Content
Tomato is one of the most popular vegetable crops in the world. Both adults and children like its taste. At the same time, the tender juicy pulp of the fruit contains many useful elements for the human body. There are many natural and hybrid varieties of the popular vegetable. They all differ in appearance, size and shape, taste and other characteristics. The Moon Fountain tomato is one of the most unusual tomato varieties with its own characteristics, which many Russian gardeners grow today.
When and where appeared
The Moon Fountain tomato was developed by American breeder Tom Waite in 1999.
To do this, he crossed two different varieties of tomatoes with excellent taste and high yield - “Fountain” and “Moonlight”.
Russian breeders - representatives of the Poisk agricultural company - have developed a tomato hybrid, Moon Fountain F1, specifically for cultivation in the harsh climatic conditions of Russia.This variety was registered in the State Register of the Russian Federation in 2020. Recommended for growing on private plots under film cover and in greenhouse conditions.
Description of the tomato variety Moon Fountain
Moonlight Fountain is an early-ripening tomato hybrid of indeterminate growth, intended for cultivation in protected open ground. A tall plant requires the formation of a bush of 1-2 stems, followed by gartering during the development period.
The leaves of the plant are green, medium length. The peduncle has an articulation, the inflorescence is simple. The slightly ribbed, dense fruit has a cylindrical shape, its average weight is 15-20 g, the number of nests is 2 pieces. From 15 to 30 tomatoes are formed on one brush of a tomato bush.
Still unripe fruits of light green color are distinguished by a rich green spot near the stalk. Fully ripened yellow fruits have a creamy tint. They do not crumble or crack.
Moonlight Fountain tomatoes are distinguished by a sweetish dessert flavor, which contains fruity notes.
Cherry tomato is recommended for fresh consumption and preservation of whole fruits.
Characteristics of tomato Moon Fountain
An indeterminate early-ripening tomato variety can be used for growing both in greenhouse conditions and in open ground. From planting the seed to the formation of the first fruits on the tomato bushes, it takes about 100 days. At the development stage, the crop can grow more than 2 meters.
Fruiting period
Moon fountain tomatoes begin to ripen 100-105 days after the seeds germinate. Fully ripened fruits are light yellow in color. Their weight reaches 20 g. The harvest begins from mid-July to the end of August.
Tomato yield Moon fountain
Despite the fact that the Moon Fountain tomato has rather small fruits - only 15-20 g, the crop bears fruit very well. With proper cultivation of tomato from 1 m2 you can collect up to 18 kg of very tasty and healthy tomatoes.
The yield of marketable fruits Moon Fountain in greenhouse conditions is 4.2-4.9 kg/m2.
Resistance to diseases and pests
Hybrid tomato Moon Fountain is characterized by increased resistance to diseases and attacks by insect pests
The crop does not require constant treatment with chemical compounds, so environmentally friendly fruits are absolutely safe and beneficial for human health.
In what regions is it grown?
The hybrid tomato was bred by domestic breeders specifically for cultivation in harsh Russian climatic conditions. In the southern regions of Russia, this tomato can be planted in open ground, and in the northern regions it can be grown in greenhouse conditions.
Purpose
Moonlight Fountain tomatoes have a sweetish, delicate taste with a slight sourness. They are consumed fresh, added to vegetable salads, snacks and other dishes, incl. make desserts. Whole fruits are great for canning. Tomatoes make very tasty cocktails and tomato juices, pastes, and ketchups. Due to their unusual appearance, these small tomatoes are often used to decorate various dishes.
Advantages and disadvantages
Lunar Fountain cherry tomatoes are abundantly strewn with tomato bushes.Sweet small yellow fruits with fruity notes attract many consumers.
Tomato bushes strewn with small fruits
Pros:
- attractive appearance;
- excellent taste;
- increased productivity;
- the presence of medicinal components in the composition;
- high content of sugar, carotenoids, acids and other useful elements;
- possibility of cultivation in almost all regions of Russia;
- the crop grows and gives good yield, both in the greenhouse and on open land;
- wide range of uses (fresh, salads, juices, canned food, etc.).
