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Tomato Lyubov F1 is an early ripening, high-yielding determinate hybrid. It was bred by Y. I. Panchev and registered in 2006. Recommended growing conditions are open ground in the south of Russia and greenhouses in the middle zone.
Description of the variety
A bush in a greenhouse can grow up to 1.3 m in height, but in open ground - no more than 1 m. Initially, the seedlings stretch upward, forming numerous stepsons from the axils of the leaves. Recommended formation for the Lyubov F1 variety: leave only 1 stepson up to the 7th leaf, pinching off all the others. The first raceme with flowers also appears from the 7-9 axils. In total, up to 5-6 tassels are tied on the bush.
The stems of the Lyubov tomato are strong and stable, pubescent. The leaves are medium-sized, dissected, dark green. The flowers are small white. The clusters appear through 1-2 axils, each bearing 5-6 fruits. Under favorable conditions, the first harvest can be obtained in 90 days.
Description of fruits
The red or dark crimson fruits of Lyubov tomatoes are round, slightly flattened, and weigh on average 200-230 g. The advantage of the variety is its resistance to fruit cracking. The commercial qualities of the Lyubov F1 tomato are high, the appearance of the crop is attractive. The fruits are fleshy, the pulp is homogeneous, sweet and sour.All fruits differ little from each other, which is usually considered an advantage. Tomatoes can be stored fresh in a cool, dry place for up to 1 month; they tolerate transportation well. Due to its size, the Lyubov F1 variety is mainly consumed fresh or processed into juices and pastes.
Varietal characteristics
It is possible to remove up to 6 kg from a bush, and with the recommended planting density from 1 m2 beds produce up to 20 kg of tomatoes. According to reviews of the tomato variety Lyubov F1, yield depends on soil fertility and regularity of watering, but not on growing conditions in a greenhouse or open ground.
Like other tomato varieties, Lyubov F1 is affected by the Colorado potato beetle. Especially if there are potato plants nearby. In relation to common diseases, Lyubov F1 is resistant to verticillium and fusarium.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the tomato variety Lyubov F1 are considered to be:
- universal purpose;
- early ripening;
- high productivity;
- resistance to verticillium and fusarium;
- crack resistance;
- keeping quality;
- attractive presentation of the fruit;
- pleasant taste.
There are also disadvantages:
- bushes need to be tied up;
- needs nutritious soil and regular watering.
Rules for planting and care
If desired and depending on the growing conditions, you can prefer sowing seeds in open ground or using the seedling method. They have no advantages over each other, except for the approaching date of obtaining the first harvest.
Growing seedlings
Tomato variety Lyubov F1 is sensitive to soil nutrition.Be sure to add rotted manure to the beds in the fall, and buy universal soil for seedlings. If further transplanting to beds is planned, then the end of March is chosen for sowing. If transplantation into a greenhouse is required, then sow earlier - in the first ten days of March.
Tomato seeds of the Lyubov F1 variety are planted to a depth of 2 cm in a common container. Shoots appear at a temperature of + 18 °C on day 4-5. In order not to moisten the soil every day, it is covered with cling film or glass, thereby creating a slight greenhouse effect. As soon as 2 true leaves appear on the plants, you can pick individual cups. After a couple of days, you can fertilize the variety.
Before planting in a greenhouse or garden bed, water the tomatoes as the soil in the cups dries. Hardening is a recommended procedure that begins a week before the expected date of transplantation. Seedlings of this variety are taken outside in the afternoon for 2 hours, leaving them in a shaded place.
Transplanting seedlings
Tomato seedlings of the Lyubov F1 variety at the age of 60 days are considered mature. By this time, with sufficient nutrition, the first buds may well appear on the bushes. The quality is indicated by the dark color of the foliage and short distances between the axils. With sufficient lighting, this is exactly what the Lyubov F1 tomato seedlings grow. If the lighting is too poor, the plants stretch out and become pale. It will be more difficult for them to settle down in the fresh air.
The top of the tomato variety Lyubov F1 is not pinched, only checking for the absence of stepsons. Only 1 stepson is left, since the plant does not have enough strength for more branches.This technique is especially recommended for greenhouses, and in the garden you can do without stepsons at all, which will have a positive effect on the size of the crop.
When transplanting to a new place, immediately take care of the supports. Trellis are ideal, as well as wire stretched over posts at the ends of the beds. In greenhouses, vertical tying with twine to stationary slats is practiced.
The recommended planting pattern for tomato variety Lyubov F1 is in a checkerboard pattern, leaving 70 cm between rows and 40 cm between individual plants in a row. The direction of the beds, which are usually formed from 2 rows, is from east to west for the best illumination.
Aftercare
Tomato variety Lyubov F1 is sensitive to soil acidity. The optimal pH level is 6.0-6.8. If the indicator is lower, then a small amount of lime is added to the soil. The best mineral fertilizers are those containing potassium, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. The first time fertilizer is applied 2 weeks after transplantation, giving the plants time to adapt.
You don’t have to buy fertilizer by using wood ash. It is diluted in the following proportion: 1 glass per 10 liters of water. An alternative is potassium sulfate. This fertilizer is difficult to dissolve in water. It is usually applied when digging beds in spring or autumn. With each watering, the substance in small doses will flow to the roots of the Lyubov F1 tomatoes.
The beds must be kept clean by regularly removing weeds. If possible, a layer of sawdust and straw mulch is poured under the bushes. This helps prevent the soil from drying out too quickly and will prevent weeds from growing. Usually 2 waterings per week are sufficient. The water should be heated to + 20 °C, settled. It is a mistake to believe that a lot of watering is only beneficial.If the ground part is ahead of the root part in growth, then there will be no large ovaries on such a plant.
The garter to the supports is carried out after the formation of each brush, since at these points the greatest load falls on the stem. For fixation, use twine, without trying to tie it too tightly, so as not to damage the stem. If the ovaries begin to crumble, then treat with a solution of boric acid. 1 g of the substance is dissolved in 1 liter of water. This composition is used for spraying. Reviews and photos of Lyubov F1 tomatoes indicate that a single procedure is usually sufficient.
After the formation of all ovaries, organic matter is not added. This will only lead to excessive and completely useless growth of foliage to the detriment of the fruits. Instead, use the following simple recipe. Dilute 2 liters of wood ash in 15 liters of water, add 10 ml of iodine and 10 g of boric acid. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours, dilute with clean water tenfold and add 1 liter to each tomato plant of the Lyubov F1 variety. As soon as the first bunch of fruits is finally formed, all the leaves under it are removed. The procedure is carried out in the morning so that by the evening all the damage has dried.
Harvesting can be carried out at the stage of technical ripeness, when the tomatoes acquire a uniform red color. But earlier cleaning is also quite acceptable. This is especially true for regions with short, cloudy summers. Green tomatoes of the Lyubov F1 variety ripen well in a warm room in the light for a month, without showing a tendency to spoil if the humidity is maintained at no more than 60%.For longer storage of the variety, the temperature regime is selected in the range from +4 °C to + 14 °C.
Conclusion
Tomato Lyubov F1 is a good choice for gardeners who want to get early tomatoes with attractive commercial qualities. Beautiful dense fruits are suitable for salads and juices. The small labor costs are more than compensated for by the guaranteed tomato harvest.
