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Rarely does a household plot do without tomatoes. Their delicious fruits can be eaten fresh or canned. But not all varieties can be grown both in the open field and in a greenhouse and on a balcony. One of these versatile varieties is the Geranium Kiss tomato.
This variety is relatively young, American breeder Alan Kupuler bred it in 2008. Due to its unique properties, it quickly gained popularity among gardeners. Besides the fact that it can be grown anywhere, it also grows in different ways. So, if it is planted in a greenhouse, then a large bush grows, up to 1.5 m high. And when grown in open ground - a bush up to 60 cm high.It is also convenient because in urban conditions it can be easily grown on the balcony.
Main characteristics
Tomato Geranium Kiss belongs to early maturing determinant varieties, subject to growing technology, it takes only 3 months from germination to harvest.
Appearance
The variety is very interesting in that it adapts to the growing conditions. If it grows outdoors, then it is a compact bush. When grown in a greenhouse, the bush grows on average up to 1 meter high, up to a maximum of 1.5 m. When growing on a balcony, a pot of up to 6 liters is enough. Stealing is not required. A distinctive feature is that in order to obtain a good harvest, it is necessary to leave up to 4 main stems. Possesses dense foliage of rich dark green color. The bush is very fluffy. Leaves are dense, sit on thick legs. Small yellow flowers. In one brush, the number of fruits can reach 100 pcs.
Tomato Geranium Kiss
The fruit is oval, pointed downwards. The color of the fruit is deep red. Weight - up to 40 g. It resembles a walnut in size. Refers to cocktail cherry tomatoes. Looks original in a flower arrangement on a flower bed, standing out with an abundance of yellow flowers and bright clusters of small fruits.
Taste qualities
The tomato has good taste. There are few seeds. The taste is sweet. The pulp is pleasant. Can be eaten fresh or used for canning. It can be used to make ketchups, sauces, tomato juice, and salt. The collection of fruits with whole ripe bunches looks very nice.
Having studied the tomato Geranium Kiss, the characteristics and description of the variety, we can safely say that it can be grown in any region. In southern latitudes, you can even sow seeds directly into the ground. But in the northern regions, cultivation in greenhouses would be the best option.
Growing technology
Seeds are purchased from trusted sellers or breeders. Caring for such a tomato is very simple. It is grown in seedlings. Sowing seedlings for early harvest is carried out in February. Before sowing, it is necessary to soak the seeds in potassium permanganate. Also, to accelerate germination, you can treat them with a growth stimulant, for example, Epin or Zircon.
When the seeds are swollen, they are placed in the soil, it is best to use peat soil, and covered with a film, the earth should not be allowed to dry out. Place in a warm, well-lit place before germination.
They are planted in a permanent place in early May, when the threat of frost has passed. Usually by this time the plant has already begun to bloom. By this time, the soil temperature should warm up to 15 degrees. Up to 4 bushes are grown per square meter.
The soil must be prepared before planting. Since plants love loose, permeable, fertile soil, humus, mineral fertilizers and ash are introduced into the soil before planting. Growing biotechnology is simple. To increase the yield, superphosphate and potassium sulfate are added to the hole before planting seedlings.
If the tomato is planted in open ground, then at first it is necessary to protect the plants with a temporary film cover. When growing seedlings in central Russia, in the event of a cool summer, the film shelter can be left without. During the daytime, in damp, cool weather, tomatoes can be left unopened throughout the day.
Film shelter
The variety is quite picky about soil fertility, in this regard, regular feeding is necessary. It is responsive to watering, but at the same time it is not worth watering it without the need, only as the soil dries up. It is also necessary to apply nitrogen fertilizers, in accordance with the instructions, and use humus. Prefers slightly acidic and loose soils. And although pinching is not required, during the formation of the brush, all the lower leaves before it are removed.
Mulching is essential for good development. For these purposes, hay or straw is used. The layer is made up to 10 cm thick. This will protect the soil from overheating and retain moisture. With proper cultivation and favorable weather conditions, the tomato blooms up to 3 times per season.
Harvesting is done once a week. It is recommended to pick tomatoes when they are still green or starting to turn pink. Whole brushes are torn off at once and put in a wooden container for storage. Since the brush contains a large number of fruits (from 50 to 80 pcs.), Sometimes even up to 100 pcs., Then their brushes should be tied up, otherwise they may break under the weight of the fruits. This tomato is very well transported, but when ripe it cannot be stored for a long time, it spoils quite quickly.
In September, all the fruits are removed from the bushes, the plants themselves, even in good condition, must be removed. The fact is that they are very sensitive to temperature drops. With a sharp temperature drop, which is characteristic of autumn days, the fruits can easily be affected by gray rot.
Gray rot
The optimal conditions for obtaining a high yield are:
- Good illumination;
- Regular watering;
- Top dressing;
- Fertile soils;
- Mulching.
When a tomato begins to bear fruit, systematic feeding is very important. For these purposes, it is best to use Epin, sodium humate, Kornevin and other drugs. They contribute to faster growth and ripening of fruits, increase immunity, activate the growth of the stem and roots. During active fruiting, magnesium sulfate is added.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
The tomato has a number of undoubted advantages:
- Ease of care, due to its compactness, does not require the removal of stepsons;
- The possibility of growing, both in open and closed ground, and even on the balcony;
- Good taste;
- High productivity;
- Good transportability;
- Beautiful appearance and compactness of the plant;
- Resistant to the main types of tomato diseases.
But despite the large number of positive qualities, this variety also has disadvantages:
- Demanding on soil fertility;
- Afraid of dropping temperatures;
- Lack of immunity to bacterial diseases;
- Short storage period.
In order to get a high yield and prevent bacterial diseases, you must follow a number of simple recommendations:
- Disinfection of seeds before sowing;
- Plant healthy seedlings;
- Disinfection of the soil before planting;
- Do not thicken the planting;
- Removing the lower leaves;
- Preventive treatment of plants with copper sulfate.
Gardeners note that early planting dates for this variety are justified. And although it ripens very quickly, it is not sufficiently resistant to late blight. Therefore, if you are late with planting, you can be left without most of the harvest.
Subject to the above rules and agricultural techniques for growing tomato, Geranium Kiss will delight you with an abundance of beautiful and tasty fruits.
