Content:
Each new summer cottage season for amateur gardeners begins with the choice of a particular tomato variety for growing. The variety on store shelves is huge. Consider the Andromeda F1 variety.
History of creation
Tomatoes are a fairly fresh culture. It appeared in the Russian Empire during the reign of Empress Catherine II. However, the cultivation and consumption of tomatoes began almost a hundred years later. This was due to the fact that the tops and green fruits of the culture are poisonous, which often led to food poisoning, especially in animals. Then it turned out that ripe tomatoes are not only not dangerous, but also very tasty.
The Andromeda variety appeared at the end of the last century after the work on its breeding by the selection group under the leadership of AA Mashtakov. The breeders were faced with the task of bringing out an early ripe variety with excellent taste and high yield. Mashtakov successfully coped with this task. In addition, I received as many as three types of plants:
- red;
- gold;
- pink.
Tomato "Andromeda"
Tomatoes Andromeda F1 characteristics and description of the variety
This variety is a hybrid with a short ripening period. It has different fruit colors. Each of them has its own distinctive features. From the moment the seeds germinate to the ripening of the crop, it takes from 93 to 115 days. In the case of cold and rainy summers, it is necessary to add from a week to two to the ripening period.
Andromeda tomato description:
- medium branching;
- inflorescence is simple;
- there is no standard characteristic;
- determinism of the bush;
- height - from 58 cm to 72 cm, in a greenhouse - up to 1 m;
- type of bush semi-spread.
The first flowers appear after the sixth leaf, then after 1-2 leaves. After flowering, 5 to 7 tomatoes appear. The size is average. The skin is slightly irregular (corrugated). To obtain a rich harvest, abundant watering and a low environmental humidity are required. Disease resistance is above average.
The bush takes root well in the soil, however, its root system is poorly developed. This feature does not prevent him from doing well for some time without watering. Fertilize with preparations with phosphorus and potassium. The main focus should be on the plant during flowering and fruit formation.
Taking into account the peculiarities of the variety, it bears fruit in any corner of Russia. The cultivation methods, however, differ: in the south and in the middle lane, the tomato grows well in open ground, to the north - in greenhouses. The soil should not be "heavy". If in the previous year there were legumes, cucumbers or carrots in the place of "Andromeda" - a good harvest is practically guaranteed.
Now it is necessary to consider the features of the various types of Andromeda F1.
The most common variety is a bush with red fruits. It looks little different from other tomatoes: red, even rounded. Fruit weight - up to 150 g. Due to this, it is often used for preservation as a whole. Productivity is high - up to 9.5 kg per m².
The next variety of tomato is golden Andromeda. From the moment of germination to the moment of ripening, it takes from 100 to 112 days.It has the largest fruits - up to 320 g. The shape of the fruits is somewhat different from the red variety - they are flat and round. Fruit color is yellow. The taste is sweetish. The yield is lower - up to 8 kg / m².
Golden Andromeda tomato
Andromeda pink tomatoes are the fastest ripening. On average, the fruits are ready for harvesting in 78-85 days from the moment of seed germination. The leaves of the bush have a peculiarity: they have a silvery tint. The color of the fruit is pink. Significantly less golden subspecies - up to 125 g. But the yield is the highest - up to 10.5 kg / m².
Agrotechnics
Landing procedure
Getting a rich harvest begins with the correct planting of seeds and growing seedlings. Seeds are placed in the ground at the very beginning of March. It is recommended to moisten the planting material with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This will protect the seedlings from diseases.
Seedling boxes must be washed and wiped dry. Next, the substrate is placed in them. Experienced gardeners make it themselves: 2 parts of land + 1 part of sand with humus. In stores, the substrate is also present.
Then the earth is shed well and grooves are made, about 1 cm deep. Seeds are placed in them and sprinkled with soil.
Planting seeds in plowed soil
The boxes must be covered with a film that transmits light. This will create a "greenhouse" effect: the soil does not dry out, and the climate for seed germination is favorable. Installing boxes is required in a warm place with plenty of light. Periodically, the soil is watered, but the seeds should not be constantly in the water. In a week, diligent gardeners will be pleased with the first shoots. At this point, the tape is removed.
The next stage comes when three leaves appear on the seedlings. At this moment, a dive is made: the seedlings are separated and a separate pot is allocated to each bush. In it, it will grow until it is transplanted into a greenhouse at the end of May or open ground at the beginning of June. The bushes of this variety are quite large, so it is recommended to plant no more than 4 plants per 1 m².
Care
No special care is required for this hybrid. Everything is usual: regular watering with warm water and weeding. Weeding is extremely important here: in addition to removing weeds that prevent the plant from developing, the soil is loosened. Like most tomatoes, this variety is self-pollinated.
Weed bed weeding for better soil aeration
The grown bush requires the obligatory removal of the stepsons on the sides. You need to cut them off to the very base, otherwise these side shoots will pull food on themselves, but there will be no fruit from them. In this case, the bush will grow very much, and the yield will be small. The ideal Andromeda bush is one, maximum two stems. Such a plant will give a large number of tasty and large fruits.
Hand-picking is done by hand or using scissors. Scissors after each bush must be disinfected. This is done in order not to transfer the disease from a diseased bush to a healthy one. The pinching process is carried out in the morning, twice a week. If it is damp and cloudy on this day, then the sections are treated with ash.
Experienced gardeners have a special fertilization secret for this tomato variety. With the help of it, they achieve greater sugar content in the fruits. To do this, take a container with a volume of 10 liters. Fill it with warm water, add a glass of wood ash and a tablespoon of salt. Mix thoroughly and pour 0.5 liters under each bush.
In the process of growing, the bushes will require tying to an additional support, otherwise the stem may break. The garter is done a week after planting the seedlings in the ground.
Garter rope tomato
Andromeda tomatoes often fall ill with late blight, so you cannot do without prevention and treatment. Late blight is a fungal disease that appears on bushes in the form of spores. The source of late blight hibernates in fallen leaves and dried tops. It appears in July-August.
For treatment, the following solution is produced: a mixture of garlic and salt is made in equal proportions. A glass of this mixture is dissolved in a bucket of water and the affected areas are treated.
Late blight on Andromeda
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
Advantages:
- early maturity;
- cold resistance;
- taste qualities;
- carpal, which speeds up the harvest.
Disadvantages:
- prone to late blight;
- the root system is poorly developed;
- fertilization of the bushes is required;
- in the northern regions it can only grow in greenhouses.
Thus, the Andromeda tomato is deservedly one of the most popular among gardeners. Possesses excellent taste, high yield and does not require special care.
