Do you want to harvest fresh tomatoes before anyone else? Then pay attention to the tomato hybrid Lyubasha (F1 is the abbreviation meaning "hybrid"). The description, advantages, conditions for growing seedlings and their transplantation into the soil, providing the plant with the necessary nutrients and measures of protection against adverse effects are discussed in detail later in the article.
Description of the hybrid Lyubasha
The ultra-early hybrid Lyubasha was bred relatively recently - in 2016, and a year later it was officially entered in the state register of Russia and recommended for cultivation in all areas both in closed and unprotected soil.
Tomato is characterized by a fairly short vegetative period of ripening - 65-75 days after sowing seeds. It belongs to the group of standard determinant hybrids, which indicates a limitation of the growth of its bush when it reaches a meter height.
Bushes
The average height of adult bushes is from 60 to 100 cm, in connection with which they must be stepsoned and tied to supports. The bushes grow in the correct form with strong stems that can withstand heavy weight during ripening. Each bush has about 4-5 brushes. The leaves are bright green in size.
Fruit
Tomatoes grow medium in size, have the correct rounded shape and bright red color. The fruit mass is about 120-150 g. The peel is smooth, glossy, the pulp is dense, so that the tomatoes of this variety do not crack, have a marketable appearance and well tolerate transportation over long distances. The fruit is juicy, quite meaty and has a delicate taste. Fruits contain a moderate number of seeds, seed nests - 3-4 pieces.
Variety Features, Pros and Cons
A characteristic distinguishing feature of the Lyubasha hybrid is that in one internode, the formation of two inflorescences is possible, both of which will produce full-fledged tomatoes in all brushes. This property does not affect the taste of the fruit and does not in the least prevent the formation of fruit brushes in other internodes.
Advantages:
- Ultra-early simultaneous ripening of all fruits, which is of great importance when growing tomatoes for the purpose of implementation.
- Possibility of growing both in unprotected soil and in a greenhouse.
- High yield.
- Resistance to apical rot and tolerance to alternariosis, late blight, and the tobacco mosaic virus - the main diseases that actively affect other varieties of tomatoes.
- Unpretentiousness in leaving.
- Excellent taste and convenient fruit size, as a result of which tomatoes Lyubasha F1 can be consumed both fresh and processed and canned.
Disadvantages:
- Poor tolerance of low temperatures.
- The need for regular loosening of the soil, as well as top dressing, which requires a constant presence on the site.
- The simultaneous ripening of fruits will not allow them to be eaten fresh throughout the season.
The features and advantages of the hybrid ultra-early tomato Lyubasha are described in detail in the video presented:
Agrotechnical events
In order to achieve the maximum effect from growing the Lyubasha hybrid with minimal effort, time and money, you should first familiarize yourself with the correct technology of agricultural measures.
Growing seedlings
The timing of sowing tomato seeds Lyubasha F1 depends on the climatic zone and usually occurs in mid-February - early March. It is also possible to calculate based on the fact that transplantation into open ground is carried out 50 days after the appearance of the first sprouts. A prerequisite is the absence of night frost. Seeds should be planted in a previously prepared soil mixture, which includes:
- Loose soil, disinfected from pests. For this purpose, it is recommended to dry it in the oven for 40 minutes.
- Lowland peat.
- Humus.
- Overripe manure.
For planting seedlings, any container in which you can plant the seeds in a row (wooden boxes, plastic containers with pre-made holes for draining excess water) is suitable. Seedlings are practically not demanding on lighting, humidity and temperature conditions. It can be grown even in an apartment (preferably on the south side), using additional lighting.
Tomato seeds are planted in a row, while the distance between them should be at least 3-4 cm. The depth of the holes is about 1 cm. After that, the soil is poured with water, covered with cling film, and the containers with seedlings are transferred to a warm place.
To avoid rapid overheating of the soil, containers are not recommended to be placed on batteries.
Caring for seedlings of the Lyubasha hybrid is standard. The light period is at least 12 hours per day. The temperature regime in the room: in the first week - no more than + 23 ÷ + 25 ° С, the second week - + 20 ° С. Watering is done as the soil dries: the first three weeks - every 6-7 days, then - 4-5 days. In no case should the soil be excessively flooded with water, otherwise seedlings may die.
At the stage of growing seedlings, the soil does not have to be fed. However, if there are doubts about its quality, it is recommended that a complex fertilizer containing phosphorus, potassium and magnesium be introduced in the first week. Then top dressing is performed when three leaves have already formed on the stem. In this case, fertilizers rich in nitrogen and potassium are applied.
Transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse or open ground
First of all, it is necessary to prepare holes for planting seedlings at a distance of 50 cm from each other. After that, they are poured with water and poured into each humus, mixed with mineral fertilizers.
Before removing seedlings from containers, moisten the soil to prevent possible damage to the roots and easily release seedlings from containers. In order to properly capture the bushes, you must carefully grab their trunk and slowly remove the plant from the soil. Next, the bush is vertically installed in the hole and sprinkled with compost. Then mulch the soil using sawdust, straw or mowed grass.
Tomato care Lyubasha
The formation of bushes. In order to get the most generous harvest, the manufacturer recommends forming bushes of the Lyubasha hybrid in 2-3 stems, which depends on the frequency of planting. If for 1 square. m of soil planted no more than four plants, the formation is carried out in 3 stems. To do this, leave two stepson, which grow above and below the first flower brush.
With a denser planting, it is preferable to leave only two stems on the hybrid bushes - the main and secondary from the bottom of the first flower brush. The remaining side shoots must be removed as they appear. Despite the fact that the bushes are medium-sized, it is recommended that they be tied to supports, as the crop gives a large load, as a result of which the tomatoes can sink to the ground. The stems, in turn, become very thick, and even thicker than the stakes to which they are tied.
Watering. Watering is carried out mainly in the evening with a frequency of one (in spring and early summer) to several (in the middle of summer) days per week.
Experts recommend watering the plant under the root, so as not to disturb the growth of the bushes.
After watering, it is advisable to loosen the soil and weed it from weeds.
Top dressing. Fertilizers are first applied two weeks after transplanting seedlings. Further, the soil should be fed every ten days. As a top dressing, you can use mullein, mineral fertilizers and chicken droppings. During the growing season, tomato bushes should be re-fed - sprayed with effective microorganisms (EM), as well as a solution of wood ash.
Disease prevention
To protect the plant from various diseases and insect pests, it is recommended to spray them with Bordeaux liquid or onion tincture 2-3 times a month. Also, even at the planting stage, one tablet of the glyocladin fungicide can be placed in each well.
Harvesting tomato Lyubasha
Harvesting depends on climatic conditions, frequency and composition of top dressing. As a rule, it begins in the first summer month. Tomatoes on the bush ripen at the same time. When landing in unprotected soil with each 1 square. m you can get a crop weighing about 10 kg. If you grow bushes in a greenhouse, then this value can increase to 15 kg.
An overview and characteristics of the Lyubasha tomato hybrid from an experienced gardener are presented in the following video:
Lyubasha tomato hybrid is an excellent option for growing both for commercial purposes and for personal consumption. He is quite unpretentious in care, while giving an early and rich harvest. And the excellent taste of the fruits will not leave anyone indifferent.