups:

Indeterminate (with unlimited growth) - first-order shoots (stepchildren) form first-order shoots (stepchildren) from the axils of the leaves of the main stem, then branching into second-order shoots occurs, and so on without restriction of growth. All these shoots release flower clusters and bear fruit as long as favorable growing conditions exist.

Determinant (with limited growth) - forming lateral shoots only in the leaf axils of the lower part of the main stem, after which the bush stops branching.

Indeterminate ones require partial removal of lateral shoots (stepchildren) and a garter. Determinant ones in open ground, as a rule, do not require pinching (Bekseev Sh. G., 1962; Ignatova S. I, 1998; Skvortsova R. V., Kondratyeva I. Yu., 2001).

Tomato plants can reproduce vegetatively (shoots and cuttings root easily) and seeds. The latter is the main method used in tomato culture (Vegetable growing in Russia, 2011 - 2012).

Tomato is a sun-demanding crop. Plants grown in greenhouses and varieties of southern origin especially need light. Most varieties of tomatoes of southern origin are short-day, while northern varieties are neutral to day length or long-day. With a lack of light, especially during the period of growing seedlings, the plants stretch out strongly, their development is delayed, and few buds are formed. In addition, the plants bloom poorly, the flowers are poorly pollinated, and the ovary falls off. The content of dry matter in fruits, the ratio of acids to sugars, the content of vitamins, etc. also depend on lighting. Therefore, plants should not be placed in shaded areas, and if there is a lack of light, additional illumination is carried out, which increases the productivity of plants.

Tomato is a thermophilic plant. Heat is one of the main factors and to a large extent determines the growth rate, ripening and yield of tomato. The optimum temperature for seed germination is 20-25 ° C, the minimum is 10-12 ° C. For plant growth, the most favorable for the daytime 22-24 ° С, at night 16-18 ° С. At 8-10 ° C, the growth and maturation of pollen cease, at 15 ° C - flowering. Temperatures above 30 ° C (as well as low temperatures) retard plant growth and cause buds and flowers to fall off. Germinating seeds can withstand temperatures up to -10 ° C before the emergence of seedlings, seedlings and young plants - minus 0.5 ° C, and a temperature of 1-2 ° C is destructive for plants. Young plants from hardened seeds, as well as grown in a seedless way, tolerate short-term frosts down to -4 ° C. Night air temperature of 10-12 ° C increases the degree of branching of the brush, its compactness and promotes the formation of more flowers, while at night temperature of 22-24 ° C, fewer flowers are formed on the longer and thinner axes of the inflorescence. In the open field, the tomato ripens only when the sum of positive temperatures is above 10 ° C (for the period from the first days of June to mid-August) 2150-2700 ° C and more.

Soil moisture for tomatoes is somewhat less important than warmth. However, a large amount of water is required to form a strong root system and aboveground biomass and obtain a rich harvest. The critical periods in water consumption are the initial period of growth and the period of formation and filling of fruits. Watering at this time is necessary and most effective.

The optimum soil moisture for tomatoes is 70-80% of the total field moisture capacity. With a lack of water in the soil, the absorption of mineral nutrition elements by the root system worsens, the leaves lose their turgor, the growth processes slow down, the buds and ovaries fall off, the filling of fruits stops and, as a result, the yield decreases. Excessive soil moisture weakens the resistance of plants to diseases.

Air humidity is of great importance for the normal development of tomato. It should not exceed 50-60% (in the first 10-12 weeks it should be in the range of 60-65%). At a higher relative humidity of the air, pollination of flowers worsens, they fall off, plants are more exposed to fungal diseases (seedlings - blackleg, plants and fruits - late blight), plants stretch out, their yield decreases. With high air humidity and excess nitrogen nutrition, the inflorescence can grow, i.e. leaves and even new shoots with inflorescences can grow on it. The room where tomatoes grow should be intensively ventilated.

Tomato plants are less demanding on the soil than many other vegetable crops, but it is better to give them well-heated fertile soils, rich in organic matter, with a pH of at least 5.5. Sandy loamy and light loamy soils with a high content of humus and nutrients are considered the best for the cultivation of tomato crops.

