Skorospelka tomato belongs to the determinants of varieties intended for cultivation in the open field, although it also brings no less yield in greenhouse conditions. The plant does not have a high yield, but it is unpretentious and allows you to collect red flat-round fruits weighing up to 150 g after 87-95 days from the moment of germination.
Tomato seeds "Skorospelka"
Skorospelka tomatoes
During the ripening of the fruit, the area at the stem is colored orange
Grade description
Early maturing is a stunted plant belonging to ultra-mature varieties, which is the reason for its name. We will deal with the main qualities of bushes and fruits further.
Bushes
They are spreading and reach a height of about 50-70 cm, but when grown in greenhouses they can grow up to 1 m, therefore they need to be tied to a solid support and additional pinching (removing or shortening second-order shoots - stepchildren).
On high branched stems, an abundant amount of ash-green fleshy foliage grows. The inflorescences of the plant are simple, and the flowers are shaped like small bells, have a bright white color with a characteristic yellow base. Fertility averages 6-7 fruits per branch.
Fruit
Ripen on 87-95 days from the moment of emergence of shoots, have the average size and a flat-rounded shape (slightly flattened at the ends). Their average weight is 150 g. When ripe, one side of the tomato has an orange tint, while the rest of the fruit has a bright red color.
For the ultra-ripe variety, the fruits are moderately acidic and fleshy with a high content of biologically active substances. They are versatile, so they can be used fresh for making early salads. Later fruits are more suitable for conservation. Tomatoes of this variety are not afraid of high temperatures, so they do not burst during processing. So, from them you can make excellent tomato juice.
The fruits are distinguished by good keeping quality and transportability, due to their high density and meatiness. As a result, gardeners often grow this variety commercially.
Feature table
The main characteristics of Skorospelki can be found in the table:
Parameter | Description |
General qualities | An ultra-early maturing and undersized variety that can grow and bear fruit in the open field and in a film greenhouse. When breeding in Siberia and in the Far North, planting is best done in greenhouses or well-heated greenhouse complexes. |
Ripening period | 87-95 days after germination |
The form | Flat round |
Colour | Bright red |
Weight | Reach up to 150 g |
Application | Suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for processing and preservation. |
Yield | From 1 sq. m of planting area, you can collect about 5-7 kg of fruit. On average, up to 7 tomatoes are formed on one bush. Productivity is low due to the fact that the variety is early. |
Growing features | Requires pinching and garters to a strong support. |
Disease resistance | Resistant to major diseases. Thanks to early ripening, the tomato ripens before the onset of late blight. |
Grade values | It brings a stable crop and has a good fruit set even at low temperatures. |
Agricultural technology
To successfully grow tomatoes, it is necessary to observe a number of requirements:
- Prepare seedlings 55-60 days before their intended planting in the ground. As a rule, this period falls at the end of March.
- For Skorospelka, sandy loam and loamy soils with a pH in the region of 5-6 are optimal. Its best predecessors are cucumbers, cabbage and all kinds of beans.
- Maintain abundant lighting as the tomato loves light. The brighter and more intense it is, the more actively the fruits will ripen. Lack of light will lead to stretching and weakening of the bushes, as a result of which the beginning of their flowering and fruiting will be delayed.
- In order for the seeds to start germinating, the temperature should be maintained within + 14 ... + 16 ° C, although its best indicators are + 20 ... + 25 ° C. If it drops to + 10 ° C, the development and growth of the plant will significantly slow down and may stop altogether with a further decrease in temperature. If it reaches -1 ° C, then the plant will die altogether.
- For the positive development of the plant, maintain air humidity of about 45-60%, and soil - 65-75%.
- In the process of plant growth, maintain the fertility of the soil cover, since the formation of fruits that receive most of the useful elements from the soil depends on it. So, at the stage of formation of the root system, it is worth introducing phosphorus fertilizers, and at the stage of fruit formation, complex fertilizers with phosphorus and potassium. Nitrogen fertilizers need to be handled especially carefully, for two reasons:
- lack of nitrogen will lead to a slowdown in plant growth, discoloration or even falling of leaves, the appearance of small fruits with defects;
- an excess of nitrogen will provoke excessive growth of foliage and stems, which will affect the yield of the variety and slow down the process of fruit formation.
