Characteristics of the Balcony Tomato Bonsai and Requirements for Growing the Hybrid

Bonsai tomatoes are distinguished from other tomatoes by their small bush height. However, the characteristics and description of the variety will reveal many other features of this vegetable.

Advantages

The Bonsai tomato is a determinate variety, meaning it has a limited height. Bonsai tomatoes are also known for their rapid ripening. Due to their small size (no more than 0.5 m tall), these tomatoes grow well in pots, such as on a veranda, balcony, or loggia. Of course, this doesn't prevent them from being grown outdoors, where they yield even more.

The fruits are used in salads and preserves, and the beauty of the bushes makes them a popular choice for garden decoration. If you read reviews of this variety's taste, you'll find that they're excellent and just as good as other indoor tomato varieties. These tomatoes are also known as "balcony miracles": both a decoration and a treat, all without leaving home—isn't that wonderful?

These tomatoes produce a good harvest, with up to 2 kg of tomatoes being harvested from a single bush. Because the bush is short, there's no need to tie it up, reducing the hassle for gardeners.

The first fruits ripen 90 days after planting. The tomatoes themselves are small, up to 65 g, bright red, and round.

Planting and care

The main requirement when choosing a location for growing this variety is sufficient sunlight. A sunny veranda or loggia is ideal.

Before planting the seeds, water the soil with warm water for several days. It's best to purchase soil specifically designed for growing tomatoes. You can also prepare your own soil by mixing equal parts of manure, turf, and peat. Distribute the soil among the containers in which the tomatoes will be grown.

Initially, seedlings are planted in disposable plastic cups or a special long tray, where several plants are placed in a row. However, experienced gardeners recommend planting in cups, as this allows the seedlings to be rotated toward the sun: this way, the bush will develop symmetrically, receiving sunlight from all sides.

The seeds must be soaked beforehand, although they germinate well when dry. Planting occurs in February-March. Place two seeds in a cup, planting them 1 cm deep. When the tomatoes emerge, select the stronger of the two seedlings and pinch it off. Remove the weaker plant.

Seedlings should be watered infrequently—once a week—with settled, room-temperature water (cold water is strictly prohibited for tomatoes). The room where you want to grow Bonsai tomatoes should be maintained at a specific temperature: around 20°C during the day and no lower than 16°C at night. If the balcony is very hot, ventilate it periodically, but be careful to avoid large drafts.

As for fertilizing, the seedlings should be fertilized for the first time 12 days after sprouting. Repeat the process 10 days later. The final feeding should be a week before the planned transplanting to their permanent location.

When it's time to transplant the seedlings into pots, water them first, then remove them from the cups. They are then transferred to a new location, leaving the soil on the roots. Continue to monitor watering, as in dry weather, the bushes need to be moistened every two days.

When the plant blooms, you just need to remove the side branches without flowers. Next, the fruits appear: at first they are green, but over time they change color, first turning yellow, then orange, and then red.

It is not necessary to wait for them to ripen completely, as tomatoes can ripen on their own in the dark.

These tomatoes will undoubtedly delight the eye with their miniature bushes and red fruits. Many gardeners who have already planted these tomatoes speak highly of this variety.

Anna: "I planted a bonsai to test it out—the plant turned out just like the picture! It's just as lush and covered in what look like little cherries and tomatoes. The kids were absolutely delighted! Now I grow it every year."

Evgeny: "We bought it for fun, for the kids. They loved it, and we plant it every year."