Characteristics and productivity of tomatoes of the variety "Honey drop F1"
Tomatoes of the F1 honey drop variety are far from being heard by all lovers, but professional farmers and gardeners know that these sweet tomatoes are one of the best that can be grown in greenhouse conditions. Amber tomatoes can be a great addition to a home garden or greenhouse. This tomato variety is considered high-yielding, unpretentious in cultivation and resistant to various types of bacteria / diseases.
Before growing this crop at home, you should study its main characteristics, cultivation features and expert advice.
Peculiarities
The variety "honey drop F1" was bred by breeders in our country. Initially, it was intended for cultivation in greenhouse conditions, but now it is often planted in open ground, if climatic conditions allow. In a temperate climate, the ovaries often formed on plants simply do not have time to ripen.
Key features, pros and cons
"Honey drop" refers to early tomato varieties with small fruits. When planting seedlings in open ground, tall bushes are formed that can reach 2 m in height. This tomato variety needs strong supports for good growth and fruiting. The leaves are potato-like. The number of fruits on the bunches can be different. Often, about 10-20 pieces of small tomatoes are sung at the same time.
Bushes bear fruit from about mid-July to September cold snaps.
The fruits of the "honey drop" variety resemble miniature pears. They are small, as a rule, reach 15 g. The largest specimens can be about 30 g. The color of the tomatoes is yellow, they taste very sweet and juicy with a honey aftertaste. The sugar content in fruits is not very high. They are often grown for children.
The advantages of such tomatoes professionals include the following points.
- Greater productivity.
- Quick seed germination, their high germination. Usually, almost all of the previously selected ones “take root”.
- Tomatoes of this variety can be consumed not only fresh, but also freshly squeezed juices / preservation can be made from them. With their help, it is possible to decorate side dishes of second courses, as well as beautifully combine them with other small-fruited vegetables.
A big plus of this variety is also that you can collect fruit seeds at home and grow them in subsequent years.
Minor cons include the following.
- Too tall bushes that have to be tied to supports.
- It is recommended to strictly follow all the requirements for watering, care and spraying, otherwise the harvest will not be the largest.
Nuances and features of cultivation
F1 honey drop tomato seeds are best grown in early spring. The optimal time is the beginning of March. If you already have seeds collected a few years ago, then they will do. According to many gardeners, it is best to plant them with aging (seeds that lie 2 or 3 years), as they will have the best germination.
So that the seeds sprout well, and in the future the plants do not attack painful microbes, it is recommended to soak them in a special agent.To do this, you can use a light solution of potassium permanganate.
For seedlings, it is best to purchase store land. Light fertilized soil works well, but garden soil can also be used. Potash fertilizers for the earth will be very useful.
Features of growing this variety are as follows.
- Seeds are recommended to be deepened a little in pots. It is best to germinate them under the film.
- The ideal temperature for planting is considered to be a range of 20 to 25 degrees.
- Seeds are very important to water properly. It is recommended to do this with water at room temperature. Too cold liquid will not work.
- Many experts agree that top dressing is simply necessary. Twice for seedlings will be enough.
- As soon as the first few leaves appear, the seedlings must be dived.
- When picking, it is recommended to pinch the main roots to stimulate their further growth.
- Hardening as a preparatory measure for planting outdoors is desirable, but not required. To conduct it, it is recommended to take the seedlings to fresh air and leave for 1-2 hours. In order for plants to develop as well as possible, they need as much light as possible. As an alternative, in bad weather, light phytolamps can be used.
- If the seeds were planted in March, then seedlings can be planted in open ground by the beginning of summer. As for greenhouses, seedlings can be planted there in May.
- The obligatory distance between the bushes should be within 50 cm, and the distance between the rows themselves should be about 60-70 cm.
- If seedlings will be grown in open ground, it is recommended to cover it with a film.
- Experienced gardeners do not advise planting tomatoes of any variety in those beds where eggplants or other nightshades, especially peppers, have already grown. The ideal option is considered to be places where cabbage, lettuce, various greens (parsley, dill) or legumes have sprouted before.
- It is best to grow honey drop tomatoes in a greenhouse on horizontal or vertical trellises, otherwise they will fall. If we are talking about a garden and open ground, then you can tie the plants to a specially equipped grid.
- It is very important to monitor the formation of stems and lateral stepchildren. If this process is started, then the bushes will form randomly, growing in all directions, and as a result, the tomatoes will tie worse or not ripen at all.
- Watering the bushes in the ground should be no more than 1 time in 5-6 days. If tomatoes are grown in a greenhouse, it is very important not to forget about maintaining optimal air humidity and regular ventilation. Speaking of the honey drop variety, it is worth mentioning that he does not like excessive humidity.
- Weeds from under the bushes and next to them should be removed daily. Particular attention should be paid to the regular loosening of the soil.
- Top dressing of tomatoes should be done once every few weeks. A balanced top dressing and its alternation are recommended. All tomatoes will grow better if they are fertilized not only with mineral complexes, but also with organic fertilizers.
You can harvest a full-fledged crop 100 days after planting tomatoes in the ground. The height of the cultures of the original "honey drop" variety should not be embarrassing, since the fruits of tomatoes grow very juicy and sweet. All the difficulties in growing in the future will pay off.
With proper care, regular watering and hilling of plants, a large crop can be harvested, since the fruiting period for these tomatoes is very good.
A little about pests and diseases
In order for plants not to disappear, it is very important to know not only the rules for watering, loosening and fertilizing, but also to be familiar with preventive measures that protect plants from various diseases.
It is believed that the "honey drop" variety is resistant to various forms of fungal and bacterial diseases that most often attack other varieties of tomatoes. Late blight and gray rot are the least affected by this variety. But it is possible that under the wrong growing conditions in greenhouses, tomatoes can get sick. Experts note that in the open field, the risks of diseases are reduced several times. However, neighboring plants in the ground can become a problem. If they are sick, then the tomatoes will soon get sick as well. The best option would be planting, separate from other vegetables.
As a preventive measure at home, you can.
- Make cleaning and tillage of the soil before fresh seedlings are planted in it.
- Make soil mulching with straw.
- Use non-toxic antimycotic, antibacterial and antiviral agents (most often spraying is done using a spray bottle).
- Get rid of insects by using a hydrogen peroxide solution. But the composition that can be easily made independently from laundry soap and water helps a lot from aphids.
Summing up
In general, we can say that the F1 honey drop tomato receives very good reviews from professional farmers and gardeners. This variety is considered unpretentious.Even amateurs can grow it, while observing the basic recommendations of experts.
Before growing future tomatoes, it is recommended to read the relevant literature on the topic. Do not forget about the preparation of seeds, their germination and tillage before planting seedlings.
Only regular watering, proper hilling, tying and fertilizing plants allows you to get a high-quality and rich harvest. The variety "honey drop" is so good that even the most fastidious farmers will fall in love with it.
You will learn more about the variety of tomatoes "Honey Drop F1" from the following video.