In addition to top dressing with complex mineral fertilizers, in order to get a good crop, the plant must also be watered on time, stepsoned and preventive measures taken to protect it from pests and diseases.
How to buy seedlings?
Growing seedlings from seeds is one of the most important stages in the cultivation of tomatoes and requires a lot of time. With a shortage of seedlings, you can buy, given the following factors:
- The seedlings should be no more than 60 days old. In this case, young sprouts from the age of 45 days are the best option. It is important that all purchased seedlings are "the same age", otherwise they will grow unevenly in the garden and will not be able to provide natural protection to neighboring plants from the scorching sunlight.
- The optimum height of seedlings is up to 30 cm, and the number of leaves is from 6 to 8.
- The stem should be firm and thick, resembling a pencil in its parameters.
- There should be no visible mechanical damage on the leaves, stem and roots. In addition, there should be no egg-laying of various pests on the trunk and leaves. For small insect eggs, you should especially carefully examine the back of the leaves and the attachment points of the branches to the trunks.
- Seedlings should be symmetrical with a well-developed and compactly formed root system.
- All seedlings should be in boxes with soil, and not in bags, since this method of packaging can lead to damage to the root system, as a result of which its normal and rapid rooting in the garden bed will be disrupted.
Unscrupulous sellers accelerate the growth of seedlings by introducing excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilizers. Such seedlings will have an intense green color and leaves, the tips of which will be wrapped inside.
Do-it-yourself seedling preparation and outdoor planting
Many gardeners prefer to grow seedlings on their own since the end of March. This process consists of several stages:
- Preliminary processing... After purchasing the seeds, you need to germinate. First of all, fill them with water and leave for a while. Those that float up must be removed and destroyed, and the seed material at the bottom must be disinfected by soaking in a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1 g per 1 liter of water), which should have a light pink color. For disinfection of seeds, you can use other means, including a solution of ash (2 tablespoons of ash per 1 liter of boiling water, soak for 2 days) or Fitosporin-M, which improves germination and increases the immunity of tomato.
- Soil preparation... In a 1: 1: 1 ratio, mix earth, peat and sand, and then place the mixture in small-sized boxes or plastic containers and add manure to it. The substrate must be disinfected by heating it in the oven.
- Planting seeds... Plant them to a depth of 15 mm, and then pour warm water and cover with a film. Keep in a warm place until shoots appear, and then transfer to a bright place and remove the film. The first shoots are formed in 3-5 days, after which the sowing container must be transferred to a bright place.
- Top dressing... In 6-7 days after sowing, sprouts will appear. Seedlings need to be fed with fertilizers. Read more about this here.
- Pick... On 15-21 days or after the appearance of 2 adult leaves on the seedlings, dive so that the plant becomes stronger and stronger. When planting, deepen the tomatoes to the cotyledon leaves. Keep them in the shade from sunlight for 3-4 days so that the sprouts can adapt after transplantation.
- Maintaining an optimal microclimate... During the daytime, the temperature should be kept around + 20 ... + 25 ° C, and at night - not lower than + 18 ° C. If the spring is cloudy, it is necessary to extend the natural daylight hours with the help of fluorescent lamps. When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is also important to monitor the humidity of the air and regularly ventilate the room.
- Watering... When the soil cover dries up, the seedlings should be watered sparingly, taking into account that excessive moisture will lead to the development of a black leg. The soil also cannot be very moistened when applying various fertilizers.
The seedlings receive all the necessary trace elements from the soil, so if they look healthy and strong, and the leaves have a characteristic dark green tint, then they do not need any fertilizers.
- Hardening... It is carried out 12 days before planting seedlings in open ground. To harden the seedlings, every day they need to be taken out into the fresh air in a closed loggia or outside for several hours.
