Description of the hybrid tomato variety Michelle, cultivation and planting instructions

The Michelle F1 hybrid tomato was developed by Japanese breeders. It was registered in Russia in 2009 and immediately became popular among farmers. These tomatoes grow well in any climate, under plastic cover, but thrive best in southern regions.

What is the Michelle tomato?

Characteristics and description of the variety:

1. Tomatoes ripen early, from the moment the seeds are planted they ripen in 100-110 days.
2. The yield is stable, with up to 4 kg of fruit growing on one bush.
3. One brush can produce up to 7 tomatoes.
4. Michelle is an indeterminate standard variety that can reach 2 m in height.
5. No branches or lateral shoots appear on it.
6. The stem is powerful.
7. This variety is resistant to nightshade diseases.
8. The harvested fruits are stored for a long time and tolerate transportation well.

The tomatoes are red, round, and slightly elongated. Each fruit weighs up to 220 g. The skin is medium-thick. The inside is fleshy, with four chambers. The dry matter content is 6%, meaning there is little water content. They have a sweetish flavor and a pleasant aroma.

The Michelle variety is suitable for canning, pickling, making tomato paste, and adding to various culinary dishes.

Growing tomatoes

To grow healthy seedlings, you need to follow the classic rules for planting tomatoes.

The seeds are planted in a pre-prepared substrate, in furrows 1.5–2 cm deep. Cover with a thin layer of soil and spray with water. Cover the container with the planted seeds with plastic wrap to retain moisture and keep it at a temperature of 22–25°C until sprouts appear. Seedlings should appear within a week.

Once they emerge, the film is removed, and the room temperature is lowered to 18–20°C. At this stage, the plant requires light or supplemental lighting for 16–18 hours. Once the seedlings grow and develop their first leaves, they can be transplanted into individual pots.

Seedling care consists of watering, fertilizing, and hardening off the plants. Watering is done once a week, as the soil dries out, fertilizing is done every two weeks, and hardening off is done two weeks before planting. It's helpful to gently loosen the soil; this strengthens the plant's root system.

During the first and subsequent days after planting, the plant will acclimate and adapt to the new conditions. Therefore, the fewer procedures performed during these days, the less stress the plant will experience.

Before planting, the soil should be loosened and fertilized (try to use as little nitrogen as possible). Since this variety is a standard variety, up to five bushes are planted per square meter. Supports are essential. Watering should be done sparingly until the tomatoes begin to set fruit. This should be done either in the morning or evening.

After the first inflorescence appears, remove the leaves at the bottom of the bush. This will improve the supply of nutrients to the clusters and make the plant easier to care for. Proper care ensures high yields and excellent taste.

Weeding, loosening, and hilling the soil greatly benefits the root system. This improves the soil and removes weeds that rob the plant of nutrients.

Gardeners' reviews of tomatoes are positive. Farmers and summer residents note the high yield of nightshades and the excellent taste and aroma of the fruits. People also highlight their versatility among their advantages. Homemakers use them both fresh and for winter preserves.