Many Russian gardeners are ready to try exotic tomatoes. The “Lilac Lake” variety, which is mid-season, deserves special attention from gardeners. To obtain a rich and high-quality harvest, you should take into account the specifics of growing tomatoes.
Recently, exotic tomatoes have become increasingly in demand for Russian gardeners. One of the most interesting new varieties is the Lilac Lake tomato, which is semi-determinate and productive. The variety is mid-season, which determines the specifics of its cultivation.
Characteristics and description of the variety
Usually a semi-spreading bush grows 1 - 1.5 meters high. The exact height depends on the growing conditions, but in any case the use of support and stepson is required. The best results are obtained when 2–3 plant stems are formed.
The fruits have the following properties and characteristics:
- flat-round shape;
- smoothness of the skin;
- lilac-burgundy color at maturity with pearl inclusions;
- meaty consistency;
- sugar content at break;
- raspberry dense pulp;
- average weight – 200 – 350 grams;
- There are small funnel-shaped depressions on the top of the fruit.
Such features should be taken into account when focusing on how the harvest should turn out.
Recommendations for cultivation
The plant is recommended for seedling planting. It is recommended to begin planting work 60–65 days before planting in the ground.
Strong, healthy seedlings are obtained by following a number of recommendations:
- Preparing separate containers and peat pots for planting.
- Purchasing universal soil for tomatoes.
- Moistening the soil before planting.
- Plant seeds to a depth of 1.5–2 centimeters.
- Subsequent moistening of the soil from a spray bottle with water at room temperature.
- To create a greenhouse effect, it is necessary to cover the crops with film.
- Maintaining the room temperature at least 20 degrees.
- Regular loosening.
- Moving containers with emerging seedlings to a light source.
- Regular watering with warm water.
- Hardening of seedlings 7 days before planting.
Advantages and disadvantages of the variety
“Lilac Lake” tomatoes may be in demand among Russian gardeners, as they have a number of significant advantages:
- high and stable yield;
- large fruit size (200 - 350 grams);
- pleasant taste, which acquires the desired shades thanks to the dense and juicy pulp and sugar content of the tomato;
- tomatoes are ideal for fresh consumption, making juices and sauces, and winter preparations, which indicates their versatility;
- pleasant light aroma with fruity undertones;
- the possibility of successfully growing tomatoes in a greenhouse and in open ground.
Despite a number of advantages, a serious drawback can be noted.
Ripe fruits are prone to cracking, as a result of which the marketability and transportability are significantly reduced.
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Taste qualities of tomato
All varieties and hybrids of tomatoes differ in their taste. However, few people know that this vegetable tends to reveal all its charms under certain conditions. Some fruits are tasty only immediately picked from the bush, while other tomatoes are more pleasant to eat pickled or canned. There are some of the most delicious and productive tomatoes that are eaten when they are unripe. An overripe tomato of one variety may have an excellent aroma, while a fruit of another variety will have a disgusting smell.
According to their purpose, tomatoes are divided into several groups:
- The fruits of pickling varieties are usually medium in size. The pulp is saturated with special substances and a lot of sugar. The full range of tomato tastes appears only after salting.
- Canned tomatoes are smaller than pickled tomatoes. Tomato skin has unique properties. By passing the hot marinade through it, it does not crack. The fruit in the jar remains whole and beautiful.
- Salad varieties have no restrictions. Fruits can be of different weights, colors, sizes, and different flavors. However, salad tomatoes have high requirements regarding taste, meatiness and sugar content.
- Tomatoes of the sauce variety are easily recognized by their seeds when the fruit is broken. The grains of these tomatoes float freely in the pulp.
Having decided for what purpose the fruits are needed, you can go to the store to buy tomato seeds.
Advice! Almost any ripe tomato can be versatile, but if you want to enjoy the fruit, it is better to use it for its intended purpose.
Rules for growing and care
Note! When planning to grow the Lilac Lake tomato, you should pay attention to the fact that it is mid-season. It can be grown in 1 - 2 stems to obtain a high-quality and abundant harvest, so it is recommended to take care of proper planting.
Tomatoes are usually planted in March. With proper care, the first fruits appear on the first stems, indicating a high level of productivity. Sowing of seeds is always carried out 60 - 65 days before subsequent planting in the ground. When planting, it is recommended to ensure that there are seedlings of up to 4 plants per square meter of land.
Taking into account such nuances will increase the chances of obtaining a rich and high-quality harvest.
Initially, seeds are planted to grow seedlings. For this purpose, special containers are used. It is advisable to deepen the seeds 2 centimeters and maintain a temperature of about +22 degrees. For safety, the seeds are covered with a film, which is removed only after the appearance of friendly, strong shoots. Then the containers are placed in a warm and well-lit place.
If you plan to grow in a greenhouse, after the leaves appear, transplant the plant into separate containers. In cases where you plan to grow tomatoes in open conditions, you need to make sure that spring frosts are a thing of the past.
