Characteristics of the tomato variety Moscow Lights
Tomato Lights of Moscow belongs to the early varieties that delight with the first harvest 3 months after the appearance of the first shoots. Tomatoes taste great and, due to their ease of growing, are suitable even for novice growers.
Characteristics of the tomato variety Moscow Lights
Characteristic
The lights of Moscow are a varietal variety of early ripening nightshades, they are unassuming to care for. According to its characteristics, the variety is distinguished by its universal qualities:
- Compactness. The bush does not require a lot of space: for 1 sq. m planted up to 6 bushes.
- Optional pinching.
- Excellent keeping quality. the variety is easy to transport to the place of sale or use.
- Great taste and versatility.
Description of the variety
Moscow Lights is a determinant variety that is distinguished by short ripening lines and a compact bush. The plant is thermophilic, therefore it is recommended for agricultural technology in the open field of southern latitudes. According to the description, the ripening period is 90-100 days after the first shoots appear. In the northern latitudes, you can grow an excellent harvest in greenhouses.
Description of the bush
The official description states that the bush reaches a height of about 1 m, has a non-standard shape. Its leaves are large, dark green, unbranched stems. The plant takes up little space and grows upward rather than wide. It depends on the fact that a few stepsons are formed on the bush.
Some growers believe that this variety does not need to be pinned. This is not entirely true: the first flowers on the top of the main stem inhibit the growth of the entire bush, so you still have to pinch. To speed up the appearance of new inflorescences, stepsons that appeared below the upper inflorescences must be removed. This is done once a week, removing no more than 1-2 shoots at a time so that the plant does not experience stress. One small shoot is left: it comes to replace the upper old ones, when the fruits on them are already ripe.
Description of fruits
Moscow Lights Tomatoes have round, fleshy fruits that turn dark red when ripe. The weight of each is up to 110 g, the fruits are not only beautiful, but also very tasty, sweet and sour, therefore they are excellent for fresh consumption.
The variety is early maturing, and therefore it is able to provide the human body with useful vitamins and minerals in late spring and early summer. The high concentration of solids makes the fruit ideal for pickles and pickles.
Growing seedlings
Good care will ensure an excellent harvest
Healthy seedlings are essential and essential for a good harvest, but growing them is no easy task. If you make mistakes when sowing and growing it, they will show themselves, as a result, the yield of an adult tomato bush will decrease. Everything must be carefully weighed, from the choice of sowing dates to the proper care of the sprouts.
Soil preparation and planting seeds
Tomato seeds are sown 2 months before the sprouts are planted in a permanent place.
In the conditions of southern latitudes, this is done at the end of February - the first decade of March, in the northern regions - in the first half of April. Overgrown seedlings do not take root well, the growth of the bush is inhibited, which is why the yield is significantly reduced. To accurately determine the timing of sowing seeds, you need to know exactly when the last spring frosts in the region end. 60 days are counted from this period - this is the date of optimal sowing. If the seedlings are planted in a greenhouse or hotbeds, sowing is done 14-21 days earlier.
Sowing preparation includes:
- disinfection of tomato seeds;
- preparation and disinfection of soil.
Tomato seeds from well-known manufacturers, packaged in bags, are sold already disinfected and do not require special preparation for sowing. Seeds harvested independently or purchased on the market are disinfected. They are placed in solutions:
- one percent potassium permanganate solution (1 g of substance per 100 ml of water); seeds, wrapped in gauze, are placed in a solution for 20 minutes, then washed with running water;
- 0.5% soda solution (0.5 g per 100 ml of water); seeds are soaked in solution for a day; such a solution promotes early fruit formation;
- 100% solution of aloe tree juice (100 ml of juice, 100 ml of water); the juice is sold in the pharmacy chain or is prepared with your own hands; the solution increases the immunity of plants and has a positive effect on the quality of the fruit.
Seeds are placed in the grooves every 1-2 cm, which are sprinkled with soil. The top of the box is covered with glass: the greenhouse effect will ensure a constant temperature and high humidity. It is necessary to constantly monitor the humidity: the appearance of mold on the surface of the soil indicates waterlogging. The first seedling appears in a few days at an air temperature of 25-27 ° C. The lower the temperature, the longer the tomato seeds germinate, sometimes it takes about 2 weeks.
Sprout care
Strong plants grow only from healthy seedlings
The optimal conditions for the growth of seedlings are a sufficient amount of light, high humidity and warmth.
Seedling boxes are placed on the south-facing windows. If there is not enough natural light, artificial fluorescent lighting is connected. Some vegetable growers (Tugarova T. Yu.) Are of the opinion that round-the-clock illumination of seedlings during the first three days after germination contributes to the better development of sprouts.
Seedlings are sprayed with warm water several times a day, you need to water carefully: for this purpose, use a syringe without a needle. It is necessary to remove the film or glass from the box gradually, without allowing the soil to dry:
- The air temperature in the room should be between 18 ° C and 25 ° C, at night a little lower - from 12 ° C to 15 ° C.
- In warm weather, the seedlings are hardened: windows or transoms are opened, on which there are boxes with plants.
- After 2-3 weeks, the seedlings are fed for the first time, then feeding is done every 7 days. Organic fertilizers work best.
Diving and planting seedlings
After the appearance of the first true leaves from the seedlings, if it is sown too heap, it is dived - transplanted into separate cups. Tomatoes tolerate transplanting well, but the sprouts are still very weak, so it is important not to damage them. Damage to the roots during the pick slows down the growth of the plant for a whole week. Seedlings are pryed with a spatula, they are taken along with the earth. For transplanting, 0.5 liter cups are ideal.
After 45-55 days, the first flower shoots are visible on the seedlings. This suggests that after 1-2 weeks it must be planted in a permanent place.
Gardeners do not recommend delaying this process, since the stagnant seedlings are inhibited in growth. Characteristics of a good planting material: powerful stems forming a branched bush, large dark green leaves, long root.It is necessary to plant plants at a distance of 20-30 cm from each other, since the Lights of Moscow are a small bush and does not require a large area. For planting tomatoes, cloudy, warm and calm weather is best suited. After planting, the plants are watered with warm water.
Diseases and prevention
The variety is resistant to diseases, but it is recommended to carry out preventive measures: timely remove weeds between plants, tear off the lower leaves to provide fresh air. Treatment of bushes with Quadris and Ridomil Gold in the first days of planting in open ground will reliably protect them from late blight. The treatment is repeated every 2 weeks.
Conclusion
Moscow Lights tomatoes have more advantages than disadvantages. The plant pleases novice vegetable growers with its simple care, increased resistance to diseases and excellent taste of the fruits. This variety allows you to get an early harvest from delicious tomatoes and provide them for the whole family.