Tomato Red Riding Hood

The tomato with the fabulous name Little Red Riding Hood belongs to the hardy determinant varieties. In the Russian Federation, this variety has been grown since 2011. Little Red Riding Hood is loved by both beginners in vegetable growing and experienced gardeners, because this variety can be grown not only in a greenhouse or open field, but also at home, on a balcony or windowsill.

Little Red Riding Hood is a standard type of tomato. The height of compact bushes does not exceed 40 centimeters. The foliage is moderate, medium-sized and green in color. The stems, despite their small size, differ in density, and also do not require formation from the gardener. Since the variety is ampelous, it can be grown even in hanging pots. The culture is distinguished by simple inflorescences. The tomato stem grows with a joint.

This variety produces small cherry tomatoes weighing only 15-20 grams. The brush contains 4-5 rounded fruits. Formed tomatoes have a green tint, there is a speck in the area of ​​the stalk. As they ripen, they change from green to red. The berries are covered with a dense and smooth skin. It protects the fruit from cracking. Because of this, the Red Riding Hood variety is often grown commercially.

The berries of the variety contain relatively few seeds. The pulp is fleshy, but soft. The taste is sweet, almost no sourness is felt. Due to such taste characteristics and appearance, Little Red Riding Hood is often used for preserving and decorating ready-made culinary masterpieces. Also, fruits can often be used as a component of a child's or dietary diet.

The first fruits on the Red Riding Hood bushes appear closer to June 10. You can collect them until August 20. The early variety matures in 85-90 days.

Compact bushes of the variety give a good harvest. Basically, the collection amount is 1.8 kg per sq. m of soil. When grown commercially, gardeners harvest up to 30 tons of fresh produce per hectare.

Red Riding Hood is grown using the seedling method. Ideal will be seeds at the age of 2-3 years, not younger. It is recommended to disinfect them; solutions that stimulate growth will also be useful. This variety reacts very well to fresh aloe juice, which is able to strengthen the immunity of future bushes. Planting should be done in the period from 10 to 20 March, but if the bushes continue to grow in the greenhouse, then they can be planted in the last days of February.

It is customary to sow Little Red Riding Hood seeds in a light, breathable substrate, which consists of garden soil, turf and humus. For better air permeability, washed sand from the river is added, and for nutritional value - mineral fertilizing. You should not ram the ground. The planted seeds are provided with shelter and placed in a place where the temperature is stable at +25 degrees. As soon as the seedlings germinate, the temperature will need to be lowered to +16 degrees. After a week, increase again - up to 18-20 heat.

It is necessary to start hardening young shoots 2 weeks before disembarking to a permanent place. At the same time, the pots are protected from strong gusts of wind.Closer to May 20, the sprouts can be transplanted to a permanent place.

Little Red Riding Hood will grow well in places where nightshades, legumes, cabbage were previously cultivated. But places where eggplants, potatoes and bell peppers grew should be avoided. These plants will give tomatoes little chance of normal development. As for the soil, it must contain ash and humus. They can be entered both in advance and at the time of planting.

Tomatoes are placed in small holes. It is customary to dig no more than 3-4 holes per square meter, then the development will be correct. Placement is carried out according to the scheme 50x30 centimeters. You can do it differently by making double rows. Having planted the bushes, they are watered, a peg for a garter is driven in next to them.

Those who have already planted a similar variety give 2 more interesting tips:

• it is recommended to plant Little Red Riding Hood on a cloudy day, and even better if there is drizzle;

• the seedlings will grow faster, it will hurt less if the earth was spilled in advance with a solution of copper sulfate.

In order for the ovaries to form on time, and subsequently give juicy fruits, tomatoes of this variety require a sufficient amount of moisture. You can organize drip irrigation on the site, freeing yourself up time. If this option is not possible, you need to dig a hole near each seedling, and pour water there. The bush needs about 3 liters at a time. It is better to give the liquid in the evening, so that during the night the tomatoes have time to be saturated with it.

When planning to water your plants, you need to pay attention to the weather conditions. So, in extreme heat, watering will have to be more frequent, in rain, they are not necessary. After you have watered the ground, wait a couple of hours and start loosening. Little Red Riding Hood does not tolerate the presence of a dense earth crust. And also watering can and should be combined with careful weeding of the earth.

At the very beginning of development, Little Red Riding Hood tomatoes will need nitrogen. To prepare top dressing with 10 liters of water, mix 0.5 liters of mullein infusion and 1 tablespoon of nitroammofoska. Tomatoes can also be fertilized with organic fertilizers as they grow. But it is best to alternate it with mineral complexes. Potassium-phosphorus mixtures are especially needed for tomatoes. You cannot fertilize tomatoes a couple of weeks before harvesting.

Tomatoes of this variety, according to the originator, do not require a garter. But in reality, gardeners still tie them up. The bushes are strong, but if there are a lot of fruits, they can break. Fallen berries crack and deteriorate, which is unprofitable for any cultivation.

Disease and pest resistance

Little Red Riding Hood is a variety that can perfectly resist verticillosis, tobacco mosaic, fusarium wilt. Due to the early maturity, late blight simply does not have time to develop.

Tomatoes growing in greenhouses can be attacked by the whitefly. Those that grow outdoors are affected by aphids. Green soap solution is the best weapon against her. And also in wet areas slugs often crawl. They can be scared away by the smell of ammonia, as well as by laying prickly mulch (pine needles).

In almost every region of the country, there were summer residents who had already grown Little Red Riding Hood tomatoes. The reviews are different. A lot is positive. Gardeners love the unusual shape of the bush, on which the tomatoes ripen only from the top. The harvested berries are used for different harvests and are fresh. Summer residents claim that they do without disease.

The negative responses say that the variety is afraid of morning spring frosts, and therefore in some regions it can only grow in a greenhouse. And in greenhouse shelters, you have to tinker more with the bushes, maintaining the right microclimate and the correct soil moisture.