A tomato plant in a tomato plant cage.
German tomato plants generally produce meaty firm tomatoes that are commonly sliced to eat on sandwiches or in salads. They are also often grown for canning and making sauces. Information on German red strawberry and extreme dwarf German bush tomato plants, two of the many varieties of German tomato plants, can shed some light on what the German tomato plant has to offer. Does this Spark an idea?
Types
The German red strawberry is an indeterminate tomato plant that generally produces medium-size tomatoes averaging about 10 oz. in weight, though some can reach a full pound. The extreme dwarf German bush tomato is a determinate tomato plant that produces a medium-size fruit measuring about 3 inches in diameter.
Features
German red strawberry produces fruit in about 85 days. The dense, meaty, almost seedless tomatoes resemble huge strawberries in shape and color. The foliage is dark to medium green. The plant growth habit is vining and indeterminate, meaning it will continue to grow until the first hard frost.
Extreme dwarf produces fruit in about 45 days. The foliage is dark to medium green. The plant growth habit is bushy and determinate, meaning it grows to a certain height then stops, generally reaching a height of only 1 foot. This tomato plant is very well suited to container growing on a deck or patio.
Both types of German tomato plants produce yellow blooms that are replaced by tomatoes. The tomatoes are green at first then turn red as they ripen.
Water
Providing adequate water is the key to successful tomato growing. German tomato plants should be watered once or twice per week, depending on rainfall amounts, at the base rather than from the top. Wet leaves can lead to blight. The moisture level can be checked with a finger. When the soil is dry up to the second knuckle, the plant needs to be watered. Watering regularly and keeping the soil evenly moist will help to eliminate tomato cracking. The addition of 2 to 3 inches of mulch will help retain soil moisture and control weeds.
Soil
Nutrient-rich soil that drains well is preferred by German tomato plants. Soil pH should be between 5.5 and 7.5. The addition of rich, dark topsoil, well-aged compost or manure will improve nutrient-poor soil. Sand can be added to clay-type soil to loosen it up and provide good drainage. The addition of 22 percent calcium rock phosphate or a small amount of limestone will help avoid blossom end rot, which is caused by calcium deficiency. The addition of calcium also enhances the tomato's flavor.
Light
German tomato plants should be planted in a sunny location. They do best with 12 hours of sunlight per day.
Fertilizer
A well-balanced organic fertilizer should be given to German tomato plants once per week. Excessive amounts of nitrogen will cause increased foliage growth but reduced tomato production.
Considerations
German red strawberry tomato plants require strong, sturdy stakes or cages to keep the plant and fruit off of the ground.
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