The “Lilac Lake” variety is characterized by minimal resistance to diseases and pests, so care will require taking into account numerous nuances. It is recommended to take care of regular fertilizing, proper watering, and soil treatment. At the same time, working with the soil will require more effort if you plan to grow tomatoes in open ground. In fact, experienced gardeners understand that even watering must be carried out taking into account the rules (for example, you cannot irrigate the bush with cold water, water too much or allow it to dry out).
“Lilac Lake” is an exotic variety of tomatoes that requires a special approach to cultivation.
Overview of indeterminate tomatoes
Indeterminate or, simply put, tall tomatoes are loved by gardeners due to the ability to grow a large amount of crops in a small garden bed. Bushes grow from 1.5 m in height or more. If you want to limit the growth of the stem, pinch off the top. The plant cannot stand on its own, so it is secured to a trellis or any other support.
Sharp F1
The hybrid has a very powerful, developed bush. According to the ripening period, a tomato can be classified as early or medium. Usually after 100 days the first ripe fruits are observed on the plant. Red tomatoes weigh up to 200 g, and only medium and large specimens predominate on the plant. The hybrid has a long fruiting period, which optimally allows you to get a large harvest of tasty vegetables in greenhouse conditions.
Erema F1
The optimal place for growing a hybrid is a greenhouse. The bush grows up to 1.5 m in height. A mid-early crop will delight you with a bountiful harvest in 120 days. Red tomatoes with sugary pulp are very tasty when eaten fresh. The vegetable is not suitable for canning due to its large size. The average weight of one specimen reaches 200 g. The hybrid bears fruit well even in winter in a heated greenhouse.
Manechka F1
A tasty salad hybrid can delight you with early tomatoes in open and closed garden beds. The vegetable has a traditional round shape with a flattened top and weighs 140 g. The red, sugary pulp is covered with a delicate skin with slightly visible ribs. The hybrid is resistant to viral damage.
Navigator F1
Initially, the hybrid was bred for long-term cultivation in greenhouse conditions. In warm areas, the crop can bear fruit well in open ground. The bush is powerful, spreading, grows more than 2 m in height. Red tomatoes are smooth without flaws, weigh more than 210 g. The vegetable belongs more to the salad category.
We suggest you read: Planting peppers and tomatoes in one greenhouse
Flute F1
The hybrid will delight you with a tasty and abundant harvest in 115 days. Due to the long growing season, it is better to grow the crop in a greenhouse. The vegetable is suitable for spring rotation. Red round tomatoes weigh 150 g. Dense pulp covered with durable skin that does not crack when preserved. Excellent taste allows you to use the vegetable for fresh salads.
Tomatoes of the semi-determinate group, in their characteristics, are something between determinate and indeterminate varieties. The bushes grow up to 1.5 m in height, but can also be low. The crop is characterized by high productivity, versatility in the use of fruits and an open type of cultivation. However, there are semi-determinate tomatoes that bear fruit well in greenhouse conditions. Let's look at the description and photos of some productive tomatoes in this group.
Lilac Lake
The culture is adapted for open and closed cultivation. The slightly spreading bush grows up to 1 m in height outdoors, and 1.5 m in a greenhouse. The stem is secured to a trellis or any support; excess shoots must be removed so that 2 or 3 stems are formed. The vegetable has an unusually beautiful lilac-colored skin with small dots resembling pearls.
Serbian heart
The method of growing the variety depends on weather conditions. In the southern regions, growing this tomato in open areas is acceptable; for the middle zone, the greenhouse method is recommended. The stem of the plant extends up to 1.5 m in height. The bush is fixed to the trellis and formed with 2 or 3 stems. Pink, fleshy fruits weigh 250 g. The good taste of the pulp and low seed content have made the tomato popular in salads, as well as freshly squeezed juices.
Verna
In the southern regions, the crop yields up to 10 kg of tasty tomatoes per plant. In the middle zone, only greenhouse cultivation is permissible. The mid-season variety has gained great popularity due to the value of the fruit from which baby food is prepared. The vegetable stores well and can be frozen. The stem of the plant extends up to 1.5 m in height. The fruits resemble large plums. The orange vegetable weighs a maximum of 200 g.
Cardinal
The variety will delight you not only with a high yield, but also with large fruits. It is grown in open and closed ways depending on the climatic conditions of the region. The stem of the plant can stretch up to 1.7 m, although it is often limited to a height of 1.2 m. The bushes are fixed to the trellis; the pinching process is aimed at forming the bush with 1 or 2 stems. The shape of the pink tomato resembles a heart. The sweet pulp contains few seeds. The vegetable weighs about 500 g. 5 kg of tomatoes are harvested from 1 plant per season.
