Shasta F1 Tomato: Characteristics and Description of the Hybrid Variety with Photos

Content

Characteristics of the variety
Growing
Common diseases

Some of the most important criteria when choosing a tomato variety are high yield and disease resistance. The Shasta F1 tomato possesses these qualities. It is one of the earliest-ripening varieties in the world.

Characteristics of the variety

This variety is a hybrid designed for commercial cultivation. It is also ideal for small gardens. Consequently, harvesting can be done either manually or mechanically.

The Shasta tomato variety has the following description and characteristics:

Early ripening of fruits. From planting to ripening takes about 90 days.
High yield. A single bush produces a large number of fruit clusters.
Tomatoes ripen at the same time.
Sufficient resistance to diseases.
The bushes are robust and belong to the determinate, low-growing variety. The height of the bush is approximately 80 cm. This characteristic makes it suitable for growing tomatoes in fields.
They have the same round shape and size, and a tomato can weigh from 60 to 90 g.
The fruits of the Shasta variety have a significant amount of dry matter, which makes them firm.
The color of the vegetable is red, the skin is thick.
Tomatoes tolerate transportation well.

These characteristics make Shasta tomatoes suitable for both commercial and small-scale home gardening. Farmers' reviews indicate that this variety is ideal for producing tomato juice, paste, whole-fruit canning, and fresh eating.

Growing

Growing fruits can be done in two ways:

without seedlings;
using seedlings.

The first method differs in that the seeds are sown directly in the beds. Suitable weather conditions are required: daytime temperatures of no lower than +20° to +23°C, and nighttime temperatures of no lower than +16°C. The seeds should be sown with the future growth of the plant in mind. It is recommended to plant the seeds 40-50 cm apart.

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Cover the beds with plastic wrap until germination begins. It's important to periodically ventilate the beds. To ensure good plant development and a strong bush, farmers recommend sowing seeds in soil pre-fertilized with organic matter.

This method of cultivation is more suitable for warm southern regions, while for colder areas, cultivation must begin with obtaining seedlings, which, up to a certain point, grow indoors.

The second method—growing from seedlings—requires a little more time and attention. To obtain seedlings, seeds are sown in small containers filled with a universal substrate or a mixture of peat and sand (1:1 ratio).

Shasta tomato seeds are sold already processed, so they do not require pre-soaking before sowing.

For sprouts to emerge, the seedling room should have an optimal temperature (23°C) and good lighting. Fertilizing and hardening off the sprouts is recommended. Hardening off should begin when the plant has 2-3 pairs of leaves.

Planting in open ground occurs when stable warm weather sets in. Plants are planted at a depth of 1.5–2 cm, with a distance of 40–50 cm between plants. During cultivation, tomatoes require careful care: watering, weeding, fertilizing, and treating with fungicides if necessary.

This type of tomato tolerates heat well, but requires regular watering. Due to the high yield, the bushes need to be tied up.

Common diseases

One of the advantages of Shasta tomatoes is their resistance to various diseases. However, one particularly dangerous disease is called blackleg. This disease affects the plant at any stage of its development. If this infection is detected, it is recommended to destroy the affected plant and treat the remaining ones with fungicides.

As with many other vegetables, tomatoes are susceptible to various pests. Preventative measures such as mulching, loosening the soil, and removing all weeds will help prevent them.

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