Alda

Cultivation Break

Season Overview

Description

Large-fruited tomatoes are a world of their own—loved for their juicy flesh, mild flavor, and, of course, their impressive size. 🍅 What “large-fruited” means They usually weigh over 150 g, often even 300–500 g or more. Typical shapes: beefsteak tomatoes, oxheart varieties, large salad tomatoes. Ideal for: slices, Caprese salad, burgers, sauces; less suitable for pickling. 🌱 Popular large-fruited varieties Oxheart (Cuore di Bue) – tender, few seeds, very aromatic. Brandywine – American classic, intense flavor. Pineapple – yellow-orange marbled, sweet and mild. Marmande – French variety, slightly ribbed, robust. Big Beef – high-yielding, large round fruits, good for beginners. 🌿 Growing tips Sturdy supports: The plants grow tall and the fruits are heavy. Prune regularly (for stake tomatoes) so the fruits can grow large. Water consistently to prevent splitting. Nutrient-rich soil and regular fertilization, as large fruits require a lot of energy. Sheltered location: Large-fruited varieties are often a bit more delicate. 🍽️ What are they particularly good for? Perfect for tomato and mozzarella, sandwiches, carpaccio, and fresh salads. Beefsteak tomatoes like oxheart are also great for sauces and soups because they have few seeds. The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is native to Central and South America, was cultivated by the Aztecs, and arrived in Europe in the 16th century. It grows as a herbaceous, mostly annual plant with a bushy or trailing habit and is now one of the world’s most important vegetables. Its uses range from fresh consumption to preservation and a wide variety of culinary applications. 🌱 Origin • Origin: Subtropical regions of Central and South America, particularly Mexico and Peru. • Domestication: Already cultivated by the Aztecs and Maya; seed finds attest to its use over 2,000 years ago. • Introduction to Europe: Christopher Columbus brought wild tomatoes to Southern Europe in the 15th century. • Varied names: Paradeiser (Austria, South Tyrol), love apple, paradise apple, or golden apple. 🌿 Description & Growth • Family: Nightshade family (Solanaceae), related to potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. • Growth habit: Herbaceous, usually annual; can grow bushy or as a vine. • Height: Between 30 cm and over 2 m, depending on the variety. • Leaves: Pinnate, slightly hairy, typical of the nightshade family. • Flowers: Yellow, star-shaped, self-pollinating. • Fruits: Varied shapes—round, oval, elongated; colors ranging from red to yellow, orange, and black. 🍅 Uses • Fresh consumption: Salads, sandwiches, snacks. • Culinary uses: Soups, sauces (e.g., pasta, pizza), stews. • Preservation: Tomato sauce, ketchup, tomato paste, dried tomatoes. • Global significance: In Germany, approx. 30 kg consumed per person annually. • Health: Rich in lycopene, vitamins (A, C, K), and minerals; considered a “superfood.” ⚠️ Notes & Special Features • Toxicity: Formerly considered toxic due to solanine in green plant parts; today, only unripe fruits are slightly concerning. • Diversity: Thousands of varieties worldwide, from cherry to beefsteak tomatoes. • Cultural significance: From ornamental plant to global crop—a symbol of Mediterranean cuisine. • Growth: Staked tomatoes usually require support (sticks, strings); bush tomatoes are self-supporting. Special feature: The variety of colors not only adds diversity but also provides different nutrients (e.g., lycopene in red varieties, anthocyanins in dark varieties).