You can learn more about when and how to plant tomatoes for seedlings in our other article.
When the seedlings are 55-60 days old, they can be transplanted into open ground. To contribute to the rapid growth of tomatoes, in the fall, closer to October, it is worth planting siderates, for example, peas, in the garden. In the spring, 10-15 days before the start of work with seedlings, its greens need to be mowed, crushed and dug into the soil to fertilize it with all the necessary organic matter.
The transplanting of seedlings to a permanent place should be carried out according to the scheme 0.3x0.5 m at the rate of 5-6 plants per 1 sq. m. Previously, the soil on the site must be loosened, disinfected with potassium permanganate, manure and nitrogen fertilizers applied.
Read about growing tomatoes in the open field here.
Maintenance and care
To obtain a good harvest, seedlings must be properly taken care of, performing all agricultural practices on time. What are they, we will consider further.
Watering
It is carried out once a week with drought and less often in rainy weather. The best time to moisten the soil is morning or evening. You need to use warm water, settled in the sun.
It is worth watering the tomato by drip so that a little moisture is constantly kept under it. Thanks to this, the harvest will be large, and the fruits will grow fleshy and elastic.
After moistening the soil, you need to wait until the top layer takes up a crust, and then fluff up the earth around the bushes, otherwise a “stone” crust will form, which can harm the stem and roots, as it will interfere with the nutrition of the soil.
You cannot overdo it with watering, since a large amount of moisture will provoke the appearance of cracks in the fruits. They are dangerous in that infectious lesions can penetrate into them, causing the tomato to rot.
Loosening and hilling
The land needs to be loosened 3-4 times a week, and hilled up - 2-3 times per season. In addition, it is important to regularly weed and remove weeds, otherwise parasites will remain on the roots of plants that can provoke fungal or bacterial diseases.
Top dressing
The plant can be fed with any special mixtures that contain more potassium and phosphorus than nitrogen. They need to be applied no more than 2 times a week and at least 3 times a season. In addition, the tomato can be watered with water, in which the chicken droppings must first be dissolved.
Among mineral fertilizers, mixtures with a high content of boron and magnesium are especially useful. For example, a plant can be watered with a boric acid solution (1 g per 1 liter).
Tying
It is an important phase in plant care. It is carried out with the appearance of 6-7 leaves, that is, almost immediately after planting the seedlings in a permanent place. Tying can be done in one of two ways:
- tie each bush to a separate peg, which must be driven in at a distance of 10 cm from the stem, and from the north side;
- use a trellis with rare support posts, between which the wire is stretched.
It is believed that the second method is optimal, since bushes from two rows can be tied in pairs to one trellis. Thanks to this, you can clear the passage between them, which will greatly facilitate harvesting.
The experience of gardeners has shown that when the bushes are tied to a trellis, the fruits are larger than when they are tied to a peg alone.
Stealing
It is carried out 7 days after transplanting seedlings to the site. Stepchildren must be removed before their length reaches 3-4 cm. The fact is that removing a shoot of a longer length can lead to undesirable consequences and even death of the plant. You need to clean the stepsons every week, otherwise the bushes will grow greatly.
Protection from pests and diseases
If the garden was attacked by pests (aphids, Colorado potato beetles, caterpillars), they must be eliminated with the help of special chemicals. In the absence of such, you can use copper sulfate or soap solution. It must be sprayed on the leaves and stems of the plant.
Such pests can also cause particular harm to a tomato:
- Slug... They eat the foliage, provoke the development of rot on the fruits. Against them will help ash, tobacco dust, slaked lime. Sprinkle the chosen product around the stem.
- Spider mite... It entangles the foliage with a web, sucks out the juice from it, because of which it dries up, and the plant itself can die. An infusion of garlic or Karbofos will help against ticks.
- Medvedka... Destroying the root system leads to the death of the plant. To destroy it, you can use an infusion of bitter pepper with vinegar or Thunder.
