Dinner Plate Tomato: Variety Characteristics and Description, Reviews

Tomatoes

The Dinner Plate tomato quickly became popular in Russia. Farmers choose this variety for its high yield and incredible flavor. Growing this tomato is within the reach of any gardener, regardless of their experience.To grow large and juicy fruits, simply follow a few rules for growing Dinner Plate. Patient and attentive gardeners will be able to enjoy the best qualities of these delicious and aromatic fruits.

Description and characteristics

It takes up to 90 days for the fruits to develop and fully ripen. The "Dining Plate" variety, according to the description, belongs to the Solanum lycopersicum group of tomatoes. The plant is ideal for growing outdoors. In regions where stable warm weather is unavailable, young plants can be placed in a greenhouse for further development, formation, and ripening of the fruits. The plant produces heavy fruits.

Large tomatoes are heart-shaped. Some sources describe the variety as round, slightly flattened at the top. Each fruit weighs a large amount, averaging 200 to 300 grams. A single slice of this tomato can easily fill a dinner plate, hence the variety's name. These tomatoes have an incredible, tart flavor. Ideal for sandwiches, salads, and slicing, they are an excellent choice for home gardens.

The plant can grow up to two meters in height. Each bush produces numerous large, curly leaves, characterized by a distinct, rich green color. Due to the size of the Dinner Plate bushes, many gardeners recommend providing several supports for the plant. Given the weight of the fruit, without support, there's a high risk of branches breaking and becoming deformed. Tomatoes require adequate sun to ripen on time.

The Dinner Plate variety can be transported over long distances. The fruits have a thick skin and fleshy, deep red flesh. These robust plants will produce large quantities of fruit if planted in good soil. Many people find this variety similar in appearance to the Bull's Heart tomato. But that's the only similarity; otherwise, the variety is distinct.

Farmers plant the "Lunch Plate" variety for table use, given its fruit's characteristics. This variety is rarely grown commercially. It's ideal for those who enjoy delicious tomato sauces. This tomato has an alternative name, "Dinner on the Stove."

Growing

Up to four bushes can be planted per square meter. This planting pattern is optimal for those wanting to grow healthy, strong bushes with good-quality tomatoes. Ripening takes up to 90 days. However, if the seeds were pre-treated with growth stimulants, the growing season is shortened. Sometimes it can be reduced to 75 days.

The spot where the plant is transplanted should be 5 cm deeper than the depth of the pot. Planting the Dinner Plate tomato variety deeper in the soil will encourage additional root formation.
The soil must be watered beforehand.

Important! This identiferous tomato variety is characterized by continuous growth and fruit production until the plant is killed by frost.

Care

According to experienced growers, the Dinner Plate tomato plant requires watering twice a week. Uneven watering can create the basis for rot and cause fruit cracking. An underwatered plant absorbs calcium from the fruit and sends it to the shoots to support growth. Along with uneven moisture, excessive nitrogen and high soil acidity contribute to rot in Dinner Plate tomatoes.

Most gardeners have secrets for growing the Dinner Plate tomato variety.

Some people use crushed eggshells when planting or a little Epsom salt.
The best fertilizer for the Dinner Plate variety is a liquid fertilizer with added seaweed or fish emulsion.
An alternative is to use compost.

Advice! Avoid using nitrogen fertilizer unless the plants have yellow leaves. Too much nitrogen will promote lush foliage but produce little or no fruit. Purple leaves indicate the Dinner Plate needs more phosphorus, an essential nutrient for fruit production.

Gardeners shouldn't forget to mulch their tomatoes! This helps conserve moisture and prevents the spread of soil-borne disease spores that can spread to the plants. There are many good mulches to choose from:

black plastic;
straw;
crushed leaves;
mown grass;
a thick layer of newspaper.

Red plastic has been found to increase tomato fruiting by 12-20%.

If these care tips for the Dinner Plate tomato variety seem complicated, don't be intimidated. These tomatoes are among the easiest to grow. After all, a small, homegrown tomato is better than a store-bought one.

Problems of the variety

The main disease of the "Dinner Plate" variety, according to experts, is caused by the fungus Phytophthorainfestans, which causes a similar disease in potatoes. The first signs are brown spots on the leaves that quickly enlarge. If the plant is left untreated, any developing fruit will begin to turn brown and rot.

Tomatoes are susceptible to aphids (both black and green). How can I prevent the problem? Planting marigolds attracts beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and butterflies, which love to feed on the pests. Misting the plants with water helps flush the aphid larvae from the plant. If neither of these methods works, consider using a spray.

There are many varieties of mosaic virus that can affect tomatoes. They can be identified early. Leaves turning yellow, then bronze, are the first sign that a Dinner Plate tomato is infected.

Harvesting and storage

According to recommendations, Dinner Plate tomatoes should be harvested as soon as the fruit is ripe. To enjoy the best flavor, eat them immediately. If the plant is exposed to frost toward the end of the growing season, the fruit can be harvested unripe. Tomatoes can ripen on a windowsill.

Before storing, wash and dry tomatoes. If you don't plan to use them within a week, a windowsill is ideal for storage. If you plan to use the tomatoes within a few days, low temperatures will help preserve them. Long-term storage in the refrigerator is not recommended, as low temperatures can reduce flavor and cause the fruit to soften.

Reviews

Christina:

"You can achieve good results with the Dinner Plate tomato variety if you use mulch and remember to loosen the soil. In my opinion, these are two important factors. At least, they helped me grow excellent fruits even when the weather was less than ideal."

Victoria:

"I tried a neighbor's 'Dinner Plate.' She's very familiar with this variety. I grow tomatoes for sale and don't think this variety is suitable for that purpose. But it's perfect for fresh eating."

Irina:

"I prefer varieties that can be canned. My family and I can't live without canned tomatoes in the winter. Despite this, I decided to grow 'Dinner Plate' one year. I can say that this variety produces excellent fruit and is delicious."

Peter:

"Few of the bushes survived; apparently, they were seeded with poor-quality material. But those that did allowed us to enjoy large, perfectly flavored tomatoes until the first frost."

Stanislav:

"My wife was the one who started growing the Dinner Plate. I'm not a big fan of such large tomatoes, but I was surprised that this variety had such excellent flavor and few seeds."

Veronica:

"I bought some seeds this year and will be planting 'Dinner Plate' for the first time. My brother gets a lot of good tomatoes from this variety."