- Authors: Jim Myers, University of Oregon, USA
- Appeared when crossing: cultivated tomatoes x wild species from Chile and the Galapagos Islands
- Name synonyms: Indigo Rose, Indigo Rose, Indigo Rose
- Category: grade
- Growth type: determinant
- Appointment: universal
- Ripening period: mid-season
- Ripening time, days: 95 - 100
- Growing conditions: for open ground, for greenhouses
- Bush size: tall
The Indigo Rose tomato variety, also known as Indigo Rose, Indigo Rose or Indigo Rose, belongs to the universal category. Its fruits are successfully used for canning and slicing salads, they are not prone to cracking. Cultivation is carried out in greenhouses or in the open field.
Breeding history
The variety was bred by a specialist from the University of Oregon in the United States, Jim Myers. It was obtained by crossing cultivated tomatoes with wild species from Chile and the Galapagos Islands. The breeding trials were completed in 2015.
Description of the variety
The variety develops according to the determinant type, reaching a height of 150 cm. It is considered to be tall. The foliage is weak, the stems are pubescent, pale green.
The main qualities of the fruit
A tomato with a shiny red-violet skin gives fruits of medium size, round, regular shape, without ribbing. Tomatoes are collected in compact clusters of 4-6 pieces each. The flesh under the skin is dense, bright red.
Taste characteristics
The fruit is judged to be excellent in taste. They are sweet, with a barely noticeable tomato sourness.
Ripening and fruiting
The variety is mid-season, ripens in 95-100 days. Harvesting dates are extended from mid-August to mid-September.
Yield
The rate of harvest up to 12 kg / m3 makes it possible to classify Indigo Rose tomatoes as high-yielding.
The timing of planting seedlings and planting in the ground
In the conditions of the Middle Volga region, seedlings are sown from the 2nd decade of March. You can transfer plants to a permanent place in 55-60 days. Tomatoes can be transferred to open ground closer to the beginning of June.
Growing tomato seedlings is an extremely important process, because it largely depends on whether the gardener will be able to harvest at all. All aspects must be taken into account, from seedbed preparation to planting in the ground.
Landing scheme
The easiest way to grow these tomatoes is by placing them in a greenhouse or garden in 50 × 50 cm squares.
Growing and care
Plants are not too demanding to care for. When growing Indigo Rose, you can do without pinching, a garter for the bushes is necessary, since they can reach 1.5 m in height. Under the weight of ripe fruits without support, the bushes simply break.
In the greenhouse, it is recommended to maintain a temperature of at least +24 degrees Celsius. Growing outdoors is possible under the same conditions. The bushes are not too moisture-loving, they require rare watering - no more than 1 time per week. They need to be placed in the bright sun, without shading, in order to ensure normal ripening of the variety, to protect it from pests and fungal infections.In the greenhouse, in addition to good illumination, it is necessary to provide an optimal ventilation mode to remove condensation.
Bushes require regular feeding for good growth and development. The soil is protected from coarsening of the soil by covering it with a layer of mulch based on natural materials. Watering is carried out by irrigation, so as not to erode the surface layer of the soil. Mineral dressing is required 4 times during the season. After planting seedlings, before the formation of peduncles, when setting fruits and 14 days before harvesting.
Complex feedings based on nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus work well. The first fertilizer is applied 2-3 weeks after planting. During this period, potassium monophosphate is the best choice. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied next.
With an abundant increase in green mass, Indigo Rose tomatoes may require thinning. This usually occurs when the soil is too saturated with nitrogen. In this case, both pinching and removal of surface leaves that block the sun's rays are carried out. Work should be done by hand to avoid possible transmission of infections through garden tools.
A plant needs different micronutrients at each stage of growth. All fertilizers can be divided into two groups: mineral and organic. Folk remedies are often used: iodine, yeast, bird droppings, eggshells.
It is important to observe the rate and period of feeding. This also applies to folk remedies and organic fertilizers.
Disease and pest resistance
Indigo Rose is resistant to late blight. It is immune to gray mold. Other diseases require preventive sanitization with solutions based on copper sulfate or chemical fungicides. The collection of pests is done manually; the caterpillars can be sprayed with appropriate insecticides.
Resistant to adverse weather conditions
The variety tolerates extreme temperature drops well. Withstands frosts down to -2 degrees. Indigo Rose is drought tolerant, perfect for hot climates without high levels of humidity.
Review overview
According to vegetable growers, the tomato, declared as the darkest of the purple ones, is quite suitable for planting in open ground, even in the Moscow region. Excellent germination is noted - according to the observations of buyers, it reaches 100%. According to the experience of summer residents, a bush should be formed in 2-3 stems. The fruit gradually gains color, acquiring a deep indigo tone.
Some inconvenience is caused by the harvesting process. The ripeness of a tomato with an unusual color is at first difficult to determine. The appearance of a rich chocolate hue on the skin can be considered a signal for harvesting. With a lack of sunlight, tomatoes have a reddish tint.
You can remove tomatoes from the branches even before the onset of full maturity. After completing the harvest at the end of October, you can leave the green fruits to ripen. In this case, according to the reviews of summer residents, you can store the crop until December.
