Content
Tomato Alpha is a variety of Russian selection. It has been registered in the State Register of Breeding Achievements since 2004. Designed for cultivation in personal garden plots and small farms. Suitable for regions with different climates, including risky farming areas.
Description of the tomato variety Alpha
The Alpha variety tomato is intended for cultivation in open ground with the possibility of film covering, as well as for greenhouses. Tomatoes of the Alpha variety can be grown without seedlings or in seedlings. The ripening period is early, 90 days pass from germination to ripeness.
The Alpha tomato variety forms a compact bush with powerful stems. Type of growth – determinant, standard. This plant is characterized by short stature, not reaching 50 cm in height. It does not require special shaping, which simplifies care and is suitable for beginner gardeners.
The leaves grow medium in size, dark green, similar to potato leaves. The foliage is average. The inflorescence is simple, the first appears above the 5-6th leaf, and is subsequently formed without division by a leaf.The Alpha tomato produces few stepchildren; they do not need to be removed even from the lower part of the trunk.
Description of fruits
The fruits of the Alpha tomato are round with a slight flatness, equal in size, smooth. Number of sockets – from 4 pcs. The weight of each fruit is 60-80 g. Reviews and photos of Alpha tomatoes show that unripe fruits are light green, and ripe ones are red and glossy. The taste characteristics are good, the flesh is juicy. Purpose: salad.
Main characteristics
A determinate type variety, the tomato independently completes its growth at a height of 40-45 cm. Due to its compactness, including the root system, you can plant 7-9 tomato bushes of the Alpha variety per 1 square meter. m. The yield per bush under favorable growing conditions is 6 kg.
Tomato variety Alpha is resistant to temperature changes and is suitable for growing by direct sowing in the ground. This method of cultivation produces a powerful, hardened plant that is resistant to diseases and pest attacks. Due to early ripeness, the bushes are not affected by late blight.
Advantages and disadvantages
The description of the Alpha tomato variety states the possibility of growing it in regions with different climates. Rapid ripening allows for early vitamin production. Tomatoes ripen on the bush almost simultaneously. The Alpha tomato variety has a number of other advantages.
Advantages of the variety:
- tasty, smooth fruits;
- high yield, despite the compact size of the bush;
- friendly return of fruits;
- possibility of growing without seedlings;
- suitable for open ground;
- does not require formation;
- simple agricultural technology;
- immunity against late blight.
A disadvantage or feature of an early-ripening, low-growing variety is the use of fruits only for fresh consumption.As well as poor keeping quality and average transportation qualities.
Rules for planting and care
Growing tomato variety Alpha by direct sowing in open ground is advisable only in the southern regions or when planted in heated greenhouses.
Based on reviews and photos of the Alpha tomato variety, it is clear that in order to obtain early yield of fruits in other regions, the crop is grown through seedlings.
Growing seedlings
For standard tomatoes, the time for growing seedlings is 40-45 days. The sowing date is calculated depending on the moment of transplanting the seedlings into open ground, according to the growing region. You should not start growing before this time, although the seedlings of low-growing tomatoes do not stretch and do not outgrow. An overgrown root system will not have enough nutrition from a small area of the planting container.
Growing scheme:
- Before sowing, to accelerate growth and determine the percentage of viable seeds, they are soaked and germinated in a damp cloth. This takes 3-4 days.
- For cultivation, take fertile, loose soil.
- Holes are made at the bottom of the planting containers and a drainage layer 1-2 cm high is poured, then a soil layer is added and lightly pressed.
- The day before planting, the soil is spilled with disinfectants, for example, Fitosporin.
- Sprouted seeds are planted separately in small containers, for example, plastic cups or general seedling containers, with a distance of 2 cm.
- The hole for planting is made 1 cm in size, and the soil is watered before planting.
- After sowing, the soil is moistened by spraying from a spray bottle.
- The containers are covered with a bag or film and placed in a warm place, for example, in the bathroom, but not on top of heating devices.
- The crops are checked every day, and as soon as the first loops appear, the seedlings are immediately placed in a bright place, with a temperature of up to +18°C. Reducing the temperature immediately after germination allows seedlings to begin developing a root system.
- In the first days, seedlings need round-the-clock supplementary lighting for further cultivation, lighting for 14-16 hours with a break in the dark for the plants to rest.
Seedlings grown in fertile soil do not require additional feeding until planted in open ground. Seed germination temperature – + 20°С… +25°С.
Tomato seedlings of the Alpha variety grow compact, which allows them to be planted not in separate containers, but in a more spacious common container. Diving is carried out after the third true leaf begins to appear. The first two cotyledon leaves are not taken into account.
Before transferring seedlings to open ground, it is necessary to harden them. To do this, the temperature in the place where the plants are kept is gradually reduced over the course of a week. They also accustom plants to more air and light, moving them outside or onto balconies with open windows. When hardening off seedlings, it is important to prevent them from staying at low temperatures.
Transplanting seedlings
The description of Alpha tomatoes indicates their good survival rate when transplanted. Plants are planted at a distance of 40 by 50 cm. Seedlings are transferred to open ground when positive temperatures are set above +10°C.
It is best to plant seedlings in open ground in a film tunnel.Thanks to the shelter, it becomes possible to control precipitation and adverse weather conditions in the form of strong winds or hail, as well as to insure against sudden changes in air temperature. Temporary shelter in the form of a film tunnel allows you to plant Alpha tomato seedlings several weeks earlier.
When transferring seedlings to a greenhouse, the intended location of all tomato bushes should be taken into account. Low-growing tomatoes are compacted with tall ones or planted separately on one edge, but so that all plants have enough light.
For planting, the site is prepared in advance, the soil is cleared of weed, apply fertilizers and loosen. Water is poured into the hole and, mixing it with soil, a paste is formed into which the seedlings are planted along with a lump of earth.
Aftercare
Caring for Alpha tomatoes is simple. When planting in fertile soil, several organic fertilizers will be required per season. For this, herbal and ash infusions are used. Watering for a plant with close-lying roots requires moderate watering. If the growing season or area is rainy, then the bottom of the stem is left clear of shoots and leaves.
When grown in open ground, frequent weeding is necessary. The bushes are tied up without pulling. To do this, stakes are installed or string is pulled through the ridge. Tying with twine does not interfere with the growth of the tomato, and the brushes can be supported from different sides.
Conclusion
Tomato Alpha is one of the best standard varieties. Suitable for growing outdoors in various climatic zones. Does not require special bush formation.Due to early ripening, it does not have time to be affected by late blight. Shows good yield on a small bush. The fruits are distinguished by their sweetness and ripening at the same time.
