Gardener's Delight
- Long trusses of extremely sweet, cherry-sized fruits
- Reliable indeterminate variety
- Ideal for patio pots and containers
- Crop Time
- Spring: 10 - 12 months
- Height ∅
- 31 ″ / 80 cm
- Exposure
- Sun
- Seed Form
- Raw Seed
- Best Uses
- Bedding
Culture guide
Usage
Vegetables, pot and container plants
Sow time
Mid February-April for green pots
Sowing method
2-3 seeds per plug
Germination
7-12 days at temperatures of 70-75 °F (21-24 °C). Cover seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing.
Growing on
Transplant plugs after 6-7 weeks. Grow on at 62-65 °F (16-18 °C).
Media
Use a well-drained, growing substrate with 15-30 % clay, 0-15 % parts (e. g. perlite, sand), 3 kg/m³ complete balanced fertilizer, iron-chelate, micronutrients, pH: 5.8-6.5.
Temperature
Grow at 17-20 °C. Lycopersicon does not tolerate temperatures below 5 °C. Therefore protect the young plants against cold night temperatures. The plants should be hardened for early selling.
Fertilization
High fertilization levels are required. Fertilize the crop weekly with 300-400 ppm nitrogen, using a complete balanced fertilizer. Avoid high ammonium and high nitrogen levels. High nitrogen levels are the cause that foliage gets large. When the flowers are visible, change the fertilizer and use a potassium balanced fertilizer (N: K₂O-ratio: 1:1,5). Take care of a good phosphate and iron supply. Prevent magnesium deficiency by applying magnesium sulphate (0,05 %) 1-2 times and in case of iron deficiency apply iron-chelate for 1-2 times. Calcium deficiency can be cause for necrosis on leaves, dark tips on fruits and corking tips on fruits.
Stage I Starts with the radicle breaking through the testa. The roots are touching the medium. Ends with fully developed cotyledons.
Stage II Starts from fully developed cotyledons. Ends with the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair.
Stage III Starts from the fully developed true leaf or true leaf pair and ends with 80% of the young plants being marketable.
Stage IV All young plants are ready for sale and in the process of being hardened off. This stage lasts about 7 days.
The cultural recommendations are based on results from trials conducted under Central European conditions. Different conditions in other parts of the world may lead to deviations in results achieved.
