Description of the mid-season tomato Rocker and the rules for growing the variety using seedlings

After its market debut, the Rocker tomato quickly gained popularity. Fans of this variety immediately appreciated its advantages: ease of cultivation and the quality of the tomatoes it produces. It's ideal for planting outdoors, is easy to maintain, and produces low-growing, compact bushes, reaching 40-50 cm in height, making it suitable even for balconies.

What is the Rocker tomato?

According to gardeners who have grown Rocker tomatoes, the bush can reach a height of 70 cm. This variety is mid-season, with the time from first shoots to fruit ripening taking 100 to 105 days.

Characteristics and description of tomatoes:

1. The Rocker tomato is cuboid or oblong in shape, similar to a plum.
2. The fruit is smooth, bright red, weighing from 90 to 110 g, and has a rich tomato flavor.
3. Thanks to their size, tomatoes are ideal for whole-fruit canning; they are easy to place in a jar, and their resistance to high temperatures allows them to retain their attractive appearance.
4. According to reviews from those who have grown this variety, the yield from each bush can be up to 4 kg.

How are these tomatoes grown?

Late April is the optimal time to sow seeds for seedlings. For best germination, use a light soil mixture enriched with minerals and humus. Pricking out is done after the first true leaf appears. To protect the roots of the bush during planting, preventing damage or disturbance, it is recommended to transplant the first shoots into individual pots.

Maintaining the correct temperature is important for root development. Immediately after planting, until the seeds germinate, the soil and air temperature should be between 23 and 25°C. After sprouts emerge, the temperature drops to 20°C, and during the day, to 18°C. To harden off the seedlings, take them outside for a week during the day before planting. It is important to remember that when the soil temperature drops to +15ºС, tomato seeds do not germinate and the bushes stop developing.

Seedlings are planted after 5-6 true leaves appear, usually 25-30 days after sowing. When planting in a garden bed, it's recommended to plant no more than 8 plants per square meter. According to those who have planted tomatoes on a balcony, it's best to plant each plant in its own pot.

Before planting, prepare a light, humus-compost soil, add granular mineral fertilizer, and water. Covering the soil with rotted peat and sawdust has also earned positive reviews from vegetable growers.

In case of planting in a garden bed The best predecessors for the Rocker tomato are cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, cauliflower, parsley, and dill. There's no need to remove side shoots, as the side shoots are actively producing fruit.

For proper care of the Rocker variety, timely watering, weeding, loosening the soil, and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers are sufficient. According to those who have grown Rocker tomatoes, fertilizing and loosening the soil can be done once every three weeks. For a better harvest, it is recommended to protect the bushes from strong winds.

The variety's characteristics allow staking only when necessary, including if the branches can't support the weight of the fruit. It's important to remember that overwatered soil can damage the bushes, causing fungi and other diseases, so when watering, be sure to keep the soil moist.

Flowering and fruit set are active. After the first green tomatoes appear, about 80% of the fruits ripen within the first month. The taste of tomatoes grown in the open field is in no way inferior to those grown in a greenhouse. Ripe tomatoes are transported without damage, and they store well when kept cool.

Vegetable growers call the Rocker tomato variety ideal for canning for several reasons:

1. The tomatoes are firm, with thick, dense skin and small seeds.
2. Oblong shape and small size of fruits.
3. Maintains its appearance when exposed to high temperatures due to the dense structure of the tomato.

The Rocker variety is the best choice for those without a greenhouse. Grown in the open ground at home or in a garden bed, these tomatoes will delight you with their flavor, both fresh and canned.