Description and characteristics of tomatoes Balcony Miracle
Some varieties of tomatoes are able to grow and bear fruit even when grown at home. One of the most common varieties is the Balcony Miracle tomatoes. They have earned their popularity among those people who do not have their own summer cottage or a simple land plot for growing vegetables.
Description and characteristics of tomatoes Balcony Miracle
Picky in care and maintenance, tomatoes can be kept in any place convenient for a person. In addition, small dwarf bushes can decorate the interior of a balcony or room.
Description of the variety
The balcony miracle tomatoes were brought to us from Germany. German breeders, at one time, carried out a real revolution among fruiting crops. The result of their activity was a dwarf plant, the growth of which does not exceed 60 cm. Such dimensions of the bush characterize it as an ornamental plant that does not require tying.
The characteristics of this variety (also known as Cherry) can surprise both the novice and experienced gardener. Growing at home, this tomato can yield twice a year. In addition, fruit ripening occurs even in low light. A ripe vegetable plucked from a bush has a red color. Its weight is 30-40 grams. The taste of tomato is sweet, with sour notes present. Their application can be different. Small fruits are suitable both for fresh consumption and for preparing various dishes. In addition, small tasty fruits are also suitable for preservation.
Description of the external features of the tomato variety The balcony miracle also has its own characteristics. A small ornamental shrub grown in a pot or in a box can be a decoration for a balcony or greenhouse. Plus, the tomato looks great on the windowsill too. The standard form of the bush and the bunches of fruits that stand out among the dense foliage bring something new, fresh, unusual for urban conditions into the dwelling. The yield of the Balcony Miracle is also surprising. Up to 2 kg of vegetables can be harvested from one small tree. For decorative varieties, this is a great rarity.
The benefits of growing at home
Apartment owners who do not have their own land always want to receive fresh vegetables and fruits. In addition, if they are grown in an apartment, on a windowsill or loggia, you can be sure of their quality and usefulness.
It is always beneficial to have an indoor tomato bush "close by", which yields a crop 2 times a year. You can surprise guests by putting freshly picked tomatoes on the table, or add them to a salad. In addition, you can be sure of the usefulness of these vegetables, because they were grown at home, with your own hands. Those people who have already felt the benefits of growing the Balcony Miracle on their windowsill or balcony, distinguish:
- beautiful appearance of the plant;
- unpretentious care;
- early maturity (90 days from planting) and high yield.
Indoor ornamental plants have almost no flaws. Some people dislike only the small size of the fruit. But, other indoor gardeners find advantages in this. After all, such vegetables do not take up much space in the refrigerator and can easily be placed in glass jars for preservation.
Landing requirements
The first thing that a person who has decided to grow tomatoes in an apartment should take care of is to buy seeds. When choosing seeds, it is best to pay attention only to well-known manufacturers, the quality of whose products thousands of gardeners were convinced. Another important point is the soil. Tomatoes can be planted in several types of soil:
- in a special soil mixture for tomatoes;
- in the substrate "Living Earth";
- into self-prepared soil.
Choosing the Right Soil Will Ensure Good Yields
Having decided to make the soil for sowing seeds yourself, you need to prepare the necessary components. The resulting soil should be fertile but lightweight. Therefore, it is best to mix in equal proportions:
- black soil;
- humus;
- peat.
There are many options for preparing the soil mixture. Some gardeners prefer to take pure black soil and add superphosphate, potassium and even urea to it. Others add sand and mineral fertilizers to the soil.
Preparing seeds for planting
Having decided to grow the Balcony Miracle, it is important to perform some preparatory operations to grow strong healthy seedlings from seeds. Having bought planting material (seeds), and planning the time for sowing them, you must:
- A day before sowing, soak the seeds in a warm weak solution of potassium permanganate. Soak the seeds in potassium permanganate for no more than half an hour.
- The seeds floating on the surface are empty. They are not suitable for growing and should be disposed of.
- Remove the remaining seeds from the solution and rinse them with clean water.
- Take a piece of natural cloth, moisten it with water and wrap the seeds in it.
- Place the bundle in a warm place. It is best to put them on a battery.
In a day, you can start planting. The number of seeds that have been prepared will be as ready for germination as possible. In addition, having planted them, the first shoots will appear in 10-14 days.
Planting tomato seeds
Tomato seedlings are grown in greenhouses. Therefore, before proceeding with sowing seeds, you should prepare:
- small pots or plastic cups;
- soil mixture;
- a cut bottle or plastic wrap.
