Tomato or ampelny tomato - varieties, description and characteristics
Content:
Ampel plant varieties are gaining great popularity. This is due to the convenience of caring for them and a very effective appearance. Ampel tomatoes have recently begun to flood the Russian market. In addition to the decorative function, these plants give a good harvest despite the relatively small size of the fruits.
What are ampelous tomatoes and their features
The concept itself originally referred to decorative flowers: Petunias, Begonia and others. Ampels (as ampel plants are usually called) are grown in flowerpots, hanging pots. They can also be planted in baskets, it all depends on the creativity of the gardener.
Ampel tomatoes
What are ampelous tomatoes, how they differ from other tomatoes
These are tomatoes that look like vines growing downward. They are quite bushy. The flowers look like those of ordinary single upright tomatoes.
The ampelous tomato is relatively small in size. It resembles the fruit of a plum or grape.
During flowering, the tomato has a very decorative look. The yellowish white flowers are very numerous. But during fruiting, it is even more spectacular. The abundance of small tomatoes on one bush gives a very tempting and mouth-watering look. After all, these tomatoes can and should be eaten.
Tomato varieties that can be grown as ampelous
Today it has been proven that growing ampel tomatoes is possible only from ampel varieties. That is, they cannot be obtained from other indeterminate ones.
Contrary to false belief, beautiful hanging or creeping tomatoes are obtained from ampel tomato seeds.
Benefits of ampel tomatoes
Ampels have undeniable advantages over ordinary tomatoes, despite minor disadvantages.
Firstly, the yield is much less than single bushes. But at the same time, with proper care, more than one crop can be harvested from one plant.
The second important property is the lack of contact with open ground. Ampels grow from the ground in a flowerpot or basket, and hang in the air. Therefore, the risk of "getting sick" from the soil, being infected with fungi or other pathogens is extremely low. Contact with atmospheric air is also minimized, if the grower so desires. Thus, it is possible to achieve almost greenhouse conditions.
Tomatoes of ampelous varieties give a decorative look to any landscape. It can be a miniature flowerpot with small grape-like fruits. At the same time, it is quite possible to grow a huge bush even in the country, even in an apartment, or hang them with a loggia, balcony, veranda.
Features of biology of ampels are very important:
- feel good in drafts;
- do not stretch, their growth is determined;
- no contact with open soil (see above);
- do not require a high degree of illumination, therefore they survive even in the shade;
- resistant to many diseases;
- unusual taste characteristics.
The most popular varieties of ampelous tomatoes
Despite the low availability of ampel seeds, popular varieties can already be found among plant breeders. About them in order below.
Tomato ampelous Yellow Tom
This is a highly decorative member of the nightshade family. Their growth is limited, therefore, ampelous varieties of Tom Yellow tomatoes are considered deterministic. Fruits are slightly larger than cherry, there are many flowers in the inflorescence, respectively, fruits too. Sometimes the variety is called Tom Tumbling (tumbling).
Fruit of the Yellow Tom
Tomatoes ripen in June, that is, the early ripening variety. They do not need shaping and pinning. But to plant a seed for seedlings should be a month before planting the plant in a permanent place. Advantageous property - Yellow Tom can grow both as an ampel in a pot, and as an ordinary single bush. But in this case, it is better to have support.
Tomato ampelous Tiger d11
This variety of ampel among tomatoes got its name due to its extraordinary color. It is striped: the red stripe is replaced by orange or yellow in various variations. Therefore, it outwardly resembles the color of a tiger's skin. The pulp at the break also has some mottling, streakiness, and heterogeneity in color.
The tiger variety ampel amazes with its external beauty
Shoots are low and determined. Height hardly reaches 20 cm. Many brushes are formed.
The shape of tiger fruits is round or semi-oval. The pulp is juicy. The skin is fairly firm, not prone to cracking.
Tomato ampelous Yellow Miracle
Like other representatives of ampel, it is a determinant tomato. The height does not exceed half a meter. If you grow it like a liana, then it is better to tie it to a support, otherwise the trunk may break under its own weight.
Pickling, pinching is not required. The stem is branched and bushy in itself. There are quite a few leaves on one plant. This is the most typical description of the variety.
You can get ripe tomatoes almost until late autumn, if you take proper care of them. The color of the “yellow miracle” tomatoes ranges from light yellowish, beige, to bright orange.
Ampelous cherry tomato
The most popular ampel variety. It is famous for its small, beautiful fruits. They are widely used in decoration, festive table setting. Moreover, the cherry is extremely tasty. Small fruits, similar to cherries, can be easily and conveniently pickled, salted and preserved.
Cherry-like cherry tomatoes
The color can be completely different. Greenish to brown varieties. According to its characteristics, it does not differ from other ampel varieties.
Ampel Tomatoes Rowan Beads
Outwardly, these are round or oval fruits, dense in consistency. Rowan beads owe their name to the color and peculiarities of flowering and fruiting. There are a lot of small-sized fruits on one brush. The color is usually bright red.
Representatives of the variety Rowan beads
One of the few varieties that can be grown in a balcony or on a veranda. To do this, you should carefully consider the formation of a mixture for the soil. It should include sand and humus, as well as ash and ordinary soil from the garden. The rest of the care rules do not differ from other ampelous tomatoes.
Variety selection
You need to proceed from goals and opportunities. If there is no experience in growing ampels, then it is better to start with simple and unpretentious varieties. Like, for example, Talisman or Cherry.
It is better to grow low branchy bushes on the balcony at home. Rowan beads and the already famous Cherry beads work well.
What experienced gardeners say: reviews of ampel tomatoes
What amateur gardeners say:
Irina S., 52, Saratov: “I have been planting ampels at my dacha for several years now. Really like. Troubled, but worth it. We have mastered the balcony for this season. They bloom beautifully, there are many inflorescences. I look forward to the first decorative Cherries. "
Sergey K., 49 years old, Sergiev Posad: “I tried to breed ordinary bush tomatoes as ampels, but I didn't get any success. For two years ampels “Yellow Tom” have been growing on the veranda. In terms of yield, it was expected, but the taste was disappointing. But for salting, pickling - that's it! "
If plant seeds are purchased in specialty stores, and not through the Internet and not from "hands", the chances of good luck are great. Otherwise, you can fall for fakes.
