Description and features of the Rapunzel tomato

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The original appearance in combination with excellent taste is what Rapunzel tomato is notable for in the first place. Recently introduced, this variety has become one of the most successful achievements of British breeders involved in improving nightshade crops. This is confirmed by the consistently high demand for the seeds of such tomatoes - and this despite the fact that they can be easily purchased not in every country in the world.

Description and features of the Rapunzel tomato

Brief history of the variety

The first mention of the Rapunzel tomato dates back to 2014, when he took part in a crop exhibition held in the United States. And it should be noted that there he received very flattering reviews - largely due to his long fruiting tassels, strewn with many berries and decorated with luscious green foliage. Experts easily classified Rapunzel as a cherry variety, a distinctive feature of which is the miniature size of its fruits.

As for the rather unusual name of this tomato, it was not given to him by accident. As you know, the main character of the fairy tale of the same name had very long braids, distinguished by indescribable beauty. Anyone who has seen it at least once - live or in a photo is able to notice such a similarity with the plant in question. It is for this reason that it is hardly possible to choose a more appropriate name for him.

Main characteristics

Starting the description of the Rapunzel tomato, first of all, it is worth paying attention to the most significant features of this variety, the list of which is as follows:

• the presented tomato is early ripe, and therefore its berries ripen in 10-12 weeks;
• Rapunzel belongs to the indeterminate variety of tomatoes, i.e. does not have a clear limit on its growth;
• the average height of an adult plant is 180-240 cm, and in some cases it can be even more impressive;
• The Rapunzel tomato variety is very photophilous, as a result of which it needs 10 hours of light every day - natural or artificial;
• the root of such plants is very powerful, and the number of branches from it is relatively small.

Special attention should be paid to the fruits of which the tomatoes corresponding to the Rapunzel variety can "boast". They are located on strongly elongated clusters, 30-40 pieces each, and the average weight of such berries is 25 g, which is the norm for any cherry variety. The palatability of these fruits, decorated with a beautiful glossy rind, is also remarkable: they are characterized by pleasant sweetness with moderate sourness. As for the energy value, the tomatoes in question are low, so they can be confidently recommended to everyone who follows the rules of a low-calorie diet.

It is reasonable to note that Rapunzel tomatoes are not very suitable for pickling.Given this circumstance, it is advisable to use such tomatoes fresh - separately or as one of the ingredients in a salad.

Advantages and disadvantages

The fruits of the plant are very useful for humans.

The next stage in describing Rapunzel tomatoes provides for listing the most significant advantages and disadvantages that they possess. It should be noted right away that the number of the former is several times greater than the number of the latter, and this is confirmed in the responses of many experienced gardeners who know about this variety firsthand. If we single out the advantages that Rapunzel tomatoes are characterized by in the very first place, then their list will look like this:

1. The presented variety can be grown not only outdoors, but also in greenhouses. In addition, it is quite possible to grow Rapunzel tomatoes at home - using ordinary balcony boxes with a suitable volume.
2. The considered fruit crop is able to bring a lot of benefits to the human body. First of all, this is due to the successful set of trace elements, glucose and pectins, which are part of the Rapunzel tomato in considerable quantities.
3. On average, one bush of this plant allows you to achieve a very high yield. Of course, such fertility can be achieved provided that the key care rules are followed, a description of which will be presented below.
4. Experience shows that the Rapunzel tomato variety is capable of "boasting" high resistance to the vast majority of diseases and pests of nightshade crops.

Of the minuses of Rapunzel tomatoes, it is worth noting the impossibility of long-term storage of plucked berries, as well as certain difficulties that most of those who want to buy tomato seeds of the considered variety have to face.

Basic rules for growing seedlings

In order for the owner of such plants not to be disappointed in his choice, it makes sense for him to know how to grow Rapunzel tomatoes. It is easy to guess that the implementation of this task should be started with seed treatment - by using a weak solution of potassium permanganate. It is strongly discouraged to refuse to perform this action, because it helps to protect seeds from the activity of pathogenic microflora.

As for the cultivation itself, it involves the sequential implementation of the following steps:

1. Seeds should be sown from mid-March to early April - on the surface of well-moistened, loose and fertilized soil.
2. The recommended thickness of the soil layer, which should be sprinkled with Rapunzel tomato seeds, should be 4 mm.
3. It is most rational to cover containers for seedlings with polyethylene or glass, thereby creating conditions for a small greenhouse.
4. The optimum temperature range for seedling emergence is 24-26 ° C. At the same time, the illumination of the area where the seeds are sown should be very long - about 12 hours a day.
5. If you grow Rapunzel seedlings correctly, then seedlings should appear after 7-8 days from the moment of planting.
6. After the small tomatoes have hatched, open the containers and lower the temperature by about 5 ° C.

As soon as the Rapunzel tomato acquires three full-fledged leaves, which most often occurs after 2-3 decades from the moment of germination, miniature plants can be safely transplanted from a smaller container to a larger one, i.e. carry out their pick. The depth of the holes created in such cases should be in the region of 10 cm.

Follow-up activities

It will be useful to add that in the future it is necessary to grow Rapunzel tomatoes taking into account the following basic recommendations:

1. The soil intended for such tomatoes should have an acidic or slightly acidic reaction (maximum pH value is 6.0).
2. Taking into account the fact that the Rapunzel tomato variety needs free space, the minimum distance between two adjacent plants should be 40-50 cm.
3. In order to increase the yield, ripening tomatoes should be fed twice a month with manure diluted in water (ratio 1:10).
4. Rapunzel tomato scythes will grow with maximum intensity if the plant owner does not refuse to apply complex fertilizers to the soil, which can be purchased at any specialized store.
5. It is highly desirable to fix the gradually developing stem of the plant firmly on a strong support - and for the entire period of fruiting.

In addition, special attention should be paid to watering. Given that Rapunzel tomatoes prefer constant but moderate moisture, their owner needs to regularly monitor the condition of the potting mix, watering it as it dries. Do not forget about prophylactic spraying with Bordeaux mixture, which makes it possible to nullify the likelihood of parasite breeding in various parts of the tomato bush.

Completing the description of the Rapunzel tomato variety and the rules for caring for it, it is important to remember the correct formation of the plants in question. Based on the numerous reviews presented on the Internet, it can be argued that it provides for the leaving of 1-2 stems, accompanied by the regular removal of stepsons. This allows you to achieve optimal yield and increase the resistance of the bush, the load on which will only increase over time.