Chinese pink
Greenhouse conditions are optimal for growing the crop. Bushes 1.5 m high show good yield results when formed with 2 stems. A pink vegetable in the shape of an even heart weighs up to 350 g. A small number of grains are observed inside the fleshy pulp. Sweet tomato is very tasty in salads.
Summer cider
In terms of ripening time, the tomato belongs to the mid-season varieties. The main stem of the plant reaches 1.5 m in height. The culture is able to adapt and produce good yields in open and closed beds. The bush is formed with 2 or 3 stems, securing it to the trellis as it grows. Large orange spherical fruits weigh 400 g. On the lower tiers of the bush grow giants weighing 800 g. The sweet, fleshy pulp is suitable for dietary nutrition and making salads.
Mom's love
Tomatoes are grown in closed and open beds, but for the middle zone greenhouse growth is desirable. According to the ripening period, the crop is considered mid-season. A bush with a height of 1.5 m is capable of producing the maximum amount of harvest when formed with 2 stems. The plant produces a lot of tomatoes. A ripe vegetable acquires a red flesh color. The tomatoes are large, weighing up to 500 g. There are very few grains inside the sweet pulp.
All determinate tomatoes are best grown in the garden. With the greenhouse method of growing tomatoes, a minimum of space is allocated for low-growing varieties. It is easy to care for the crop; it is not tied to a trellis; instead of a stepson, only the shoots located below the first ovary are pinched. Determinate tomatoes are characterized by a friendly and early harvest.
Upstart
Tomatoes ripen together on several bunches at once. The vegetable is considered mature after 100 days. The variety is characterized by good yield in open areas. When planting early, the plant can be covered with film. The bushes grow up to 1 m in height, sometimes requiring support from wooden stakes. A tomato with red tender pulp weighs up to 100 g.
Arctic
A compact plant with a stem height of only 40 cm will bear delicious early tomatoes in 80 days. The culture does without removing shoots, regular watering and fertilizing the soil. The variety can be called decorative because of its small, beautiful red tomatoes. The tomato is more suitable for home growing.
City dweller F1
The variety of small-fruited tomato is loved by summer residents because of the excellent taste of the fruit. Moreover, the vegetable ripens very early. The plant bears fruit well in any conditions, so it is often grown in flower pots on a windowsill, balcony or terrace. Culture has a little secret. Pinching lateral shoots can significantly increase yield. Small spherical tomatoes weigh only 30 g.
Paradise F1
The ripening of the first fruits is observed after 100 days. The hybrid is considered early, capable of growing on any type of soil, while bringing a large harvest. Elongated tomatoes weigh about 120 g. There is a small green spot around the stalk. This tasty vegetable is great for pickling and salads.
Crane
The crop is considered medium-early in terms of ripening time. The main stem of the plant can stretch up to 1 m in height. The red, elongated tomatoes are held quite firmly on the stalk. With its neat shape and weight of 120 g, the vegetable is suitable for canning and pickling.
We looked at productive tomato varieties that bear tasty fruits for various purposes, which were tested in cultivation by experienced vegetable growers and hobbyists. Each of these crops can be successfully grown in your home garden.
Reviews
Valentina: “Lilac Lake is one of the most worthy exotic tomato varieties. Fleshy, tasty fruits are ideal for preparing various dishes and even for eating fresh. Receiving a bountiful harvest allows us to ensure that the variety can become increasingly popular in Russia.”
Evgenia: “Initially, I was very wary of various exotic tomatoes, but then I decided to try the Lilac Lake variety. Large juicy tomatoes pleased me, because they are ideal for use for culinary purposes. High yields also contributed to the fact that the Lilac Lake variety turned out to be one of my favorites.”
Veronica: “Lilac Lake is a new exotic variety of tomatoes, which is characterized by optimal yield and impeccable taste. I grow tomatoes in a greenhouse because this approach saves space and even requires less effort to grow vegetables. Lilac Lake has been making me happy for several years now, so this coming summer I will be growing these tomatoes again.”
Breeding tips from experienced farmers
In order to get healthy, tasty tomato fruits, you must follow all the rules of agricultural technology:
- It is imperative to prepare pots with peat contents for picking. It is best to purchase soil special for tomatoes (it is rich in nutrients and minerals that have a beneficial effect on seedlings).
- The soil should be watered abundantly before planting tomatoes.
- The Lilac Lake tomato can be propagated by seeds. Planting seeds should be at a depth of at least two centimeters. In most cases, planting takes place already in March.
- Further watering must be done from a spray bottle. The temperature of the irrigation water should not be colder than room temperature.
- For favorable growth of seedlings, a greenhouse effect must occur. At home, it is enough to stretch ordinary plastic film over the pots with seedlings.
In general, this tomato variety is undemanding to care. It is enough to follow simple instructions from farmers.
Do not forget about proper watering (never water the bushes with too cold water and do not allow the soil to dry out), fertilizers, weed removal and support near the trunks.
