Characteristics of the American Ribbed tomato variety
There are gardeners who like to grow interesting plants on their plots. It can be exotic vegetables and fruits such as Pineberry strawberries, Red cucumbers, which are Doubtful Tladiant, and many others. But very often different varieties of tomatoes become such plants, differing in color, fruit shape or originality of the bush. Beautiful, in this regard, is the American Ribbed tomato. And if lovers once raised it, then in the future they will recommend this variety to both friends and acquaintances.
Characteristic
The hallmark of any plant is its characteristic. In our tomato, it consists of several features.
- The American Ribbed Multicolored Tomato variety is considered a folk variety.
- The plant belongs to determinant species, medium-late ripening.
- It can be grown both outdoors and in a greenhouse.
- Differs in the original shape of the fruit, which can be of different colors.
- Fruit weight ranges from 200 g to 400 g. and higher.
- Tomatoes are suitable for fresh consumption and for processing.
- The yield from one bush can reach 6 kg.
The American Ribbed Tomato is not the brainchild of experienced breeders. It is a product of long cultivation by amateurs who left the fruits that they loved on seeds.
Description of the plant
It is recommended to grow the tomato in 2 or 3 stems. Reviews of experienced gardeners claim that when formed in 1 stem, the fruits will be larger. A standard determinant plant can grow up to 150cm. The stems are strong, but if the plant is not tied up, they can break.
The foliage is American Ribbed, medium. All leaves are colored evenly in a bright saturated green color. The relief of the leaves is poorly expressed, the veins are thin and are at the level of the leaf plate.
Description of fruits
The fruits of this tomato are very original, ribbed, as if cut into slices. Among the people, they are affectionately called Chrysanthemums, for their external resemblance to this beautiful flower. They are flattened at the poles.
They have a shiny thin skin, which can crack if excessive moisture is present. The color of the fruit can be different:
- red;
- orange;
- lemon;
- bright yellow;
- pink.
Depending on the color and place of growth, the American Ribbed variety received additional names.
So, one of the tomatoes is called the Lorraine Beauty, it is red, and the Lorraine Beauty Orange, as the name implies, has orange fruits, like a golden sun. Cuban Black-fruited is distinguished by a dark purple color, sometimes having a blue and burgundy hue of fruits, similar to a flat rounded heart. The Puzata Khata variety is rather long-fruited, but the fruit expands from below, and it is not ribbed, but folded.
The description of tomatoes will not be complete if you do not talk about the taste of the fruit. The taste that tomatoes of this variety have American Ribbed, ordinary tomato, but brighter and more intense. There is more sugar in fruits than sourness, while their aroma is sweet and fresh.
Application of tomatoes
It may seem that these tomatoes are just a shining example of originality and beauty. But their fruits are suitable for various uses.
- When cutting for salads, they can be both a component of a dish and its decoration.
- Juices are made from such fruits with a special density.
- Ketchups, dressings for main courses and adjika are obtained from red and chocolate fruits - tomato color, and from orange and yellow fruits - amber.
- For canning as a whole, fruits that are tied at the tops are suitable. They are smaller and fit well through the necks of the cans.
It follows from this that a tomato with a larger volume is suitable for any processing. And other tomatoes of the right size for whole fruit canning will be harvested for future use, whole.
Preparation for growing seedlings
American Ribbed, like almost all tomatoes, is grown by the seedling method. In order to avoid annoying blunders, you need to know agricultural techniques and a description of the processes of sowing seeds and subsequent care for the sprouts. First, two months before planting seedlings in the ground, containers are prepared - nurseries, substrate and seeds.
For nurseries, containers with transparent lids, pots and various containers that can be covered with glass or film are suitable. The soil is purchased on purpose or, which is more often the case, they prepare it themselves. To do this, take:
- garden land;
- wood ash;
- fine sand, but no dust;
- well-rotted mullein.
The substrate is thoroughly mixed, lightly sprayed with water and squeezed in a fist. If, after compression, the soil crumbles, then it is ready for use, if it gets lost in a lump, then more sand is added.
Sowing seeds and caring for sprouts
Before sowing, the seeds are soaked in a light pink solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection.
To stimulate growth, you can add aloe juice to the solution. After 8 hours, they are washed and slightly dried.
A shallow drain is placed at the bottom of the containers, on which soil is poured in a layer of about 10 cm and leveled. Seeds are spread on the surface and sprinkled with soil up to 1 cm high. Then it is sprayed from a spray bottle, covered with lids or plastic wrap and put on germination. The temperature in nurseries should be: during the day - 25 grams of heat, and at night - at least 16 grams.
After the appearance of the second pair of leaves, the seedlings dive. In order for young plants to better tolerate the transplant, they are sprayed with a solution of boric acid. After that, caring for the sprouts is reduced to watering and airing. Plants stay in containers for about 70 days.
If you plan to plant the American Ribbed Tomato outdoors, then the seedlings must be hardened. To do this, a couple of weeks before disembarkation, the containers are taken out to fresh air and the lids are opened for half an hour on the first day. Exposure to the sun is increased every day by 1 hour.
Disembarkation to a permanent place
On the plot or in the greenhouse, holes are marked so that 1 sq. M. 3 plants were planted, when forming bushes in 2 stems and 4 shoots, when forming in 1 stem. It is advisable to install a solid support near each hole for tying the fruit brushes. They are growing, have a lot of weight and can, under their weight, either come off and fall, or completely break the bush.
Care
As far as leaving is concerned, it is relatively simple.
- Timely watering, which does not allow the soil to dry out.
- Weeding and loosening soil between plants and rows.
- Protection from pests.
- Fertilizing tomatoes.
- Prevention of diseases and treatment of plants.
Watering tomatoes is necessary only at the root, avoiding the ingress of water on the leaves and fruits, which can lead to diseases. Even if weeds are not observed, then loosening is necessary because it gives air access to the rhizome area.
You need to fertilize the plants the first time before the flower brushes form.
Subsequent treatments can be carried out no earlier than 14 days. Chemicals and organics are used to fertilize tomatoes.
The description says that protecting American Ribbed plants from insects comes down to foliar treatment of tomatoes with broad-spectrum insecticides, such as Aktara, Decis Profi, Confidor Maxi and others. For the prevention of viruses and diseases, you can purchase Fitosporin, Colloidal Sulfur, Bordeaux mixture, Copper sulfate and other drugs. They are also suitable for the treatment of diseases in the early stages. But if you start the course of the disease, then you can lose both the crop and plants, in general.
Conclusion
If you like delicious and original fruits of tomatoes, then American Ribbed is well suited for this purpose. Growing it on your plots, you will get a good harvest of tomatoes and be able to give them your own, positive, reviews. They can be processed into canned food, you can eat them fresh, and surprise your friends with bright and unusual fruits, you will definitely succeed. And if once you have tomatoes of this variety, then you will never refuse to have colorful chrysanthemums of the American tomato variety on the table.