Watermelon Tomato: description, characteristics of the variety, growing features

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

In their suburban areas summer residents grow different varieties of tomatoes. But in most cases, in the gardens in our country, a little space is necessarily allocated for salad tomatoes. Such tomatoes usually differ in early ripening and at the same time have fruits of very large sizes. One of these varieties that have earned good reviews from summer residents is Watermelon. Tomatoes are quite fruitful, tasty and at the same time resistant to diseases.

General Description

The watermelon tomato belongs to the group of indeterminate varieties. Such bushes can grow above 2 m per season. In most regions of Russia, this variety is recommended to be cultivated in a greenhouse. Frost resistance watermelon tomato, unfortunately, does not differ.

Planting these tomatoes in open ground is also allowed. However, watermelon tomato can be cultivated in this way only in the southern regions of the country. Sometimes, right on the beds in the open air, these tomatoes are grown in central Russia. However, in spring and early summer, watermelon tomatoes in such regions are recommended to be covered with foil orany other similar material designed to protect garden plants from the cold.

Characteristics of the variety

Watermelon tomato, among other things, belongs to the group of varieties of medium early ripening. The fruits on the bushes of such tomatoes begin to ripen as early as 107-113 days after planting. In any case, in central Russia, these tomatoes should be grown using the seedling method. In the southern regions, such tomatoes can be planted immediately in a permanent place in the greenhouse.

The yield of these tomatoes in most cases is 2-2.5 kg from 1 bush. From 1 m2 plantings, while summer residents collect about 6 kg of such tomatoes.

What, according to summer residents, has advantages

In most cases, Russian gardeners speak very well of tomatoes of the Watermelon variety. Summer residents consider resistance to late blight to be the main advantage of these tomatoes. Tomatoes of the Watermelon variety are not infected with this disease, usually even in the wettest years with a small number of sunny days.

Gardeners also attribute good yields to the advantages of these tomatoes. From one bush of tomatoes, judging by the reviews, you can really collect at least 2 kg of fruit. Another advantage of tomatoes of the Watermelon variety, according to summer residents, is their excellent taste. Salads from such tomatoes, as gardeners note on specialized forums on the Web, are simply excellent.

Are there any negative reviews about watermelon tomatoes

In the care of these tomatoes, according to most gardeners, relatively unpretentious. However, the variety is still indeterminate. Consequently, it is somewhat more difficult to care for him in a summer cottage than for undersized tomatoes. Such bushes, for example, must be tied to a trellis without fail. Many summer residents, of course, refer to this as some of the disadvantages of the variety.

Another disadvantage of these tomatoes, gardeners consider the tendency to crack fruits. Also, tomatoes of the Watermelon variety are, unfortunately, not very good keeping quality and transportability. Therefore, many gardeners do not recommend growing such tomatoes in large quantities, for example, for sale. This variety is not commonly cultivated in commercial plantings.

Characteristics of watermelon tomatoes: fruits

Like many other lettuce varieties, tomatoes on Arbuzny grow very large. Their weight is usually 160-200 grams. But some fruits on the bushes of this variety can grow up to 500 g. Especially large tomatoes are poured on these tomatoes if the summer resident uses the correct plant formation technology.

The shape and color of the fruits of this variety are rather unusual. On each such tomato, among other things. characteristic green veins are present. The shape of these tomatoes is round, slightly flattened. At the same time, the fruits are ribbed near the stalk. In many tomatoes, this ribbing even turns into large waves. Thanks to this unusual color and color, the fruits of these tomatoes look like small watermelons. Hence, in fact, the name of the variety came from. Photo of watermelon tomatoescan be seen on the page. As you can see, the fruits of this variety really have a rather unusual appearance.

The peculiarity of these tomatoes are, among other things, large seeds, clearly visible on the cut. As watermelon tomatoes ripen, small brown stripes appear on their skins. The flesh of these tomatoes is mostly red. Coloring tomatoes Watermelon are not too uniform. The flesh of these tomatoes may be lighter in some places, darker in others.

Using fruits

Watermelon tomatoes are grown, as already mentioned, mainly for preparing summer salads. It is in such dishes that the fruits of this variety best reveal their taste. Also, many summer residents are advised to use watermelon tomatoes and fresh ones. The pulp of the fruits of such tomatoes is very juicy, pleasant sour-sweet.

For canning, the fruits of this variety, according to many summer residents, are, unfortunately, not very good. Watermelon tomatoes are large in size. And therefore, they usually simply do not fit entirely into the bank. Sometimes quite small fruits grow on the bushes of this variety. Such tomatoes, of course, if you wish, you can try and roll them into jars. However, many summer residents still believe that these tomatoes show the best taste when fresh. In addition, the skin of tomatoes of this variety is quite thin. Therefore, when pouring boiling brine, Watermelon can simply burst. Yes, and there are such s alted tomatoes, most likely, it will not be too convenient.

Planting seedlings

Thus, we found out what watermelon tomatoes are. Reviews and photos on the page make it possible to judge these tomatoes as very well suited for growing in a suburban area. But how to plant and care for this variety?

Starting to grow watermelon tomatoes in our country, like almost any other tomato, of course, on the windowsill. Seedlings of this variety are planted at the same time according to standard technology. Experienced summer residents believe that it is best to plant Watermelon seeds immediately in cups. You can, of course, sow them in boxes. But in this case, young plants in the phase of two true leaves will have to dive.

Soil for watermelon tomatoes is neutral or slightly acidic. Sowing seeds should be done at a depth of 1.5 cm. Before planting tomatoes of this variety, despite the fact that it is considered resistant to diseases, it is advisable to spill boiling water over the ground. After sowing, the box or cups with seeds should be covered with a film.

After the emergence of the plants, the covering material from the containers with tomatoes must be removed. The cups themselves or the box should be placed on the windowsill on the south or east side of the house. It is not recommended to grow watermelon seedlings on the north window. In this case, the plants may stretch too much.

How to care for a permanent place

In a greenhouse or in garden beds, Watermelon tomatoes are planted three bushes per 1 m22. The variety is, as already mentioned, veryhigh. In a greenhouse, such tomatoes grow to a height of 210 cm, and in open ground - usually up to 190 cm. Therefore, next to the beds on which these tomatoes grow, be sure to install a trellis and immediately tie seedlings to the ropes.

Like almost any other indeterminate variety, Watermelons require bush formation. Stepchildren should be removed from these tomatoes in such a way that one stem remains on each plant.

Water and fertilize

Watermelon tomatoes should not be watered too often, but plentifully. Fertilize these tomatoes, like any others, three times a season. If desired, in the spring on plantings of Watermelon, it is possible to carry out preventive treatment against late blight using, for example, Bordeaux liquid.

Harvesting

One of the features of watermelon tomatoes is that the fruits on them ripen gradually. On the bushes, tomatoes of this variety, judging by the reviews of summer residents, at the same time hold on quite tightly. Therefore, it is not necessary to rush to collect such tomatoes. Moreover, the longer the fruits of Watermelon hang on the bushes, the sweeter they will become.

According to the description provided by the creators of this variety for Watermelon tomatoes, and also, according to many summer residents, these tomatoes, unfortunately, do not differ in keeping quality. When removed from the bush, these tomatoes begin to burst and leak after a short period of time. However, on the plants themselves, until harvest, such tomatoes usually hang completely intact. That is, on the bushes, judging by the reviews of summer residents, these tomatoes usually do notburst.