The very process of sowing seeds is simple. Soil is poured into the prepared containers, into which 2 seeds should be planted. They are dug in to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. After planting, the soil is moistened, and the pots are covered with polyethylene. A cut-off plastic bottle may also work.
After planting, the pots are placed on the windowsill or on the balcony. The main condition for the emergence of sprouts is warmth. It is important that during this period the air temperature does not fall below 22 ° C.
Transplanting a tomato into a large container
The size of the pot must match the root system of the tomato
In a greenhouse, plants are kept until sprouts appear. As soon as a person notices the first shoots, one should:
- Remove plastic or bottle.
- Put the cups with seedlings in the sun (stand for 24 hours).
- The next day, take the seedlings to a cooler place (if the air temperature in the new place for the plant is not lower than 18 ° C).
Changing the place of cultivation requires a person to carefully monitor the condition of the seedlings. It is still weak and cannot withstand heavy loads from a sharp change in climatic conditions. Therefore, you should save the plants from drafts (seedlings should not fall into the ventilation zone), and also monitor timely watering. It is better to do it once a week.
In order for the plant to grow and develop well, it is necessary to control the receipt of solar energy by the plant. You can put seedlings from a dark place on a windowsill for several days. The tomato needs sunlight to illuminate the sprouts evenly. Therefore, gardeners are advised to periodically turn the cups in different directions to the light. If the cultivation of seedlings was in the winter, it will be useful to install a heater next to the plants. But, such equipment greatly dries the air, so it is better to put a container with water next to the heater.
Such care features should be observed until the seedlings get stronger. When her growth reaches 15 cm, you need to change the growing container to a larger pot. It is important to use a new substrate for this as a soil. Requirements for it are the same as for sowing seeds. It is better to plant seedlings in those pots that will fit the entire root system of a tomato. In addition, it is better not to use very large containers.
Tips for growing seedlings
You can get mature, beautiful tomatoes in the future only by observing all the features of caring for the plant. In addition, it should be taken care of from the very first days from planting seeds. Therefore, you can get a large and healthy harvest using some advice from experienced gardeners. In part, they relate to feeding young sprouts and seedlings.
Numerous reviews on how to grow a Balcony Miracle indicate the need to constantly replenish the trace elements useful for the plant contained in the soil. In addition, feeding can be carried out already with the appearance of the first shoots. The best remedies for them are the preparations "Epin" and "Cytovid". You can also make fertilizer yourself, adding 1 g of water to one liter of settled water for irrigation. urea, 5 gr. superphosphate and 1 gr. potassium sulfate.
In total for the season, it is allowed to fertilize the plant 3 times. In addition to feeding the sprouts in the first days of their appearance, you should carry out the same procedure after 2 weeks, as well as before transplanting the seedlings into a large container. Also, some gardeners advise using weak solutions of mullein or droppings as top dressing.
Features of growing tomatoes
After the Balkonnoe Miracle tomatoes have been planted in large pots or boxes, there is no need to cover them with foil. Fresh air should feed the plant's root system. We must not forget about loosening the soil. This procedure is necessary for tomatoes for their active development.
It is equally important to install a phytolamp in the indoor garden. It is especially important if this period of growing tomatoes fell in late autumn or winter. You can plant such seedlings far from windows, but, under such conditions, you need to control the daylight hours as much as possible.
Problems with growing tomatoes are rare. Most often, caring for such indoor plants consists of several actions:
- watering (as the soil dries up);
- periodic loosening of the soil (so that the air penetrates to the roots of the tomato);
- top dressing during the flowering period.
You can get a good harvest from an indoor ornamental plant using an ordinary soft brush. Apply it during the flowering period. In order for the pollination of flowers to take place more efficiently, it is necessary to walk over all the inflorescences with a prepared brush. You can also shake the branches of the tomato.
If you do not provide assistance in pollination of the balcony miracle tomato, you will not have to expect a good harvest. The fact is that this tomato variety has poorly developed self-pollination. Therefore, it is in the interests of humans to help the tomato do this. The official description also says that it is possible to grow such a variety as the Balcony Miracle at home only if the rules for plant lighting and thermal conditions are observed.
Conclusion
Balcony miracle tomatoes, which are grown in any conditions (in a house, apartment, greenhouse or in the open field), are a low-growing variety with high yielding characteristics.
With proper care, a person can get up to 2 kg of fruit from one bush. In addition, the cultivation of the crop differs little from other species of nightshade. The main thing is to monitor the condition of the plant, water and fertilize it in a timely manner.
The appearance of the plant deserves special attention. A bush grown in a room will decorate any interior, adding notes of something summer and fresh to it. In addition, when the first fruits appear on the branches, the bush will become even more attractive.