Minuses:
- tomato bushes need shaping and staking;
- This variety is not intended for transportation and long-term storage.
Landing scheme and rules
Hybrid tomato Moon Fountain is planted with seeds, then the finished seedlings are transplanted into a greenhouse or an open bed, depending on the climatic conditions of the region.
Tomato seed material does not require pre-treatment; it contains all the necessary growth properties genetically. The main thing is to provide the plant with proper care at the development stage.
Seeds are sown in early March. The finished seedlings are transplanted to a permanent place after two months. If the manufacturer indicated on the packaging of the seed that the seeds were pre-grinded, disinfected and processed, they are planted dry in the soil to prevent damage to the protective film.
Tomato seeds are sown in nutritious, breathable soil
An equal amount of sand and peat must be added to the soil. Additionally, it is recommended to add vermiculite, a tenth of the volume of soil used, to the prepared planting soil, which retains moisture in it and absorbs its excess.
If soil from the garden is used to plant seed material, it must first be disinfected, for example, with potassium permanganate or heat treatment in the oven. It is also recommended to treat containers used for growing Moon Fountain tomato seedlings with manganese.
To sow seed material, grooves are made in the prepared soil, into which the seeds are planted in increments of 2-3 cm. They are deepened by 5-10 mm. After planting the seeds, the soil is irrigated with a spray bottle, then the container is covered with glass or transparent plastic film.
A compact greenhouse with planted tomato seeds Moonlight Fountain is kept in a well-lit and warm place for three weeks. Additional irrigation is carried out only if the soil is completely dry. When most of the sprouts come to the surface of the soil, they are picked into separate containers (cups) and transferred to a cooler room, where the temperature ranges from 20ºC to 22ºC.
Planting grown tomato seedlings Moon Fountain in a permanent place depends on the climatic conditions of the region:
- southern - in April;
- northern - late May, early June.
The soil for tomato seedlings is prepared in the fall, it is dug up with fertilizers. In the spring I dig up the soil again. To enrich the land with useful components, two weeks before planting tomato seedlings, it is recommended to sow it with mustard or other green manure.
Holes for tomato seedlings Moon Fountain are made in increments of 50 cm and a depth of 25 cm, a gap of 70 cm is left between individual rows. The plants are planted together with an earthen lump on the roots.
Care instructions
Tomatoes of the Moon Fountain variety can be grown both in greenhouse conditions and on an open plot of land. But they prefer warmth and sunlight.
It is recommended to plant tomato seedlings in an open garden bed only when the risk of night frosts has passed. It is important to ensure good drainage at the site where the crop grows and ensure regular watering.
Also, the soil needs to be fed with complex fertilizers, and the bushes should be formed into 1-2 stems, then tied up, as they grow more than 2 meters. Greens and fruits affected by diseases must be promptly removed.
Pest and disease control
Despite the fact that the Moon Fountain tomato is characterized by increased resistance to diseases and harmful insects, preventive measures should be carried out in a timely manner.
When growing tomatoes in a greenhouse, the room must be constantly ventilated, the soil must be irrigated and loosened. These measures prevent damage to the crop by root and crown rot.
To prevent late blight, it is recommended to treat the plant with special preparations that contain copper. Ammonia diluted in water helps get rid of slugs, and a soap solution helps get rid of aphids. You can prevent spider mite attacks using industrial insecticides.
Preventive measures must be planned, starting from sowing planting material and throughout the entire development of the plant, right up to harvesting.
Conclusion
Tomato Moon Fountain is a universal variety, unpretentious in care, which can be grown in almost all regions of Russia. The fruits have a rather attractive appearance, excellent taste and good yield. They can be eaten fresh, in salads, decorated with various holiday dishes, rolled whole into jars for the winter, made into juices, a variety of cocktails and desserts.
Reviews from gardeners about Moonlight Fountain tomatoes
