What do you pay attention to first when choosing a tomato variety for your site? For some gardeners, early ripening is important, someone is ready to wait to get the most delicious fruits. For someone, the appearance of tomatoes is also important. Among the best varieties of medium-late varieties summer residents celebrate tomato Rome. Photos, reviews, characteristics of the variety, a description of its fruits are waiting for you in this material!
Varietal characteristics
This variety is classified as determinant. Depending on the climatic conditions of the growing region, it can be medium late or late. The bushes of the plant are tall and powerful. Their average size is about 160-180 centimeters, in greenhouse conditions the plant can reach a height of two meters!
From the moment the first seedlings appear until the harvest ripens, at least 75 days pass. It should be noted that in the middle latitudes and northern regions, which are characterized by cool summers, this period can increase up to 90 days.
Tomato Rome: characteristic of fruits
The variety is characterized by excellent productivity, a large number of fruits. The weight of one tomato is on average about 600 grams. Experienced gardeners say: while controlling the ovaries and observing all the features of the care, including feeding, they were able to grow tomatoes weighing 1.5 kilograms! The shape of tomatoes Rome is round, slightly flattened. The size is quite large, ribbing is present. When the fruits reach technical maturity, the color of the tomatoes becomes saturated red. Tomatoes are distinguished by excellent taste, meatiness and sweet taste. In reviews of tomato varieties of Rome, gardeners say: it is best suited for the preparation of salads and tomato juice.
Grade Benefits
Numerous reviews of gardeners made it possible to highlight the strongest and weakest sides of tomato. The positive qualities include high productivity, large-fruited, resistance to diseases and pests. In addition, Rome is unpretentious in leaving, and its only drawback can be called only the late ripening of the crop. When growing in open ground, the first ripe fruits you will try no earlier than August.
Features of sowing seeds
In order to get the maximum yield from each bush, gardeners recommend processing seeds and soil before planting. Sowing seeds is best in the last decade of February or the first decade of March. At least 60 days must pass before you transfer the seedlings to a permanent place. For seed disinfection, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide is suitable. Soil also requires disinfection: it must be calcined in the oven at a temperature of no more than 100 degrees, spilled with a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. You can plant seeds either in individual peat pots or in boxes in which holes have been made in advance.
Gardeners recommend burying planting material by no more than a centimeter. After this, the seeds should be sprinkled with soil, and then covered with glass or film - until the first shoots appear. When the plant has two true leaves, a pick should be carried out. This procedure is not necessary if you plan to plant Rome tomatoes in individual containers.
Experts recommend applying fertilizer twice at the seedling stage. The first feeding should be done 5-10 days after the picking procedure, and one and a half weeks before transferring to a permanent place, one more feeding will be required.
Transplanting to a permanent place
For tomatoes of this variety cultivation is permissible both in a greenhouse and in open ground. If you plan to plant plants in a closed heated greenhouse, you can plant it already starting in mid-April. In open ground, seedlings should be planted after the last frost, the optimal time is the second half of May.
Previously for seedlings you need to prepare the holes. The best scheme is 50 by 60 centimeters. Experienced gardeners do not recommend placing more than two to three plants on one square meter. Before planting, a small amount of mineral and organic fertilizer should be applied to each well, and then well moistened. Only after this tomato can be planted in a permanent place. Immediately after this procedure, it is necessary to water the earth again under the bush, mulch it.
Tomato Rome: Description of Care Features
In order to avoid the most common diseases characteristic of the nightshade family, to get the highest and highest quality crop, a number of rules must be observed:
- Tomato Rome needs to be stepson. In this case, the bushes should be formed in two, and preferably three stems.
- Garter. Tomatoes of this variety are classified as tall, with the introduction of fertilizers and proper care, the height of one plant can reach two meters. That is why, as the bushes grow, it is necessary to fix the main stem and brush with fruits.
- Watering. Tomatoes of almost all varieties need abundant hydration. Only warm water can be used for this. Water the plants should be at the root, trying not to fall on the ovaries and leaves.
- Weed removal and loosening. These procedures are necessary in order to avoid insect attacks and the development of diseases.
- Fertilizer application. Tomato Rome responds well to the application of organic fertilizers. Top dressing should be done several times a season. The first is required 14 days after transplanting the bushes to a permanent place. After this, the plants should be fed at the stage of flowering, the formation of fruits.
- The right choice of place. Since the tomato belongs to the category of late-ripening, when placed on shaded areas, the crop will be as late as possible. That is why there should be artificial lighting in the greenhouse. If you plan to plant seedlings in open ground, you should choose a well-lit place.
Reviews gardeners
In their reviews, summer residents say: tomatoes grow very large, ribbed. When broken, the tomatoes are divided into segments. The pulp is dense, dry, a bit like the pulp of a watermelon. Vegetables are suitable for the preparation of winter preservation, sauces, juices and for fresh consumption.