The need for nutrients changes during the growing season. In the first period (before the start of fruit formation), plants use only 5-7% of the total consumed amount of nutrients. As the green mass grows and especially the formation and growth of fruits, the consumption of nutrients increases sharply. During this period, increased plant nutrition is needed, especially in greenhouses. With mineral starvation, the leaves become blue-green, then grayish, and the stems become lilac-brown. Tomatoes are very sensitive to a lack of phosphorus, especially in the initial period of growth. Almost all of the phosphorus consumed during the growing season is then used for the formation of fruits. Nitrogen is necessary for the formation of vegetative mass, but its excess can lead to a strong growth of green mass, that is, there is a "fattening" of plants to the detriment of fruiting. Potassium is essential for the formation of stems and fruits of tomato, while calcium stimulates the growth of roots and stems. Necessary for the normal growth and development of tomato plants and trace elements - magnesium, sulfur, iron, boron, manganese, copper, etc.

Under favorable conditions, tomato seeds germinate on the 3-4th day after planting (however, there are varieties, especially among giants, in which germination occurs later - on the 5-10th day; old seeds also germinate more slowly). First, a rootlet appears and penetrates into the soil, then the cotyledon leaves emerge from the soil and immediately open. The first true leaf appears after 6-10 days, the next 3-4 leaves - every 5-6 days, and then each new leaf - after 3-5 days. At the age of one month, plants usually have 4-5 leaves. The root system is especially intensively formed, which in 40-day-old plants penetrates to a depth of 80 cm and branches.

Above the 7-9th true leaf in early ripening varieties and above the 12-14th in late-ripening varieties, flower brushes are laid about 30-60 days after germination. Since that time, the process of setting buds and vegetative growth have been going on in parallel, for most varieties without stopping practically during the entire growing season, when the plant can simultaneously have leaves, stepsons and flower brushes with buds, flowers, ovaries and fruits of varying degrees of maturity.

Starting from a young age, tomato plants form lateral shoots in the leaf axils - stepchildren. By the nature of growth and the type of branching, 2 groups of tomato plants are distinguished (Fig. 1). In most varieties, the top of the plants, after the formation of 7-14 leaves, ends with a flower cluster, and the stepson growing from the axils of the leaf closest to the apical brush continues the growth of the main stem (lateral or sympodial branching). After the formation of several leaves (1-6), the stepson finishes its growth by laying a flower brush, and the growth of the plant continues at the expense of the nearest stepson. And so on until the end of the growing season, which usually ends with the first autumn frost. The type of bush with unlimited growth is called indeterminate (Fig. 2). In some low-growing varieties, plant growth ends with a brush, and stepchildren are formed only in the lower part of the stem. The type of bush with limited growth is called determinant (Fig. 3).

Rice. 1. Features of growth and branching of the tomato stem: a - monopodial branching; b - removal of the leaf above the inflorescence during the growth of the first sympodium; c - sympodial branching; C - cotyledons; L - sheet; Soc. - inflorescence

Tomato varieties with an indeterminate growth type are divided into 3 groups:

- early ripening, poorly repaired. They are distinguished by a strongly pronounced attenuation of growth processes during the formation of the crop on the first inflorescences, amicable early fruiting, as well as noticeably pronounced unevenness in the formation and return of the rest of the crop; the yield is quite low; the inflorescence in this group, as a rule, is simple, unbranched (there are varieties in which the first inflorescence is complex); fruit of medium weight;

- mid-season, mid-season. They are distinguished by a less pronounced attenuation of growth processes and a more uniform flow of crops during the fruiting period; inflorescence is simple or branched; fruit of medium weight;

- late-ripening highly renovated. They have strongly pronounced growth processes, which are practically not influenced by the forming fruits of the first inflorescences; the yield is uniform throughout the entire fruiting period; inflorescences - from simple bilateral to complex.