- Wireworm... The larva of bright yellow color, which eats up the roots, often goes deep into the stem. It can be destroyed by Bazudin.
- Gnawing scoops... Caterpillar is dark gray or black in color, which destroys foliage and stems. To get rid of it, the plant can be sprayed with an Arrow.
- Whitefly... The insect appears on greenery and covers it with secretions, which is why it provokes the development of fungi. After that, the bush turns black and dies. You can use Confidor against insects.
As for diseases, among them, the following are especially dangerous:
- Streak... It leads to twisting and lethargy of leaves, falling off of all flowers and fruits, and in severe cases - the death of the plant itself. To prevent the virus, seedlings need to be transplanted into a sunny place and away from other cultures of the nightshade family.
- Verticillary wilting... The leaves turn yellow from below, dry and fall, and the plant stops growing, but does not die. In order to prevent the development of the disease, diseased bushes must be removed.
- Late blight... The whole plant is covered with numerous putrefactive spots, and the lower part of the foliage is covered with a whitish bloom. Proper nutrition and compliance with the rules of the neighborhood will help prevent the disease. If it struck a plant, then it must first be sprinkled with a Barrier, and a week later with a Barrier.Among folk remedies, an infusion of garlic has proven itself well (5 chopped cloves per 1 liter of water).
- Fomoz... Large crimson spots with a diameter of up to 3-4 cm appear on tomatoes. In appearance, the affected area is concave, since putrefactive processes also affect the pulp. The disease develops due to excessive moisture. If it has already been identified, the affected fruits must be removed, and the bushes must be sprayed with Bordeaux liquid, Hom or Oxyhom.
- Bacterial spot... Small brown spots appear on the foliage, and large depressed spots with a border in the form of a light border appear on the fruits. It threatens the complete death of the plant. To prevent disease, fertilizers containing copper and nitrogen must be applied on time. If spotting has appeared, the plant must be treated with Bordeaux liquid or copper sulphate. Withered bushes are best removed.
- Blackleg... It mainly affects seedlings and young seedlings. The infection manifests itself as black spots on the stem and wilting of the plant. To prevent the disease, the plant should be moderately watered, and sometimes a potassium permanganate solution (1-1.5 g per 10 liters of water) should be used for this.
How to collect and store the crop?
Harvesting can be done as early as June. If tomatoes are planned to be consumed fresh, as well as used for canning, making tomato juice or pasta, it is better to pick them at the moment when they are fully ripe and turn red. This happens 80-90 days after sowing the seeds. If it is planned to pickle or store Skorospelka, the fruits can be harvested earlier, when they are still green, dairy or pink.
Before storing, sorting should be carried out, identifying and removing fruits with mechanical or other damage. The most dense and elastic tomatoes need to be placed in plastic or wooden boxes so that each of them weighs no more than 12 kg. Keep them in a dark and cool place, such as a basement or pantry. However, it should not be damp, since in this case fungal and putrefactive lesions will appear on the tomatoes. To prevent damage to the crop, the room must be regularly ventilated, for example, opening the door for several hours.
The early ripening is a fleshy and resilient variety, so tomatoes retain their pristine shape for a long time. However, do not forget about them for a long time so that they do not deteriorate. So, they should be used for their intended purpose during the coming weeks after harvest.
Selected tomatoes can be transported in boxes so that they do not choke and do not let the juice out.
Pros and cons
The advantages of the variety look like this:
- bears fruit even with temperature drops, which often occur in April and May;
- has good immunity and is resistant to many diseases;
- does not face late blight due to its early maturity;
- differs in friendly return of a crop and unpretentiousness.
As for the shortcomings, the following should be noted:
- requires pinching;
- bushes need to be tied to a support;
- the yield is relatively low.
Early ripening is an early tomato variety that is recommended for outdoor cultivation, but also bears fruit in greenhouse conditions. The plant is unpretentious, and the main care for it is regular watering and top dressing. To get a good crop, you also need to remember about pinching and tying to a support.