Description of the determinate tomato variety Florida Petit and its growing characteristics

American breeders have produced a new variety of nightshade - Florida tomato Petit. This ornamental tomato variety produces fruit year-round. It thrives indoors on windowsills and balconies. These tiny tomatoes can also be grown outdoors and in greenhouses.

The Florida Petit tomato tolerates weather fluctuations well and is drought-resistant. This tomato variety is grown in many parts of the world due to its properties. It adapts well to a variety of climates.

Cherry tomatoes have many advantages. They are sought after by gourmets year-round, making this variety very popular among vegetable growers.

To grow the plant and get a good harvest, you need to study the description of the Florida Petit variety and the manufacturer's recommendations.

Main characteristics of the variety

Like all solanaceous cherry tomatoes, the Florida Petite tomato is a determinate, low-growing plant. It can reach a maximum height of 30–40 cm.

The bush has a neat and compact appearance. It not only produces delicious fruit but also adds beauty to garden beds. Its trunk is strong, and the branches are dense and robust, easily supporting clusters of ripe fruit. This tomato variety requires no additional support, staking, or pinching.

The fruits of the Florida Petit variety ripen quickly. From the first shoots to the first harvest, it takes approximately 85-95 days. The foliage is light green, regular in shape, but with a distinct corrugated pattern. The bushes are densely filled with foliage.

The plant is resistant to many fungi and has strong immunity to tobacco mosaic and late blight. Preventative pest control spraying should be performed before the first fruits appear.

Gardeners do not recommend using chemicals once the plant begins to set fruit. Florida Petit tomatoes are not a hybrid.

This cherry tomato is considered one of the most undemanding varieties. It tolerates temperature fluctuations well, while maintaining high yields.

General characteristics of fruits:

1. The first clusters are simple, bearing 6 to 10 tomatoes. Later, the clusters become more densely covered with small tomatoes, so much so that the entire plant is sometimes invisible.
2. The fruits are small and round. All tomatoes on a single bunch ripen at the same time. Each tomato weighs 30 g.
3. Bright red in color, without any spots around the stalk.
4. The skin is thin, glossy, smooth, and without ribs. If the fruit is left in the sun for too long, it may crack.

Florida Petit tomatoes contain high levels of sugar and lycopene, making them exceptionally tasty and beneficial for the human body. They have excellent flavor. They are juicy, aromatic, sweet, and slightly tart. They are ideal for salads, garnishing dishes, making canapés, and making fresh juices. They can also be used to make other tomato products.

The yield is high. One bush can yield up to 500-600 g of tomatoes per summer.

The harvest can be stored for a long time, but only under specific conditions. The storage area should be free of dampness and drafts; Florida Petit tomatoes will keep for a long time if stored in a cool, dry place. These tiny tomatoes retain their marketable appearance even during long-distance transport. Experienced gardeners recommend storing and transporting the fruits on the bunch, without picking them from the branches.

These tomatoes are grown using seedlings.

Growing rules

Seedlings are prepared in March, or 45-50 days before planting outdoors. The seeds are sown in a special soil mixture consisting of three components: peat, coarse river sand, and turf soil. You can prepare the soil yourself by mixing these ingredients, or purchase a general-purpose soil mixture for seedlings from a specialty store.

Dig shallow holes in the soil for the seeds, about 1.5–2 cm deep. After sowing, cover the seedlings with plastic wrap and place them in a warm place. It's important that the temperature in the room where the container with the planting material will be stored does not drop below 20°C.

After 7-10 days, the first shoots will appear, and the film can be removed. The seedlings are moved to a brighter location, where the temperature is maintained between 16 and 18°C ​​for the first week, after which it is increased to 22 and 25°C.

Young Florida Petit bushes are pricked out when they develop two strong, true leaves. It's best to plant them directly into peat containers.

Plant 3-4 bushes per square meter in the ground. Water the beds immediately with settled water, and mulch the holes.

Further care is not specific: watering, loosening and fertilizing are carried out as usual.