Container tomato Balkonzauber (Balconwonder/Balconmagic) is native to Germany. This means that this tomato variety is reasonably resistant to bad weather and rain. This small-growing pot tomato produces a large number of large cherry tomatoes that grow to about 3 - 4 cm and weigh 20 - 40 grams each. The plant grows very compactly, making it very suitable for growing in large pots, balcony boxes and other small enclosures. The delicious-tasting tomatoes ripen from light green to bright red. The tomatoes ripen almost all at once. These tomatoes are also reasonably resistant to cracking and some tomato diseases. The flavour of these tomatoes is deliciously sweet with a characteristic slight acidity. The robust plant produces a particularly large quantity of large cherry tomatoes that can be stored for a relatively long time.
Like all other container tomatoes, this tomato plant requires little maintenance. There is no need to thresh the plant and support is not necessarily necessary, although it can be useful when the plant is full of the delicious, large cherry tomatoes to add a sturdy stick to prevent the plant from falling over. This variety is ideal for people who have limited space in the garden or just a balcony. This is because it can be grown in a large pot. This allows people with limited space to still enjoy home-grown tomatoes.
Use these tomatoes in pasta sauces, salads, in soups, ketchup, on bread and straight from the plant as a delicious and healthy snack. Ensure plenty of sun and warmth and support the plant well for best results. Tomatoes are high in vitamin C and lycopene. This is best absorbed into the body if the tomatoes have been heated. This early variety can be harvested fairly early. Non-hardy annual. Height: 40 - 60 cm.
Indoor sowing: February - April
Germination: 6 - 14 days
Germination temp: 20 - 25 °C
Sowing depth: 2 - 3 mm
Transplanting: when the seedlings are about 20 cm tall
Transplanting in garden: in May, after the last night frosts
Plant spacing: 45 - 50 cm
Planting position: sunny - sheltered (greenhouse)
Days till harvest: 60 - 90
Sow indoors from February on in trays filled with moist pottingsoil. Sow shallow and press the seeds gently in the soil, don't cover them with soil, because tomatoes are light germinators. Put the trays away somewhere warm at 20 - 25 °C and cover them with clingfilm or a lid. Keep the temperature as even as possible and don't let the temperature drop during the night. Keep moist, but not to wet to prevent rotting of the seeds. Remove the clingfilm or lid when the seedlings emerge. Transplant the seedlings to seperate pots approx. 10 days after emerging. Put them away a bit cooler at approx. 18 - 20 °C.
Harden the tomatoes of, from the middle of May, when there's no longer any danger of nightfrosts. Put the pots at a temperature of 15 - 18 °C for a week and reduce the amount of water for this week. Put the plants outdoors after this week on a sunny and sheltered plot with well draining soil or put them in a greenhouse. Make sure that there is no longer any nightfrost.
Tomatoes need some maintenance to ensure a good harvest. Give the plants a sturdy support with some sturdy and large bamboo sticks. Remove all suckers that will form in the axils of your plants. Remove all the leaves below the lowest hanging fruits by the end of July till the beginning of August. Remove all the leaves of all plants together with the tops of all plants from the end of August till the beginning of September to ensure the ripening of most of the green tomatoes. Harvest the tomatoes by cutting them with scissors. Tomatoes can't be kept for a long period. Don't keep your harvested tomatoes in the fridge. So use them a soon as possible after harvesting. Tomatoes used in sauces can be kept frozen to store.