Growing tips

1. choice of variety Choose robust, disease-resistant varieties. For balcony and open field: bush tomatoes. For greenhouses: vine tomatoes. 2. location Sunny, warm, sheltered from the wind. Ideal: south-facing wall, greenhouse or covered balcony. 3. soil Loose, rich in humus and nutrients. Work in compost or tomato fertilizer before planting. 4. planting From mid-May (after the ice saints). Plant deep - up to the first leaves - promotes root formation. 5. pinching out Regularly remove side shoots in the leaf axils (once a week), promotes fruit formation (for pole tomatoes). 6. watering Evenly, in the morning, directly at the root. Avoid waterlogging. Mulch helps to retain moisture. 7. fertilize Every 2-3 weeks with organic tomato fertilizer or nettle slurry. 8. protection Protect tomatoes from rain under a roof or foil (prevents brown rot). 9. promote pollination In the greenhouse, help with a toothbrush or lightly shake the flowers. 10. mixed cultivation Good neighbors: basil, onions, lettuce. Bad neighbors: potatoes, fennel. 🌱 Important tips for pre-cultivating tomatoes - Sowing time: ◦ Optimal: early March to late April. ◦ Sowing too early (February) often leads to weak, stunted plants. - Germination conditions: ◦ Germination temperature: 20-25 °C. ◦ After germination: 18-20 °C to keep the plants compact. ◦ Bright window sill or plant lamp prevents lack of light. - Sowing technique: ◦ Use potting compost (low in nutrients, loose). ◦ Cover seeds only lightly with soil and keep moist. ◦ Mini greenhouse or cover to ensure even humidity. - Pricking out: ◦ As soon as the seedlings have two true leaves, carefully transplant them into larger pots. ◦ Insert deeper so that additional roots form on the stem. - Location: ◦ Bright, but not too hot. ◦ Direct sun in a conservatory or greenhouse is ideal, windowsill also works. - Hardening off: ◦ From the end of April/beginning of May, place the plants outside in a sheltered place during the day. ◦ This allows them to get used to wind and temperature fluctuations. - Planting out: ◦ Only after the Ice Saints (mid-May), plant in a bed or large container. ◦ Plant deeply, filling the soil up to the lower leaves. ⚠️ Avoid typical mistakes - Sowing too early: Plants become long and weak. - Too little light: Leads to yellowed, thin stems. - Soil too rich in nutrients: Promotes leaf mass instead of root formation. - Planting out directly before mid-May: Risk of frost damage. 📋 Practical checklist 1. sow at the beginning of March to the end of April. 2. germination temperature 20-25 °C, then 18-20 °C. 3 Prick out with two leaves. 4 Harden off from the end of April. 5 Plant out after the Ice Saints. 🌱 Good neighbors for tomatoes - Onions & garlic → are effective against fungal diseases and pests. - Basil → keeps whiteflies away and improves the taste of the fruit - Marigolds & marigolds → protect the roots from nematodes. - Carrots & radishes → use the space efficiently, no competition. - Lettuce & spinach → grow quickly, loosen the soil. - Celery → promotes healthy growth and deters pests. 🚫 Bad neighbors for tomatoes - Cucumbers → need a lot of water, promote fungal diseases. - Potatoes → same diseases (late blight and brown rot). - Fennel → inhibits the growth of many plants, including tomatoes. - Corn → takes a lot of light, shades tomatoes. 🍅 Common tomato diseases - Late blight and brown rot (Phytophthora infestans) ◦ Symptoms: brown spots on leaves and fruit, rapid death of the plant. ◦ Prevention: Grow tomatoes protected from rain, keep leaves dry, mixed cultivation with onions or garlic. - Powdery mildew (Oidium neolycopersici) ◦ Symptoms: whitish coating on leaves, growth disorders. ◦ Prevention: airy location, do not plant too densely. - Drought spot disease (Alternaria solani) ◦ Symptoms: concentric brown spots on older leaves. ◦ Prevention: Observe crop rotation, keep plants vigorous. - Didymella fruit and stem rot ◦ Symptoms: dark, sunken spots on stems and fruit. ◦ Prevention: clean seeds, no waterlogging. 🐛 Common pests - Aphids Suck plant sap, leaves curl up. ◦ Control: Encourage beneficial insects such as ladybugs, spray nettle or soap solution. - Whiteflies ◦ Small white insects, cause honeydew and fungal infestation. ◦ Control: yellow boards, neem oil. - Spider mites ◦ Fine webs, leaves become dotted and yellow. ◦ Control: increase humidity, use predatory mites. - Fungus gnats ◦ Larvae damage roots in potting compost. ◦ Control: cover with sand, nematodes. - Snails ◦ Eat young plants and fruit. 🍅 Harvest tips - Harvest time: From the end of June to October, depending on the variety. - Recognize ripeness: Fruit fully colored, slightly soft, aromatic scent. - Harvesting method: Carefully twist off the fruit or cut with scissors. - Storage: Cool, but not in the fridge - the aroma suffers. - Seed production: Cut open ripe fruit, allow seeds to dry - ideal for cultivating your own varieties. ◦ Control: Snail fences, collecting.

Details

Plant distance

50 cm

Row spacing

75 cm

Seeding depth

0.5 cm