Rice. 3. Layout of leaves and inflorescences on the main shoot in superdeterminant (a), determinant (b) and semi-determinant (c) tomato varieties

Tomato varieties with a determinant type of growth are also divided into 3 groups:

- early maturing superdeterminate. They form 2-3 inflorescences on the main and lateral shoots, and the growth of the plant stops for a long time. As a result of poor remontability and limited growth of shoots by inflorescences, the plant forms a small compact bush. The second weakened growth wave in plants is observed after most of the fruits have ripened. The height of the first inflorescence is the 6-7th leaf. Between two subsequent inflorescences on the replacement shoots, there is 1 leaf, less often - 3, and sometimes the inflorescences follow directly one after the other. The yield of the crop is very amicable, but the yield is low;

- mid-season determinant. Plants of this type are characterized by limited growth of replacement shoots after the formation of 4-6 inflorescences on them. The second wave of growth in varieties is more pronounced and occurs much earlier - after the completion of the formation of fruits on the first inflorescences. The height of the first inflorescence is 8-9th leaf. Subsequent inflorescences follow through 1, often through 2 leaves. This is the most numerous group of determinant tomato varieties used in production. Determinant varieties begin to bear fruit 5-7 days later than super-determinant ones, the duration of the yield and the overall productivity of varieties of this group is much higher;

- late-ripening semi-determinant. They are characterized by a weakened manifestation of determinancy, i.e. prolonged absence of stem growth restriction (even after the formation of 8-10 inflorescences on it). Inflorescences are laid in 2-3 leaves. The first inflorescence is located after the 10th leaf. This is the latest maturing group of determinant tomato varieties. In terms of the uniformity of the yield, it approaches the late-ripening highly repaired tomato varieties with an indeterminate type of growth.

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And a little more biology
In the process of plant ontogenesis, vegetative growth and reproductive development are determined by different morphological characteristics, as well as environmental conditions, are in constant interaction and are inseparable. Therefore, the separation of these processes is conditional. According to D.D. Brezhnev, tomato plants in their ontogenesis go through the following phases: the emergence of seedlings, the first true leaf, the growth of the aboveground mass and roots, the formation of buds, flowering, the formation and ripening of fruits.

Under favorable temperature conditions and the presence of moisture, tomato seeds germinate 3-4 days after sowing; with a lack of heat, especially when sowing in open ground, - after 2-3 weeks. In the seeds, after swelling, a root first appears, then the hypocotyledonous knee begins to grow, which bends in the form of a loop, pierces the soil and, as it grows, brings the cotyledons to the soil surface. After the seedlings are straightened and the cotyledon leaves open, the further growth of the plant proceeds at the expense of the point of growth of the stem.

In a tomato plant, under favorable conditions in the first 2-3 weeks after germination, the growth of the root system predominates, the cotyledon leaves grow slowly. With seedless cultivation, as well as at low temperatures in seedling buildings, this period is longer. The first true leaf is formed in 6-10 days. The increased temperature in this phase accelerates the appearance of true leaves and promotes elongation (overgrowth) of the hypocotal knee, which is undesirable.

Subsequent leaves are formed in 5-6 days, and then faster - every 3-5 days. During the appearance of the 1st and 2nd true leaves, seedlings are transplanted in protected ground, which contributes to the development of a more powerful root system and seedlings of better quality. After transplanting, when the plants take root and begin to grow intensively, new leaves appear and fruiting organs (rudiments of tubercles) are laid. The buds are laid after the formation of 3-4 true leaves. At the age of one month, tomato plants have 4-5 leaves. Simultaneously with the growth of leaves, the growth of stems and roots occurs. When a young plant forms a sufficiently developed root system, intensive growth of the aboveground mass begins. The fastest growth of seedlings is observed before planting them in the ground. After planting seedlings in open ground for 7-10 days, and with poor seedling quality - up to 20 days, the plant weight does not increase (often even decreases), restoring the disturbed root system and rebuilding the physiological orientation of metabolic processes in relation to open ground. The higher the seedling quality and the better preserved the root system during planting, the shorter this period. In the future, the growth rate of a tomato plant is more dependent on the variety and growing technology.

Above the 7-9th true leaf in early-ripening varieties and above the 12-14th leaf in late-ripening, about 30-40 days after the emergence of seedlings, flower brushes are laid. From this time on, the process of bud formation and vegetative growth proceed in parallel, without stopping practically during the entire growing season and fruiting, the budding phase lasts about 15-20 days. The duration of the period from the emergence of seedlings to the beginning of flowering varies within wide limits: in early maturing in 40-50 days, mid-ripening - 51-70, late-ripening 71-90 days. The pace of development depends on the ambient temperature. This is especially true when growing tomatoes in the open field.

