Tomato "Purple Pride of Vessel": characteristics of the variety, features of its cultivation

This exotic variety was developed by American breeders by crossing the Green Sausage and Cherokee Purple varieties.

Characteristics of the variety

Vessel's Purple Pride is a mid-season indeterminate variety with a fairly high yield. The plant is tall, with slender, spreading bushes, normal leaf type, and medium foliage. With sufficient sunlight, the bush can reach a height of 180–200 cm.

This variety is very heat-loving, so it is recommended to grow it in southern regions or greenhouses. Planting it in the shade is also not recommended, as it grows poorly and does not stretch out.

Description of fruits

The fruits, both at the technical and ripe stages, have an elongated plum shape with a beak at the end. When ripe, they acquire an exotic violet-purple color.

The weight of ripe fruits can reach 200 g, and the average weight ranges from 80-150 g.

The tomatoes have a very rich, sweet flavor. The fruits are quite fleshy, with thin, firm skin. The surface of the tomatoes is smooth and shiny, without cracks. After harvest, they do not spoil during transportation or storage.

The fruits are practically seedless and are excellent for preparing fresh dishes and juices.

Advantages of the Purple Pride Vessel variety:

• constant setting of new fruits;
• extended fruiting allows you to harvest until the first frost;
• the bushes grow upwards and take up less space in width – this allows for more efficient use of the land;
• very high yield – one bush can produce several times more fruit than regular varieties.

Disadvantages of the variety:

• fruit ripening occurs 30–40 days later;
• not suitable for cultivation in regions with short summers;
• in mid-latitudes it is not advisable to plant in open ground;
• long formation of the vegetative part.

Agricultural technology

Vessel's Purple Pride is an indeterminate variety, so sowing and subsequent care are slightly different from cultivating familiar varieties.

Preparing seeds for sowing

The seeds are sown in early March. To do this, wrap them in a damp cloth for several days to allow them to germinate.

To disinfect planting material, sprouted seeds must be kept in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for about half an hour, and then rinsed with warm running water.

And at the last stage, it is advisable to keep the seeds in a growth stimulator.

Sowing seeds

To sow the seeds, prepare pots approximately 10 x 10 cm in size with nutritious soil. The seeds are planted 2 cm deep, covered with soil, and sprayed with room-temperature water from a spray bottle.

Cover the pots with a transparent covering material (film or glass) and place them in a warm, sunny spot. Remove the covering material for a short period of time each day to allow air to air out. Regularly moisten the soil, preventing it from drying out. When the first shoots appear, remove the film or glass.

Picking seedlings

When the sprouts develop 2-3 true leaves, they are transplanted. This is necessary to further strengthen the root system.

Make a small hole in the prepared plastic cups filled with nutrient-rich soil and transplant the seedlings, along with the clumps of soil attached to their roots. Gently firm the soil and spray with warm water. Place the cups in a warm, well-lit room for 60 days, regularly moistening the soil and preventing it from drying out.

Planting seedlings in a garden bed

Planting of seedlings in the garden begins in mid-May. This variety prefers loamy soils enriched with organic matter. The location should be sunny, never shaded, and well protected from the wind.

Make holes in the soil beforehand and transplant the seedlings along with the clods of soil. Four plants are placed per square meter.

After transplanting, it is necessary to water the seedlings with water at room temperature.

It's best to plant legumes and squash before tomatoes. It's not recommended to plant tomatoes next to potatoes.

If the seedlings were planted in early May, they should be covered with plastic for a while. This will ensure a large, high-quality harvest.

Caring for seedlings

Caring for seedlings of this variety is not difficult and consists of shaping the bushes, tying them up, watering and fertilizing.

Watering

Water regularly, preventing the soil from drying out. However, avoid overwatering to prevent rot and blackleg. Moisten the soil only at the roots.

The Vessel's Purple Pride variety's root system, in addition to the main root, also consists of adventitious roots, which help the large plant obtain nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when watering, care must be taken to prevent the soil from washing away from the stem.

If the tomato is growing in a greenhouse, it is advisable to loosen the soil after watering – this will allow excess moisture to evaporate and prevent rot.

Tying up bushes

Tomatoes of this variety require support. Trellis or agro-netting are best for this. However, you can also make your own long poles.

Top dressing

Fertilizing is done with complex mineral fertilizers, which can be purchased at specialized stores. Applying mineral fertilizers is essential, as a lack of nutrients will prevent the weak roots from feeding the upper part of the plant, and consequently, crop growth may be stunted.

Top dressing is carried out in several stages:

• during the flowering period of the brushes, the plant needs phosphorus-containing preparations;
• During fruit filling, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are applied;
• when the remaining clusters begin to bloom, phosphorus fertilizers are added again;
• Before harvesting, when the fruits are ripening, potassium is added.

Formation of bushes

When shaping the plant, it's important to pinch off all side branches and side shoots, leaving the central stem. Side shoots require nutrients that the central stem doesn't receive, which significantly reduces the yield. Side branches also create additional density, which impedes air circulation and encourages the development of powdery mildew and gray mold. Lower leaves should be removed as the plant grows.

You can also form a bush with two stems. The second stem should be lower than the first cluster. Three clusters are usually formed on the second stem, and then its growth is stopped.

Tomato diseases

The Vessel's Purple Pride tomato variety is considered a highly resistant variety. However, when grown in a greenhouse, under high humidity conditions, blossom-end rot or blackleg may still occur. Common tomato pests may also appear.

Tomato diseases can be prevented by using calcium nitrate, periodically spraying the plants with this solution. Copper- and sulfur-containing products can be used to prevent fungal diseases. For pest control, consider using specialized products such as Tattu, Infinito, Aliette, and Ridomil Gold.