FRUIT > TOMATOES > ALICANTE
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TOMATO GUIDES
DisposalFeedingGrowing From SeedGrowing In Hanging BasketsHarvestingProblems – Not set FruitPruningYellow / Orange Varieties – Roma – Sungold – Alicante – Moneymaker – Gardeners Delight
Alicante Lycopersicon esculentum are one of the most common love apple kind grown by dwelling house gardener .
But are they the right variety for you ? We cut into a little deeper and take a look at this particular cultivar and its characteristics .
Alicante tomatoes ripening on the plant
Alicante tomatoes are a popular red tomato plant variety – the fruits are make relatively profusely and are abstruse red , and mid - sized .
They have a typical , traditional tomato taste and grain and are considered to be relatively odorous .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureSheltered
HeightUp to 1.4 molarity
SpreadTypically cordoned
Bloom TimeJune – September
PreferredFertile loam is idealistic
MoistureMoist but well drained
pHNeutral / Mildly Acidic
These tomato have been awarded with an RHS Award of Garden Merit .
They are regarded as a superior mixture upon which gardeners experienced and tyro can reckon .
Alicante tomatoes are cordon - character Lycopersicon esculentum plants , which signify that they are best grown as a cordon , on financial backing structures .
They can grow up to around 2 m in height , with a spread of around 50 cm .
‘Alicante’ Pros
‘Alicante’ Cons
How To Grow ‘Alicante’
‘ Alicante ’ seeds are ubiquitous here in the UK and you should have no hassle nonplus hold of some seeds .
Here are some I produce recently :
If you have left it too late and would still wish to grow tomatoes this year , you’re able to also jolly easily find dope - grown Alicante tomato plant plants from local garden centres or online .
As mentioned above , one of the good things about this kind is that they can be grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel , or outdoors in a sunny and sheltered spot .
Note that while cordon tomatoes can be mature in containers , this vigorous and tall variety does not necessarily lend itself to small - scale container growing .
However , it can be produce in grow travelling bag or other containers below a living anatomical structure so the plants can be cordoned as they grow .
Alicante tomato , like other tomato variety show , are typically sown in late winter or other saltation .
unremarkably , they are sown between February and April in the UK .
I like to grow mine in compostable seed tray , which I place in my het disseminator :
As mentioned above , for those who have not yet sow Lycopersicon esculentum this year , there is the pick of choosing pot - turn starter plants .
This can also be an pick where it is hard for you to sow in seeds indoors before the last Robert Lee Frost appointment in your surface area .
‘Alicante’ Plant Care
Cordon Support
While some ‘ cordon tomatoes ’ do not necessarily absolutely have to be spring up in this way , I have grown Alicante love apple as cordon plants , and without cordoning and I would definitely say that from my experience , cordoning does definitely yield the best results for this inheritance tomato sort .
Cordoning only require tie in the industrial plant to a drawing string , wire or wager as they grow , and swipe off side shoot to center on one central leader .
I originate Alicante tomato in my polytunnel some age , and have lengths of conducting wire between the crop bars .
Alicante tomatoes ripening on the plant
I connect jute twine to these telegram , and tie in the tomatoes to these lengths of twine as they develop .
Planting Out
When constitute out Alicante tomato plant plants , inhume each one a little deeper in the soil than it was in its pot .
This also encourage secure root organization , which is especially important for cordoned tomato plants .
check that you harden off tomato grown indoors , and keep an eye on the conditions .
Only plant out once the conditions has reliably warmed and there is no longer any danger of rime .
Watering
As with other tomatoes , it is significant to ensure that you irrigate profoundly and less frequently , rather than short and often .
This encourages the plants to form stronger and mystifying root systems .
Make certain that you water at the infrastructure of the plant , rather than watering from above .
While for some years , late blight can not be fend off , reduce the passing water of foliage can reduce the chances of a severe blight plague taking postponement .
“ fear should be taken with this glide path because if you under - water or water tomato inconsistently during prime and fruit shaping it can result in the skin splitting or flower end putrefaction give your tomato uneatable , ” shares Master Horticulturist Dan Ori .
“ I would normally carry to water supply indoor and outdoor tomatoes day by day during summer in the southeast of England .
“ Getting the lacrimation balance right is a thing of trial and error . If you’re able to give to assay a few unlike approaches to watering frequence and amount of water on dissimilar bed and containers I recommend it , as this will help you to understand what mystify you the best harvests . ”
Feeding
Alicante tomatoes are a vigorous variety and tomatoes are pretty ‘ athirst ’ flora – verify you have provided them with rich growing conditions .
I tend to mulch newly planted tomatoes with comfrey leaves and other K - rich active accumulator plants like Chenopodium record album ( Lambsquarters / Fat Hen ) .
I also feed the tomato works with a comfrey liquidness feed during flowering , and again once the fruit have begin to form .
With tomatoes , it is important to practice a caustic potash - copious plant food rather than one which is too high-pitched in atomic number 7 , since excess N can encourage foliage growth at the expense of flower and fruit .
“ There are muckle of proprietary love apple feeds available from retailer and I recommend formulations that let in seaweed selection for the best results , ” share Dan .
“ Keep in mind that just because it is labelled tomato feed , it does n’t have in mind you ca n’t use it on other flower plants ! ”
Harvesting
Alicante tomatoes can be quick for harvesting from around July , and will often crop right through to October .
Remain argus-eyed and look out for blight during later summertime .
Pick tomatoes as they senesce .
Seed Saving
recall , since ‘ Alicante ’ is an heirloom or heritage tomato variety , open - pollinated and not an F1 hybrid , you’re able to save the seeded player from your tomato to sow next year .
To pull through the seeds :
Green Tomatoes
With ‘ Alicante ’ , it is probable that you will have some green tomato plant yet to mature at the closing of the develop time of year , but there are certain thing you could do to get greenish tomatoes to ripen on the plant .
endeavor to keep them on the vine for the best flavour – pull up the plant and hang up it somewhere warm .
If there is other mature fruit nearby , this will speed up the process .
Even if you are still left with some green tomato at the end of the time of year , it is worthwhile remembering that you’re able to still use these in a range of recipes – Green tomato plant chutney and green tomato salsa are just two of the more common options .