The tomato belongs to self-pollinated plants, in one flower of which there are male and female organs. This is due to the structure of its volumetric flower. The stamens, accreted by the lateral walls of the anthers (male organ), tightly surround the pistil (female organ), consisting of an ovary with an ovule and a column with a stigma. When the pollen ripens, the stamens open from the inside and the pollen spills out on the stigma of the pistil of the same flower. This is self-pollination, which usually coincides with the opening of the bud. Further, the pollen penetrates through the column into the ovary and ovule, where fertilization takes place. Then the ovule develops into a seed, and the ovary into a fruit.
In the southern regions, during hot dry weather, natural cross fertilization (with pollen from other flowers) is observed in 2% of plants. Pollen in this case is carried by bees, bumblebees, thrips, ants. This is observed when the anther stamens develop shorter and the stigma column is higher than them. In this regard, in the southern regions, seed crops are isolated in an open area at 300 m and a protected one - at 100 m from a variety. In woodland and forest-steppe, this isolation can be reduced to 100 and 40 m, respectively.

Self-pollination in tomato is favored by the fact that the susceptible stigma is located inside the anther cone, and the flower occupies a hanging position. Tomato pollen with a diameter of 21-24 microns. The fusion of the sperm with the egg occurs 35-50 hours after pollination.

Flowering starts from the first brush and goes from bottom to top. The second brush at this time is in the budding stage and blooms only after 6-15 days. The third brush blooms about a week after the second, the fourth - a week after the third, and so on. In each brush, the lower 2 flowers open first, behind them the higher ones open in pairs. From the beginning to the mass flowering of the brush (75% of the flowers that have opened), it takes from 2 to 6 days.

The stigma of the flower becomes susceptible to pollen almost simultaneously with the maturation of the anthers (cracking of the anthers usually occurs 24–48 hours later) and is capable of receiving pollen 9–12 days after the colored bud phase.

Despite the fact that the tomato self-pollinates, not every flower gives an ovary, from which the fruit would subsequently form. It depends on the conditions in which the flowering and fruiting phases take place. Under unfavorable conditions - during drought, a sharp drop in temperature - a massive fall of buds and flowers is often observed. In addition, cases of mass loss of flowers can be observed in greenhouses during the autumn-winter turnover, that is, under conditions of a shortened day.

All types of tomato (cultivated, semi-cultivated and wild) and varieties interbreed with each other very easily. For better pollination in indoor conditions, dry air is needed.

From the moment of fertilization, the growth of the fetus begins, and upon reaching the size characteristic of the variety, ripening. From the beginning of flowering to the ripening of the first fruits of early maturing varieties, 35-45 days pass. For mid-ripening tomato (46-65 days) and late-ripening varieties, this period increases to 66-85 days. The early ripening of tomato is determined not only by the beginning of fruit ripening, but also by the share of the harvest in the first decade of fruiting and by the presence of ripe fruits from the total harvest, expressed as a percentage.

In the process of fruit ripening, a whitish tint of the skin appears, the pulp becomes light green with a pale pinkish tinge, the seed coat hardens (milky ripeness). Then the redness spreads to the skin and pulp of the fruit, causing a change in the outer color to brown (brown, or blanche, ripeness), and then to pink and red (pink and full, or biological, red, ripeness). At the same time, the seed chambers of the fruit are filled with cell juice, in which the seeds are immersed, the fruit becomes juicy and soft.

The duration of the growing season of tomato varieties can vary significantly depending on the weather conditions of the soil and climatic zone, methods and technology of cultivation. This difference can reach 20-30 days. The growing season (from the emergence of seedlings to ripening of fruits) varies greatly in different varieties and is: in ultra-early ripening varieties 85-90 days, early-ripening - 91-105, mid-early - 106-110, mid-ripening - 111-115, mid-late - 116-120, late ripening - more than 120 days
... When growing the same variety in the south and in the north, the growing season in the first case is shorter due to better heat supply.

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