The Ashdod tomato was developed by Semko, a company that created a hybrid that thrives in open ground and greenhouses. The Ashdod f1 tomato is an early-ripening variety, as its seedlings can be sown in the last ten days of February under plastic cover, with the first harvest occurring in early June. To help farmers avoid mistakes when growing this variety, the developers have created videos that explain proper cultivation techniques. These tomatoes are consumed fresh or with vegetable oil after heat treatment.
Brief information about the plant
The characteristics and description of the variety are as follows:
- The Ashdod variety can be sown using seedlings or seeds directly in open ground, but then the harvest time shifts from June to August.
- Fruit ripening occurs 90 days after emergence.
- The first ovary is formed above the 7th or 9th leaf, and the rest begin to develop every 3 leaves.
- This variety produces cluster-shaped fruits. Therefore, the bush must be tied to a sturdy support or trellis. Otherwise, the tomato branches may break off as the fruit develops.
- Tomatoes of this variety are almost perfectly spherical in shape. They have smooth, dense skin.
- The fruit's weight can range from 0.12 to 0.15 kg. The fruit's color changes from green to brown during development, and ripe tomatoes are brown. This is due to the high content of lycopene, a beneficial substance for the human body, in the tomato pulp. The flesh itself is burgundy.
Photos of the Ashdod variety can be found in specialized agricultural catalogs. Farmer reviews of this tomato show that most achieve the desired results by following the instructions specified by the developer. A single plant yields 15 to 18 kg per square meter in greenhouses and up to 12 kg per square meter in open ground. The plant reaches a height of 0.7 m, with a diameter of 65-70 cm. Therefore, no more than 2-3 plants are planted in a garden bed, each formed from a single stem.
Ashdod grows well in southern Russia and the central part of the country, either in open ground or in unheated greenhouses. In the northern regions and throughout Siberia, this variety is grown in greenhouses. Ashdod can withstand long transportation, and the final harvest is then ripened and stored for the winter.
How to grow this tomato
Since this is an early variety, it is recommended to plant the seedlings outdoors. The soil temperature at the planting site should not fall below 15–16°C. Due to the risk of sudden temperature fluctuations and repeated frosts, the plants are covered with a temporary plastic greenhouse in early March.
If tomatoes are grown in a heated greenhouse, they can produce fruit throughout the entire 12 months, but lighting conditions must be maintained. In winter, daylight hours are maintained at 14 hours using lamps.
Before planting seeds or seedlings, add compost or rotted manure to the soil. Fertilize tomatoes with mullein, aged for a week, diluted with water at a ratio of 2 kg of mullein per 10 liters of liquid. It is recommended to dilute the solution 5-6 times before applying.
Humic fertilizers can be used, which have a beneficial effect on plant growth, both as a general fertilization and when applied to the roots. During the growing season, good results can be achieved by using fertilizers containing amino acids and microelements.
When stepchildren develop, it is recommended to completely remove them when they reach a length of 20-25 mm. During this period, the plant is susceptible to fungal and viral infections, so precautions should be taken before removing side shoots. Farmers most often spray tomato leaves and stems with Fitosporin.
Weeding, loosening the soil, and watering are carried out using the same techniques as for all tomatoes. If garden pests appear, special chemicals are used to kill the insects.
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Feeding tomato seedlings with mullein is a very effective method that often helps avoid the use of chemical fertilizers. As for the Ashdod variety, the fruits have a very tasty inner pulp. These tomatoes can also be used to make homemade tomato juice. Despite the color, it turns out very beautiful.