Tomato Belfort

Tomatoes are always favorite and desired vegetables in any garden; the owners of the plots are especially attentive to their choice. In addition to old, tested varieties, there are always new products on the seed market, the authors of which promise unusually large yields of tasty fruits. You should not give up those species that have never failed, but there is also some room for experimenting with annual vegetable crops in the greenhouse or on the site. Among the reviews of gardeners about the Belfort tomato variety, there are many positive ones, and it finds more and more fans.

A relatively new hybrid was the result of the work of Dutch breeders, who created a variety adapted to temperature extremes and insufficient lighting. This variety has been in the State Register of the Russian Federation since 2015 and is recommended for both farms and private farms with tomato cultivation in greenhouses.

Despite the fact that the Belfort F1 variety is intended for cultivation in greenhouse conditions, in some southern regions it is successfully grown outdoors. A young mid-season hybrid can grow up to 2.5 m in length. It is recommended to tie the plant to trellises, and remove all stepchildren, forming a strong main stem. Fruits are formed on clusters, 5-7 tomatoes on each. The variety is resistant to many diseases common among tomatoes and grows even in heavy soils.

Among other hybrids on the market and grown in greenhouses, Belfort has a real tomato flavor. The shape of the fruit is round, with a slightly elongated and pointed nose. In a state of full maturity, tomatoes become deep red, weighing 250-300 grams each, and individual specimens reach a weight of half a kilogram. No cracking of tomatoes from excess moisture was noticed during their ripening. Due to their dense skin and internal fleshy structure, Belfort tomatoes perfectly tolerate transportation, storage and keep their presentation for a long time. In a cool and dark room, they can lie for about a month without any changes.

The excellent flavor qualities of hybrid tomatoes allow them to be consumed mainly fresh. They make salads, sauces and all kinds of preparations for the winter. They are less suitable for salting due to the large size of the fruits, which cannot always pass through the narrow neck of the jar as a whole, but can be used in the form of juices and tomato filling with other vegetables.

One of the main advantages of the Belfort tomato is undoubtedly its ability for a long seasonal fruiting period. New inflorescences of brushes are formed every 3-4 newly formed leaves. It is recommended to remove excess ovaries, leaving no more than 6-7 fruits on the brush. Observing the correct agricultural techniques, you can collect up to 6 kg from one hybrid bush during the season, and if there are 10 such bushes, then a small family can get up to 50-60 kg of ripe and tasty tomatoes from a small plot of land.

This variety is characterized by a high yield - 27-30 kg / m2.

In late February or early March, you can plant tomato seedlings indoors.To do this, sow seeds in a small tray, deepening them by 1.5-2 cm. Sprinkle the moistened soil with a soft substrate on top and cover with a transparent film to allow light to penetrate on the windowsill. Under good temperature conditions, 22-25 degrees Celsius, seedlings germinate after 10 days.

When the plants have at least 2 true leaves, they must be dived, seating each in a separate container. This procedure is necessary for the formation of a special, fibrous root system. Before planting in open ground or a greenhouse, another or one and a half months should pass, depending on the weather conditions, which should be with an air temperature above +10 degrees, so that full-fledged ovaries are obtained from the flowers. By this time, the plants have up to 7-8 true leaves and the first intended brush.

The grown seedlings can be planted in a permanent place in a greenhouse or in open ground in May-June, depending on the region. The distance between the rows should be at least 90-100 cm, and between the bushes in the rows about 35 cm.It should be borne in mind that this variety of tomatoes needs a margin of height, since the stems grow more than 2 meters in length and they have to be tied to trellises. The distance between the bushes is calculated with such a margin so that each plant gets enough air and light.

To get the results that are described by the hybrid manufacturers, you should follow the rules for caring for the Belfort tomato recommended by them. Like many hybrid varieties, this species does not tolerate excess moisture. Therefore, watering in the hottest months should be done twice a week, preferably in the morning. Uniform moistening of the soil, as it dries, can be achieved using a drip irrigation system.

For tying tall bushes in greenhouses, special garters are often used, which are attached at the base of the bush and on the ceiling of the structure. The stem can be pulled upwards along these special twines.

Powerful bushes need top dressing for full development at different stages. So, at the level of growing seedlings in indoor conditions, young plants must receive phosphorus for the formation of a strong root system. For the growth of the green mass of leaves, tomatoes need a mullein, and when the period of fruit formation comes, wood ash and potassium will be very helpful.

Throughout the entire period of growth and fruiting, the tomato plant needs trace elements, which it receives with watering. On sale there is a complex, specially balanced mineral fertilizer, which is diluted in water and regularly applied to the root zone of the bushes.